GTW Burro crane. September 1986.

This late Summer photograph, taken in early September of 1986, was taken at 51st street at the abandoned GTW Elsdon Yard on Chicago's Southwest side. Elsdon yard was located on 51st street between St louis and Lawndale Avenues. Before October of 1983, This was a very busy 14 track Switching yard. For a few years after Elsdon yard was closed, Diesel locomotives were staged between runs by the now "boarded up" yard office seen in this photograph. I was surprised to still see a Grand Trunk Western railroad "Transfer Caboose" still parked by the now boarded up yard office. The crane was here to begin "Dismantling" the yard tracks and associated engine servicing tracks by the old 1914 built roundhouse at 49th stret and Kedzie Avenue. This yard area has since been redeveloped into a railroad Material Storage facility. The yard area around 55th street was redeveloped into a Chicago Public School building. There is more redevelopment 20 years or so after the closure.