A 1940's photo of "OD" Tower, south of downtown Jackson.  The locomotive is #1700, a Big Four Mikado which was typical of the CCC&StL power of the day.  The train is going from west to south, from the MC Air Line branch onto a short stretch of the NYC Jackson Branch, before heading down Big Four's own CN branch through Hudson and Bryan, Ohio.  "OD" tower also controlled the interlocked crossing (just to the left of the photo) of the former Lake Shore's Jackson Branch which went north along what is now Airline Drive, terminating at the freight house (which has recently been restored as a Wendy's Restaurant).

© Jim Tarbell photo, Doug Leffler Collection

OD Tower

Jackson, MI

Big Four (CCC&StL)

New York Central