www.txrrhistory.com - Tower 23 - Milano

Crossing of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway and the International - Great Northern Railroad

The town of Milano was established in 1874 by the International - Great Northern (I-GN) Railroad which was completing a rail line between Austin and Palestine. In 1881, when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe (GC&SF) Railway was building its initial rail line from Galveston to Temple, it crossed the I-GN less than two miles east of Milano. Over time, the town gradually migrated to the rail crossing and the former town site became known as "Old Milano". Tower 23 was commissioned on 1 September 1903. We have no information on when it was retired nor what became of the structure, and we continue to seek a historic photo of Tower 23. The crossing continues to see significant traffic on both lines, now owned by Union Pacific (ex-I-GN) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (ex-GC&SF). If you have additional information about Tower 23, please contact us.

Modern Photos - Tower 23

The crossing diamond is still very much in use today where the BNSF and UP cross in Milano.

Automatic interlocking cabinets now control the approaches to the crossing formerly controlled
by Tower 23. Since Santa Fe was the second railroad at this site, they would have been responsible
for constructing Tower 23. It was most likely a manned, two-story tower resembling Tower 17,
another Santa Fe tower in this region of Texas that was commissioned five weeks before Tower 23.

Stenciling on one of the cabinets identifies this location as "Milano Automatic Interlocking".

The foundation of the tower structure is easy to find at this crossing.  With this clear evidence
of a tower structure at this location, we would enjoy a photo of the tower to add to this website.

Satellite Photo - Tower 23


Location Map, Tower 23

 

Last Revised: 10/19/2006 JGK - Contact the Texas Interlocking Towers Page.