CTA Towers & Junctions - Sept/Oct 2010 - Connections - Chicago Transit Authority

Junctions, also called interlockings, are key components of the rail system. Tower operators determine which trains go on which tracks and when.
The operators in Tower 18 control the complex flow of trains through Chicago's Loop. The dedication of tower operators combined with electronic and infrastructure upgrades at critical junctions ensures safe and reliable travel along the CTA rail system.... a system that delivers more than 200-million rides a year.

[@mlgreenspan1760]

Always fascinated by CTA's Rail system, love the real time videos on each of the lines. Those Control Towers at the Junctions...like having a giant train set.

[@pianistprodigy1072]

I'm rail operator on brown line and I hope I fall for tower. Hopefully one day I will get training to work Clark and Tower 18 one day.

[@BurlingtonNorthernModeler]

Nice to see the inside operations, I've travel by these towers many times. Great video

[@thomaspahlke731]

Great Video; nice to see the inside operations. Thank you.

[@slycat1939]

That's good to know that there is someone who does look out for the trains crrying your customers

[@kevinhoward9593]

I think it's cool that they still oversee the interlockings with tower operators. Its a more authentic feel than if it was in a control center somewhere miles away.

[@irelandbloke]

Cool video

[@breed8912]

Ok to all the responses on NYC MTA Im from and live in Chicago but dam NYC is more populated and bigger fuck we understand that cool out with the comparison I love my city Chicago

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Very nice video! God bless!

[@CaptCovfefe515]

Looks like a fun job, probably can be stressful though. Kind of like working air traffic control except for light rail.

[@XOXFilmStudio]

This is not light rail this is heavy rail

[@iliketrains839]

I'm a Chicagoan

[@Dynamite_DJ]

that look really complicated to learn and i bet it tooked them a long time to remember them all i would rather be the train operator!

[@tomwhetlor6201]

My dream job lol

[@annaagustin1452]

I wished that the MTA has the holiday train and bus

[@dubreil07]

Looks like a massive delay junctions

[@JThom-yh3ef]

Don't fall asleep on the controls or you'll get a permanent vacation. heh heh heeeh.

[@imeechie8917]

Look at Bridgette

[@annaagustin1452]

Wow if i did that job I might put the trains on the wrong track

[@annaagustin1452]

But I live in Chicago

[@adelgado75]

I would rather operate the train.

[@devontecaples1993]

adelgado75 same

[@kpspyer]

no sleeping on this job lol

[@juniormorales3030]

Junior.Morales192010

[@iliketrains839]

Oh really

[@sekaidaniels9865]

Not missing that city at all.

[@jhostintola3092]

Oh WoW 200 million rides a year we've 1.7 billion rides a year...

[@Jeschitown]

Lmao OK NYC also has way more people to serve there you happy now is that what you wanted to hear lol

[@nikiabryant9422]

I was not born 10 years ago I was born nine years ago so I am 8 years old today

[@mdfaizanzahir4779]

You don't know ur born day lol..

[@theserf]

Yeah. I'm on there. I'm white. 1:05. That's me.

[@jairogutierezz6584]

hell witthis

[@spagboi1268]

?

[@CommunistLenin]

I thought it was automatic to change the junctions!!! in Hong Kong is all automatic!!!

[@Ztbmrc1]

That's what I though too. It is possible to automate the switchsetting. The trains sends its id (destination) to a railsite receiver just before the junction, and the junctioncomputer has stored all switchsettings for every destination, and sets the switches accordingly. But on the otherhand, this way these people have a job. But one mistake, and a train goes the wrong way... or even worse, it collides with another one.

[@TonyP9279]

@@Ztbmrc1 I think they can be automatic but the "L" is quite busy so it probably needs some human intervention to keep trains on schedule.

[@jhostintola3092]

NYC Subway's way better...

[@iliketrains839]

JHOSTIN TOLA yeah but our subways in Chicago are more cleaner and I know that because I was born there

[@iliketrains839]

JHOSTIN TOLA Really *glares*

[@AliensRreal13]

JHOSTIN TOLA we’re better 🤣

[@sekaidaniels9865]

JHOSTIN TOLA nyc is bigger than chicago.

[@oct197.]

NYC subway sucks