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Mike Berka's Collection
 
3/20/2025
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Viewing Album:  railroad signals
 
By:Mike Berka
Dates:1/10/2015 - 1/10/2015
Album Info:I was looking through a book I have called Railroad Signaling, which came out in 2003. The photographer for this book was Brian Solomon, who by the way is one of my favorite photographers. I haven't looked through this book in a while, and some of the photographs are pretty cool. So just for fun, I decided to make a railroad signal album, and see where it goes. Other favorite photographers of mine are the late Gary Benson, Steve Schmollinger, Mike Danneman, and Howard Ande. Here's an update as of June 6, 2015......and I just picked up a copy of Classic Railroad Signals by Brian Solomon, and this book has some pretty cool photos.
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Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Heres a closer view of the signals.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:48:58 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  337   Comments: 2
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This bridge is located on the Metra Harvard Subdivision, and it still has a couple of old CNW type signals on it. This was photographed at the Cumberland station.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:47:30 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  341   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This signal is on the Canadian National, at the Deval interlocking. Deval tower was closed in June 2005, and torn down in November 2012. The track in the background is the Metra Harvard Subdivision. Back in the Soo Line days, there was a semaphore here.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:52:27 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories: 
Locomotives: 
Views:  275   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This view is looking south toward Schiller Park, and Im snapping this photo from Prairie Avenue, and this signal is located on Thacker Street.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:57:29 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  290   Comments: 2
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This signal bridge is on the Canadian National line that runs between Schiller Park, and Fond du Lac. Metra also uses this line to Antioch.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:54:54 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  238   Comments: 1
Signal head
Title:  Signal head
Description:  Here is a close up of the southbound signal at Thacker Street, and these have LEDs, which are very bright.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 12:59:24 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  336   Comments: 1
Distant signal
Title:  Distant signal
Description:  As far as I know, this is still an original CNW distant signal which is now used by Union Pacific on the track called the "live wye" which connecrs trains coming out from Proviso and going to Janesville, to use this track and signal to go from the Milwaukee Subdivision, to the Harvard Subdivision. This signal is at Golf Road.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 4:27:16 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  332   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  These signals are back in the day CNW types, and Im surprised that they are still in use. This is just east of the Metra Dee Road station.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 4:32:11 PM
Location:  Park Ridge, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  243   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Here is a better view of these CNW signals.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 4:33:49 PM
Location:  Park Ridge, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  233   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  Here is a photo of the other side of the same signal bridge, and as you can see it has the more modern type signals. This view is looking east, towards Chicago on Metras Narvard Subdivision.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 4:39:03 PM
Location:  Park Ridge, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  249   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This photo was snapped from the Des Plaines Metra station platform, at Graceland Avenue. This view is looking west towards Mt. Prospect on Metras Harvard Subdivision. Which really is owned by Union Pacific.
Photo Date:  1/10/2015  Upload Date: 1/10/2015 4:42:47 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  281   Comments: 65537
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is at the location on the Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision called Norma. This used to be the CNW New Line. The track in the distance all the way to the left, is the wye track that connects the Milwaukee Subdivision with the Harvard Subdivision.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 4:53:15 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  250   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This little signal here doesnt do too much. It just pretty much gives a flashing red when the trains are going against the current of traffic.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 4:55:47 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  298   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This is looking south towards Proviso on the Milwaukee Subdivision at Norma.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 4:57:54 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  247   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is still at Norma, and the signal on the left is for going against the current of traffic. The signal on the right is if you are on the "live wye" going between the Harvard Subdivision and the Milwaukee Subdivision towards Proviso. These photos were snapped from Thacker Street.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:02:10 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  286   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  The Union Pacific still uses the CNW way of left hand running. The signal on the right is for going against the current of traffic, and the track just up ahead is the Metra Harvard Subdivision.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:05:20 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  211   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is on the Metra Harvard Subdivision looking east towards downtown Des Plaines.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:07:25 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  220   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is also on the Harvard Subdivision, but looking west toward the Metra Cumberland station. The track at the very right connects with the Milwaukee Subdivision.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:10:29 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  225   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Here is a close up of the signals, and as you can see the signal is green for a Metra train. These signals are always usually at yellow.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:12:38 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  203   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is the other side of the bridge looking east.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:14:20 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  203   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Here is a better look at the signals.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:15:37 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  183   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This signal is at the north end of the Des Plaines coach yard, and takes trains from there to the Harvard Subdivision. This was called the coach yard, because back in the day some of the commuter trains would park there for the night, and on weekends.
Photo Date:  1/11/2015  Upload Date: 1/11/2015 5:18:52 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  235   Comments: 2
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  Here's another view.
Photo Date:  1/18/2015  Upload Date: 1/18/2015 4:30:13 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  214   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  These signals are on the Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision at Touhy Avenue. These are actually back in the day CNW signals.
Photo Date:  1/18/2015  Upload Date: 1/18/2015 4:28:56 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  225   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is on the Metra Harvard Subdivision, and the train on the left is at the Dee Road station heading into Chicago, while the other train is heading towards Des Plaines.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 4:46:27 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  206   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is on the Metra Chicago to Fox Lake line, and you can see a Metra train heading into Chicago. I think these signals are way back in the day Milwaukee Road types.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 4:52:19 PM
Location:  Morton Grove, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  255   Comments: 2
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Here is a better view.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 4:53:30 PM
Location:  Morton Grove, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  205   Comments: 0
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is still on the Fox Lake line looking towards Chicago, and you can see the Metra train from earlier.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 4:55:41 PM
Location:  Niles, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  241   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is on the Metra Harvard Subdivision at the location called Seeger. This is where trains going from the Harvard Subdivision can connect with the Milwaukee Subdivision. This view is looking towards downtown Des Plaines.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 5:00:00 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  293   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  Here is a view of some of the CNW and Union Pacific type signals.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 5:01:51 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  197   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This is on the Canadian National line between Schiller Park and Fond du Lac. The track just past the signal is the Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision that runs between Proviso and Butler. Back in the Soo Line days, this signal used to be a semaphore.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 5:05:07 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  203   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is the other side of the signal bridge at Seeger, looking towards Mt. Prospect.
Photo Date:  1/19/2015  Upload Date: 1/19/2015 5:09:17 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  242   Comments: 2
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This view is looking south on the Canadian National line between Schiller Park and Fond du Lac.
Photo Date:  1/24/2015  Upload Date: 1/24/2015 4:47:06 PM
Location:  Wheeling, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  217   Comments: 0
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This is a little further north at Hintz Road, and this signal is used for coming out of a siding.
Photo Date:  1/24/2015  Upload Date: 1/24/2015 4:51:01 PM
Location:  Wheeling, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  240   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  This is a little south of Hintz Road, and these signals are not on. I guess a train has to be in the block for these to light up.
Photo Date:  1/24/2015  Upload Date: 1/24/2015 4:53:49 PM
Location:  Wheeling, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  262   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  Heres another small signal used for a siding. The CN line that these photos were taken, isnt as busy anymore like it used to be. Now, most of the traffic that used to go through here goes on the EJE.
Photo Date:  1/24/2015  Upload Date: 1/24/2015 4:56:52 PM
Location:  Wheeling, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  211   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is on the Metra line between Chicago and Elgin.
Photo Date:  2/14/2015  Upload Date: 2/14/2015 5:00:55 PM
Location:  Franklin Park, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  218   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  These are on the Metra line between Chicago and Elgin. The west end of Bensenville yard is in the distance.
Photo Date:  2/15/2015  Upload Date: 2/15/2015 2:03:25 PM
Location:  Bensenville, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  234   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  The signal is green for a southbound empty CWEX coal train. The switch in the foreground goes back to the CNW days when they used this switch to deliver transformer loads to Commonwealth Edison. The crosstrack past that, is the Canadian National line between Schiller Park and Fond du Lac. The switch past that, connects this Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision with the Metra Harvard Subdivision. The cross track after that, is the Metra Harvard Subdivision.
Photo Date:  3/1/2015  Upload Date: 3/1/2015 5:21:31 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  279   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  The signal is yellow for a Union Pacific frac sand train. The crossovers in the foreground are hardly ever used, and have to be thrown by hand. Back in the day, these were up a little further by the signals.
Photo Date:  3/1/2015  Upload Date: 3/1/2015 5:25:19 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  236   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  The signal is green for a northbound train on the Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision. The red signal is for going against the current of traffic, and only flashes.
Photo Date:  3/7/2015  Upload Date: 3/7/2015 4:50:50 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  228   Comments: 1
Signal bridge
Title:  Signal bridge
Description:  The signal is red after a westbound Metra train went by, and is now at the Cumberland station. The track going off to the left, goes into the Des Plaines coach yard. Way back in the 1980s, the CNW used to park commuter trains here for the night, and on weekends. Also, the APL stack trains used to go through the coach yard as well. They would go from the New Line, which is now the Milwaukee Subdivision, and cut through the coach yard to connect with the Harvard Subdivision for the run into Chicago.
Photo Date:  3/8/2015  Upload Date: 3/8/2015 4:50:26 PM
Location:  Des Plaines, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  204   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is on the Metra line between Chicago and Fox Lake.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:30:00 PM
Location:  Techny, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  191   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  This is looking south on the Union Pacific Milwaukee Subdivision. The signals are at Shermer.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:32:44 PM
Location:  Techny, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  234   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This is a back in the day CNW signal. It also has screens covering the lenses.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:35:30 PM
Location:  Techny, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  211   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  Here is a close up of the signal head.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:37:37 PM
Location:  Techny, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  245   Comments: 1
Signals
Title:  Signals
Description:  The signal on the left is a way back in the day CNW signal. Im surprised that it is still in use. This location is known as Valley on the Union Pacific Milwaukee subdivision. A long time ago, the Skokie subdivision used to connect here, and ran south to Crawford Avenue in Chicago, which was a distance of 19.5 miles.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:42:51 PM
Location:  Northbrook, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  257   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  Here is a close up of the signal head.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:44:52 PM
Location:  Northbrook, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  239   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  This is still at Valley looking south, and you have another old CNW signal still in use.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:47:24 PM
Location:  Northbrook, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  267   Comments: 1
Signal
Title:  Signal
Description:  The signal is red as frac sand DPUs are heading towards Proviso.
Photo Date:  3/15/2015  Upload Date: 3/15/2015 8:50:35 PM
Location:  Techny, IL
Author:  Mike Berka
Categories:  Signal
Locomotives: 
Views:  63   Comments: 1

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