Chicago's historic Brighton Junction. September 4th 2007.

In early September of 2007, I made a return visit to an old railfan haunt of mine. This now "After the fact" photograph, shows a railroad junction in transition. Brighton Junction, located just west of the intersection of Archer and Western Avenue's, was officially closed in early July of 2007. This junction was famous, as a series of antique steam era manual Semaphore signals were operated by a crewman in the shanty, and all trains were required to stop before reaching the crosstracks. The old shanty was still standing here in early September of 2007, however the semaphores and ground leval stop signs were removed upon automated upgrading of this old steam era junction. To the left behind a chain link fence can be seen the new interlocking plant. A large blue metal sign that says "Brighton", is mounted on the steel cabinet shed. The large two deck set of Semaphore signals that stood on the south side of the shanty, are destined for display at a museum in the State of Virginia, while the wooden operators shanty and the single masted set of Semaphores that were out of view to the right, are supposidly destined for future museum display at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois.

During the 1960's and in earlier times, Brighton Junction was known as the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Panhandle Junction". This view is looking northwest toward the Canadian National ex Illinois Central / Gulf Mobile & Ohio crosstracks.