Franklin Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

B-12 Tower

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

1. B-12 Tower Marker

Inscription. This historic railroad-switching power was built some time in the 1890's. Steel arms inside the building and down along the tracks were manually operated by levers in the upper portion of the building. For over one hundred years, the building stood at the junction of the old Milwaukee Road and Soo line interchange (B-12). Operators in this tower were responsible for opening and closing railroad switches to govern locomotive traffic between these intersecting railroad lines. This tower remained in service until July 19th, 1996. On November 11th, 1997, it was moved to this location; approximately four and one half blocks west of it original site. The Village of Franklin Park and numerous individuals have generously contributed to this historic relocation and restoration project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 19, 1996.

Location. 41° 56.212′ N, 87° 52.135′ W. Marker is in Franklin Park,

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Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Franklin Avenue north of Atlantic Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in front of the B-12 Tower, in a small park next to the Milwaukee District-West (MD-W) train line. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franklin Park IL 60131, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Joe Thomas, Sr. Park (approx. half a mile away); Gone Wild! (approx. 0.6 miles away); Connections! (approx. 0.6 miles away); Music Evolution! (approx. 0.6 miles away); Burial Site of Josette Beaubien (approx. 0.9 miles away); Shelton Field (approx. one mile away); Gouin Park (approx.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

2. B-12 Tower

The marker is in front of the steps up to the switch tower.

one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin Park.

More about this marker. The marker involves a laminated sheet pasted into a permanent metal stand. The sheet is water damaged and some parts of it are hard to read. An old article about this park shows that there was previously a similar-style marker in front of the nearby caboose, but it seems to have been removed.

This park with the relocated switch tower was officially dedicated in 2000. Two dedication plaques refer to the area as simply a historic site, but the park seems to be popularly known as Railfan Park because of the prime view it offers of an active freight and commuter rail line.

Also see . . . Franklin Park's Railfan Park (Tower B-12 restored). (Submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

3. B-12 Tower Marker

A Droyers Caboose sits in the background. It was built in 1929 and retired to Franklin Park in the 1970s, eventually moved here when this park was developed in the late 1990s. Also in the background is a stone with a dedication plaque for the park around this tower.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

4. B-12 Tower

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

5. B-12 Tower

B-12 Tower restoration plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 20, 2024

6. B-12 Tower restoration plaque

This plaque honors those who helped move and restore the old switch house as part of its move in the late 1990s.

B-12 Tower park dedication plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn

7. B-12 Tower park dedication plaque

This dedication plaque is one of two in the park; this one is dedicated to the efforts to develop the park surrounding the tower.

Birds eye view looking south at the B-12 Tower original location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Hammill, circa 1946

8. Birds eye view looking south at the B-12 Tower original location

The original location of the historic B-12 Tower in Franklin Park, IL, was at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Milwaukee Road (now Metra MD-W), Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad (defunct), and the Soo Line (now Canadian National) railroads. The structure was built in the 1890s and controlled train switches at a busy diamond junction until it was decommissioned in July 1996. On November 11, 1997, the tower was moved to its current location. The road on the lower portion of the photo, running right to left, is Belmont Ave.

B-12 Tower Park Birds-Eye View image. Click for full size.

circa June 2024

9. B-12 Tower Park Birds-Eye View

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 408 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 7. submitted on September 26, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 8, 9. submitted on June 12, 2026, by M.Bloom of Leyden, Illinois.