Above: The Tower 172 junction forms an X-pattern a short distance west of a similar shaped
crossing of US highways 287 and 54. A connector track is visible in the west quadrant of
the diamond.
A Crossing of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway and the Panhandle & Santa Fe Railway
Stratford became a shipping point on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific ("Rock Island") railroad in 1900 as that railroad built through the northern part of the Texas Panhandle. The flat terrain allowed Rock Island to build one of the longest "tangent" (straight) track segments in the U.S., 72 miles from Guymon, Oklahoma to Dalhart, Texas as part of its "Golden State Route" from Chicago to Los Angeles. Today, the line is owned by Union Pacific and continues to see significant traffic.
In 1931, the Panhandle & Santa Fe Railway (P&SF) built a 100-mile rail line from Amarillo to Boise City, one of the last lengthy rail segments constructed in Texas. The P&SF crossed the Rock Island at Stratford. The line is now operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
Tower 172 was either a manual cabin interlocker or possibly an electric interlocker with controls remoted to a nearby depot.
Location Map, Tower 172
Above: The Tower 172 junction forms an X-pattern a short distance west of a
similar shaped
crossing of US highways 287 and 54. A connector track is visible in the west
quadrant of
the diamond.
Above: This Google Street View looks northwest along the Santa Fe line toward
the former Rock Island line crossing. A
train appears to be approaching in the distance.
Below: Another street view looks southwest along the Rock Island line toward the
crossing diamond.
