Manual crossing gate operators tower. Grand Trunk Western Railroad's Elsdon Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. October 1983.

I photographed this early afternoon view looking west toward South Lawndale Avenue along West 51st Street, in early October of the year 1983. This tower was used to manually operate the crossing gates on West 51st Street between Lawndale Avenue on the west, and St.Louis Avenue on the east. The Grand Trunk Western Railroad had an old Steam Era 14 track Railroad yard and adjoining roundhouse on Chicago's southwest side. This tower was used to the very end, that being the week I visited Elsdon Yard in early October of 1983. The following week, This crossing gate control tower was demolished. Just below the staircase is the oil tank for heating in the winter. With many years of frequent back and forth switching moves across 51st Street, it was nescesary to manually operate the crossing gates and signals so that the vechicle traffic wouldn't get too backed up.