www.txrrhistory.com - Interlocking Tower 126 - Ft. Worth,
Texas
(Polks Tower)
Tower 126 - crossing of GC&SF - H&TC
We do not have a historic photo of the interlocking tower
at this location. If you have a historic photo showing
the tower at this location or any information regarding this
location, please contact
us.
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Tower 126 was located in Ft. Worth approximately 4,000 feet
south of Tower 55. The Railroad Commission noted this site as
being at Violet St.(a street which no longer exists), but it was
more commonly known to railroaders as Polk's Tower. An electric
interlocking with 33 functions was placed in service at Polk's
Tower on 15 June 1926. The 1927 Annual Report of the Railroad
Commission of Texas lists Tower 126 as being at "Fort Worth,
Polk's Stock Yard". The following year, the report started
calling it "Ft. Worth (Violet St.)".
The interlocking controlled a crossing of the Houston & Texas
Central (H&TC) Railroad and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe
(GC&SF) Railway. The H&TC line was a branch line built
in 1886 that connected Ft. Worth with the H&TC main line at
Ennis. The Santa Fe line was the main route between Ft. Worth
and Cleburne built in 1881.
The crossing had existed since 1886 but it is not known why the
interlocker was not established until the 1920s. At the time the
tower was constructed, the H&TC was controlled by Southern
Pacific and the GC&SF was owned by the Achison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railway. Since both lines proceeded north to Tower 55,
the two railroads eventually decided to swap tracks to the north,
eliminating the crossing and the need for Polk's Tower.
Both routes remain in use today by successor railroads Union Pacific
and BNSF. Text by Jim King.
Modern Photos of Interlocker 126
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Facing southeast, the former crossing of the Santa Fe (right)
and Southern Pacific (left) was eliminated when the railroads
swapped main lines leading north to Tower 55.
Photo by Jim King.
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A concrete equipment cabinet labelled "West End, Polk's"
is the only remnant of the interlocker that was once controlled
by Polk's Tower at this location. Photo by Jim King.
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Location Map - Tower 126
Map by Jim King.
