Exelon P-15s and P-50s in Illinois being replaced

[TommyBNSF]

For any of you Illinois siren fans, I suggest trying to find any AC only sirens (P-15s and P-50s) in the Exelon zones, as it seems they're starting to replace those. I found a new T-128 in Mazon replacing a P-15 that I recorded last year and a new T-135 AC/DC stands just west Shorewood along Route 52 replacing a T-135 AC. I will try and look around other locations and give any updates to what I find next week (maybe Monday). I know a T-135 AC at Route 6 and Gun Club just northeast of Morris is still standing, but who knows for how long.

[Chicagosirenhunters]

There was also another P-50 off of Essington and Caton Farm lumbering above the fire station. Before it was replaced, it did not rotate for a long while. This is super sad to hear!

[Fireman61341]

The 2 P-50s by Marseilles are still here so far. I'm still wondering what they're gonna do with all the old Thunderbolt poles that still have power to them.

[Notre.Dame1003]

There was also another P-50 off of Essington and Caton Farm lumbering above the fire station. Before it was replaced, it did not rotate for a long while. This is super sad to hear!

That is actually Joliet's. And I was not aware that it was replaced. Last I saw it was back in April and it was still up. Seemed to change positions each time I saw it. (about twice a year or so)

[Brendan Ahern]

Joliet appears to be in the process of replacing all their sirens slowly. They switched over to Federal controllers a couple years ago, at that time, they replaced 3 sirens. One P-50 on the east side of town, the RM-127 at the police station on Caton Farm, and the RM-127 at Joliet Junior College. They also added additional sirens over the last couple years to fill in gaps. New sirens that are in new locations have solar chargers on them. They are 2001-130's. But since this has started happening, it seems that they replace a couple every year. Not sure if they are only replacing problematic sirens or doing a wholesale replacement over time though. Lemont Illinois is doing the same thing. I think they still have 1 P-50 up though. I heard the P-50 on 127th street is gone and I know for a fact (drove by one day this summer) that the T-128 on 131st street is gone.

[TommyBNSF]

Yes, the Essington Rd. P-50 was owned by Joliet and replaced by a 2001-130. I actually have a railfan buddy that lives right by that siren and he said that for a while he did not hear that go off on test days, and you would definitely if it did. It always pointed northeast whenever I saw. Joliet did tell me that they were having problems with that siren, so I guess they felt that replacing it was the best option.

As far as the Exelon ones go, I know one of the T-135 AC/DCs that was southeast of Mazon got knocked down by the November 17th tornadoes. Perhaps since Exelon had to get a new siren for that location, maybe they felt it necessary to replace the AC sirens they had remaining. I don't know, it's just a guess, but whatever the case, the P-15s and P-50s are slowly starting to be replaced. I'll probably try and film one of the Marseilles P-50s for January test, if they're still there then.

[Brendan Ahern]

Not 100% sure about it, any nuclear power people feel free to shoot me down. I thought that all nuclear systems were required to have battery backup now. It seems that every plant in the country is either in the process of upgrading, has already upgraded, or will upgrade soon. Also, I thought the Braidwood system was replaced a few years ago. I do remember seeing a T-135 that looked fairly new back in 2006. Not totally sure what road, but west of Shorewood. Possibly eastern Kendall County.

Edit: Found it, it's on County Line Road just north of Jefferson.

[Notre.Dame1003]

As far as I know Lemont is all 2001s now. Speaking of replacing new(er) ASC sirens, one of the towns out in the NW 'burbs, West Dundee (?) replaced one of their T-128s with a 2001-130 earlier this year.

Joliet (as far as I know) has 3 P-50s in service. West HS, Hosmer and Norley in a neighborhood park, and Mallard Ln and Bronk Rd at a DPW garage. Tommy, feel free to correct me if these have been replaced as well.

[Brendan Ahern]

Yeah I have no idea what the deal with that is. The T-128 in Lemont had all new Federal boxes on it last year, then this year they replaced the head with a 2001. I really don't see the point in it unless they just wanted to standardize the whole system.

[TommyBNSF]

Yeah, those are the 3 I have too Tyler. And then Plainfield has 3 as far as I can see, along with 4 P-15s/RM-127s.