Nostalgia & History > RR Crossing Gates

Last week, "missing link", his name not mine, posted some shots of gated rail
crossings in Iowa. I thought I had an image of the old Garner one, but when
I looked through my images, I couldn't find it.

However, I did manage to find one I'm not sure is there anymore. The attached
shots are from June, 1979, in Des Moines, Iowa. They show an industrial spur
of the Des Moines Union RR crossing the Rock Island MAIN LINE at grade. I thought
this unusual because these types of crossings were usually found on remote
branches. The Rock was double track ABS at this point, which made it doubly
unusual.

Picture #1 shows the normal setup for this crossing; gate against the DMU spur.
This view is looking south.

Picture #2 shows a Milwaukee switcher approaching the crossing from the south.

Picure #3 shows the switcher on the diamond while a DMU crewman tends
the manually operated gate.

I'm not sure any of this is still there, and I highly doubt it. However, it would
be nice if someone more familiar with the Des Moines area can comment.

Also sorry I don't have a link to the original posts.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

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There appears to be a box on the post right where the horizontal arm of the gate is hinged.
My guess is that it is a circuit controller box like you see on main line turnouts.
So when the gate is swung across the Rock Island the signal system sets the signals to red.
Just like what happens when you reverse a turnout.

Interesting photos, Nick!

Note the repairs on the gate, which seems to indicate that it (at least) once was mistook as an "automatic" crossing gate.

-E.O.

nice look back, what is on the sign in the distance, shot #1?


chico

Great shots Nick. All of this is LONG gone. The DMU yard office to the right of the photo was torn down probably mid 90's, at least before I moved here in 1999.

Only one track here now, and thats one of the RI mains.

MILW86A

ntharalson Wrote:

> Also sorry I don't have a link to the original posts.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3535212,3535328#3535328