Monday, July 31, 2006

Cruising northwest Indianna with My good friend Billee Blue. August 2004.

Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard "Eddie's Railfan Page", as we celebtrate
"Bus Day" today here at My blog site. Pictured here in
the Drivers Seat, is one of My "Buddie's" who's website appears in My links section to the right of Your computer screen.
Allow Me to introduce to You....My friend "Billee Blue. I met Billee in 1998 when He was hosting Karaoke at the OakLawn Holiday Inn. Billee is an excellent karaoke host and entertainer, but most of all, He is one of the nicest people You will ever meet.

Billee and His son Mike own a pay telephone company in the Hammond Indianna Area. Billee needed My help on this day, so I went to Hammond Indianna to assisit my buddy servicing telephones. While we were out collecting and servicing pay phones, I had a camera with Me and photographed some city transit buses at work in nearby Gary Indianna USA. It was a fun filled afternoon with lots of "Jokes" -good laughs -and great company. If You live in the greater Chicagoland area near the Indianna border, or you enjoy Karaoke Shows, Be sure to Check out "Billee's" web site in My links section. Billee's shows are fun and have a lot going for them.

Thanks Billee.

Your pal -Eddie.
P.S -My karaole stage name is Eddie Candlelight.

Gary Public Transit Company 35ft Flxible coach. Gary Indianna USA. August 2004.

Seen here in downtown Gary Indianna in August of 2004, Is a Gary Public Transit Company city bus. This is a 35ft Flxible transit coach. I took this photograph on a partly cloudy Sunday afternoon from My friend Billee's Ford Aerostar mini van.

Gary Public Transit Company bus. Gary Indianna. August 2004.

I took this photograph in downtown Gary Indianna USA in August of 2004. I was visiting a wonderful friend who appears in the links section to the right of your computer screen. I had spent the day with "Billee Blue" from "Billee Blue's Web Page", and was on a business call with him servicing pay telephones in Hammond and Gary Indianna.
My friend Billee is a local -Businessman -Karaoke Host -Entertainer -and Event promoter in Hammond Indianna, and most of all -A great friend to have. Heading south is what I believe to be a small Nova bus. Buses this size of 35 ft or less, are referred to by bus fans as "Baby Buses".
I had a camera handy this August day, and used the opportunity to photograph Indianna Buses.

Your host and photographer behind the wheel. July 2000.

During the summer of 2000, I attended an Antique Transportation Exposition at the Illinois Railway Museum located in Union Illinois USA.
Several visiting parties attended with antique vechicles ranging from -World War 2 U.S Army Jeeps -antique cars -trucks -and buses.

A heavy thunderstorm was approaching around the time that the exhibitors were leaving the museum property. Before the lightning and hail arrived at the museum, I had this photograph of Myself taken by one of the exhibitors. This is a 1975 GMC new look, or "Fishbowl" bus. This bus had operated in the large rural town of De Kalb Illinois USA, out in the cornfields. This vechicle is painted in the colors of the Northern Illinois University "Huskie's" football team. The common carrier is also called "De Kalb Huskie Bus Lines." This is an exampler of a city transit bus operating in local service in a small agricultural city. This bus was recently retired from regulair service at the time of the photograph.

Privately owned San Francisco California USA Commuter Bus. September 2000.

This photograph was taken by Me, at the September 2000 Members Day celebration, at the Midwest Transit Bus Museum. This museum, located in Crest Hill Illinois USA near the city of Joliet, is home to a collection of privately owned antique transit buses. This group is much like an antique auto club for buses.

The 1970's era GMC "Fishbowl" was a privately owned bus visiting the museum from out of state.This was a commuter bus serving the many towns around the San Francisco Bay and surrounding inland areas. The interior has luggage racks, and reclining tan colored high back Greyhound style leather seats with foot rests. This was a comfortable suburban transit bus.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. July 1989.

This is a photograph of a place that used to bring Me many "Happy Memories" as a lineside railfan, or a "Gricer" as My friend Iain would say at My link page "Railway Roundabout.Com."
Is that correct Iain? Absolutely!

Many of My happy experiences train spotting occured here at this junction during the 1980's. This was a busy junction where several railroads would enter and depart the Belt Railway of Chicago's "Clearing Yard" just west of here in the distance. The cross track in the foreground belonged to the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The single story dispatchers control office with the green awnings was Demolished sometime during the early 1990's. In the background a Santa Fe transfer freight train has just recieved Clearance, and will proceed towards Me.

Eastbound Santa Fe transfer train at Hayford Junction. July 1989.

A hot July saturday afternoon, was spent taking photographs at Chicago's Hayford Junction. I took this photograph of an eastbound A,T & S F
Atchinson ,Topeka & Santa Fe transfer freight train, crossing the Grand Trunk Western Railroad mainline at this populair southside Chicago railroad junction. I used to spend many happy hours there recording Belt Railway of Chicago train activity, as well as the trains of other freight railroads entering or leaving nearby Clearing Yard. In the background can be seen, a Commonwealth Edison electrical power substation. Ahh. Happy summer memories past.

Westbound CSX Transportation freight train at Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. July 1989.

I took this photograph on a hot july afternoon in the year of 1989. An early CSX Transportation (Merger Era post 1985) freight train, with diesel locomotives still painted for Seabord System railroad, pass over the Grand Trunk Western railroad cross tracks at Hayford Junction. This railroad junction is located at West 76th Street and South St Louis Avenue on Chicago's southwest side. At this populair rail junction location, the Belt Railway of Chicago crosses the Grand Trunk Western Railroad mainline, and also interchanges freight trains. The ex Seaboard System Railroad diesels and train, atre heading for the Belt Railway of Chicago's "Clearing Yard" located in the southwest suburban village of Bedford Park Illinois USA, near Midway Airport.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Railroad Crossing sign along Industrial siding spur track. Chicago Illinois USA. July 2006.

Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Eddie's Railfan Page.
In todays edition, I will be sharing with You some Recent Chicago area railfan photographs from July of 2006. This photograph of a stationary "Non Flashing" railway crossing sign, was taken during July of 2006, in the Northwest Industrial Park. This industrial park is located on North Kilbourn Avenue, between Lake Street on the south, and Chicago Avenue on the north. This location is on Chicago's near west side. Though this sign, or "Crossbuck" as they are known looks basic and plain, the sign itself is made of "Reflective Material". The only trains passing over the road here, are "Reverse" switching movements serving the factory spurs. One or two cars at a time are delived to the few factories along this dead end spur track.

DEMOLISHED! July 24th 2006. R.I.P

This is a photograph of one of two "Long Surviving" however "Unused" examples of Steam Locomotive servicing facilities. This concrete tower structure, was used for loading coal into steam locomotive tenders. I took this photo and another of the adjacent coaling tower, at the Union Pacific Railroads M-19 Diesel Shop located at 400 North Pulaski Road , in the city of Chicago Illinois USA. The M-19 facility is a former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad engine servicing depot. This was an old steam era facility that was modernized. These two old coaling towers lasted here unused for decades. I was planning on returning to shoot more photos...But the demolition contractors at National Wrecking Company beat Me to it. DARN! By photographing these scenes two weeks before, I captured them on film before it was too late altogether.

The end of the line. Demolished July 25th 2006.

A sad ending has come to yet another piece of our railroad heritage. I had posted this photograph on July 18th 2006 here at Eddie's Railfan Page. I was planning on returning to shoot another photo or two of this and the other steam era coaling tower...But the Union Pacific Railroad had other plans in the works. My work had increased My workload, and My time was very limited. On July 24th 2006...The adjacent ex Chicago and Northwestern Railroad coaling tower was Demolished. The following day, the example pictured here met the wrecking ball too. These concrete tower structures were used for loading coal into the tenders of steam locomotives many decades ago. This was last used as such during the mid 1950's. Most railroads demolished theirs in the years immediately following conversion to diesel locomotives. These two former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad examples surprisingly lasted here in this location at 400 North Pulaski Road Until July of 2006.
The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad retired their last steamers in 1956.

CTA Blue Line station sign at Oak Park Avenue. Oak Park Illinois. July 2006.

This is the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line rapid transit station at Oak Park Avenue, and the I-290 Congress Expressway. I took this photograph in the Village of Oak Park Illinois USA, located in Chicago's Western Suburbs. Oak Park Avenue passes above the rapid transit line, and the I-290 Congress Expressway, also known as the Eisenhower Expressway. Passengers walk down an open air tunnel passageway to get to the rapid transit station platform. This is a quick way to go to downtown Chicago, or suburban Forest Park at the west terminal on Des Plaines Ave.

Westbound CTA "Blue Line" rapid transit train passing Oak Park Avenue. Oak Park Illinois USA. July 2006.

Seen speeding westbound through West Suburban Oak Park Illinois, is a Chicago Transit Authority "Blue Line" rapid transit train, heading to the Suburban village of Forest Park. This rapid transit line, built during the 1950's, was laid out on private Expressway Median. This line replaced the old Garfield Park elevated line, and unfortunately spelled out the eventual demise of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin interurban railroad. I photographed this scene in July of 2006, after taking a store order for a customer down the street on Oak Park Avenue. I work as an outside sales rep for a local Chicago beverage bottling company. The suburban village of Oak Park Illinois USA is located in My service area.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Northbound Canadian National freight train passing through Bridgeview Illinois USA. May 2006.

I took this photograph on My way to work one morning, in May of 2006. Seen here traveling north on the Indianna Harbor Belt Railroad's mainline trackage, is a lenghty Canadian National freight train , with its EMD Diesel locomotives in Canadian National Railroads "New Image" color scheme. The train is pasing under the 87th Street highway overpass bridge.

News Update! Surviving steam era coaling tower DEMOLISHED!

Hello everyone.
This is Your host and photographer "Eddie", here to pass along a News Update. I have been experiencing some "Major" computer network problems, and have been having Technical Difficulties while trying to upload some new photographs to "Eddie's Railfan Page" today.

After work yesterday, something just didn't look right to Me, as I was looking east from My place of employment, toward the Union Pacific M-19 Diesel Shop located at 400 North Pulaski Road, located in the city of Chicago Illinois USA. I spotted only "One" of the two concrete steam era coaling towers, That I had wrote about on My July 18th posting here at My railfan page. I had also spotted what looked like the boom from a crane sticking up in the shop area.

I drove up the driveway to the M-19 Diesel shop, and had seen a pile of concrete rubble where one of the towers was just standing yesterday. The demolition crane was already set up by the tower that I had posted a photograph on for My July 18th Posting at Eddie's Railfan Page. I
am so thankful that I went out and photographed these railroad structural landmarks from a forgotten era of Chicago railroad history. Unused since the mid 1950's...These two forelorn concrete coaling towers have finally met "The Wrecking Ball" on Monday ,July 24th 2006.
Progress has a way of erasing the historical past, and now another icon from the steam era has "Vanished" for good. Equipment from the National Wrecking Company was on the property destroying an unused piece of our Chicago railroad heritage.

I really wanted to go back and shoot a few more snapshots, but My work schedule had Me too active, and I couldn't afford to waste another roll of film at the time. If I hadn't photographed these facilities when I did this summer, they may have been lost forever. In future postings of Eddie's Railfan Page, I will show some more photos of the old Chicago and Northwestern Railroad steam era coaling towers that once stood at 400 North Pulaski Road in the windy city.

Steam era coaling towers......Rest in peace.

Thank You.
Eddie.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Tuskegee Railroad locomotive # 101. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. September 1986.

In September of 1986, an old railfan buddy I knew from high school, and Myself, took a trip to the Illinois Railway Museum, located in Union Illinois USA. This little shortline steam locomotive, originally worked for the Tuskegee Railroad in the State of Alabama. This locomotive was in it's last season of operation at the Museum, and has since been a stripped down hulk on wheels, undergoing a slow overhaul at the museums shop complex.

Eastbound Milwaukee Road EMD F-7 diesel on Museum passenger train. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. June 1986.

A rainy day with occasional Intermitment shower activity , was spent at the Illinois Railway Museum, located in Union Illinois USA. Seen here heading east on a museum passenger train, is Milwaukee Road EMD F-7 number # 118C wich was built in 1950.. I was lucky to capture this locomotive, wich was restored to it's original color scheme. pulling a passenger train, just before it had started to rain again. The cloudy day scene adds a very work a day setting to this museum photograph..

The Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin Illinois USA. September 1990.

This is an interesting photographic comparison, of twp Chicago Illinois electric interurban railroad coaches. The coach on the left, is from the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad. This electric long distance Interurban railroad operated between Chicago Illinois and Milwaukee Wisconsin until January 22nd 1963. The North Shore cars were Narrow and shorter, because they left Chicago on the CTA Rapid transit elevated line.
The coach to the right is from the electric Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad wich runs from Chicago Illinois to South Bend Indianna. The large heavyweight electric M.U coach, from the 1920's era (and later modernized.) was retired around 1983.

Inside the city of Chicago, the North Shore travelled over the CTA Elevated downtown and used 3rd rail truck shoes. Outside of Chicago, an overhead trolley pole was utilized. The South Shore cars used 1500 volts AC, and used overhead "Pantographs" on the cars roof. It was and still is a heavy electric line. Todays South Shore is utilizing newer streamlined equipment from Japan, and is operated by both Chicago's "Metra" and Indianna's Northern Indianna Commuter Transit District, also nown as NICTD. At the time of this photograph, the North Shore car was wearing it's original color scheme. It was fading due to weathering, and was eventually repainted into one of the later "Green" North Shore color schemes.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Surviving "Steam Era" locomotive coaling tower. Chicago Illinois USA. July 2006.

This enginehouse facility was photographed by Me in early July of 2006. This is the former Chicago and North Western railroad diesel enginehouse located at 400 North Pulaski Rd on the Westside of the city of Chicago Illinois USA. This facility is now known as the Union Pacific Railroads M-19 Diesel Shop. The old Concrete coaling tower, wich proboubly dates from the 1920's or even earlier, was used to refuel coal burning steam locomotives. Diesel fuel is delivered to a locomotive fuel tank through Hoses and Pumps. Steam locomotives that burned coal, had to have their tenders fed through the use of gravity. Coal was delivered to the tower by Hopper cars, Then the coal was lifted into the tower by conveyer belts, or by special dumping tram cars carried up on an elevator. Inside the tower is a "Slope panel" wich gravity feeds the coal to the Chutes. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad retired their steam locomotive fleet for good in 1956. It was a unique pleasure knowing that there are still a few surviving remnants left in this world today.
Another "Simular" preserved example like this can be seen on the "Nevada Northern" tourist railroad located in East Ely Nevada USA.

Southbound Amtrak train leaving Chicago Union Station. July 2006.

This scene was photographed from the West Roosevelt Rd bridge looking south in the Metropolitan Chicago area. An outbound Amtrak passenger train has just left Chicago Union Station, and is leaving the windy city with a load of passengers. The diesel locomotive is a newer General Electric P-42 Genesis Series passenger locomotive. This color scheme and logo was introduced around the year 2000, and it is known as the "Acela" Image. Acela translates into "Acceleration and Excelence" according to the people working at Amtrak's public relations department. This is Amtraks "Newest" Image, and is the company standard today.

CTA Green Line Rapid Transit passing over North Kilbourn Avenue. Chicago Illinois USA.

I had taken this photograph on My way to work one morning, after leaving My company when a meeting had just ended. We are looking South on North Kilbourn Avenue, looking toward West Lake Street. The Chicago Transit Authority's "Green Line" rapid transit, was originally known as the "Lake Street Elevated" line. This was one of Chicago's very first "L" lines, dating back to the 1880's. It was originally a private franchise called "The Lake Street Elevated Railway" and had used small 0-4-4T Forney type Steam Locomotives and wooden open platform coaches.

A summer evening in Bridgeview Illinois. June 2006.

Another beautiful summer day has come to an end, and once again night is arriving to the village of Bridgeview Illinois. This sunset photograph of a set of railroad block signals, was taken by Me on West 71st street looking North. This bridge, errected by CSX Transportation sometime during the 1990's, is on the Indianna Harbor Belt Railroads mainline. This location is also a busy railroad "Junction", as the Belt Railway of Chicago branches off to the right up ahead, and enters their "Clearing Yard" facility in suburban Bedford Park Illinois USA nearby. a couple of miles north of here, is the Indianna Harbor Belt Railroads "Argo Yard" in the village of Summit Illinois. Even further north a few more miles down, are the interchange junctions of "Argo" in Summit Illinois (Ex G,M&O -ICG ) and Mc Cook Illinois. ( BNSF Ex A,T,& S F). Many times a day or night, northbound trains can be seen waiting here at this location on "Hold" orders, waiting for clearance top proceed.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Your Host and Photographer at work. June 2006.

Hello everyone!
Welcome to another fun edition of "Eddie's Railfan Page". This is recent photograph of Me, on location servicing one of My accounts in downtown Chicago Illinois USA. In recent times, some people have a tendency to ask, "What kind of work does Eddie do for a living?" The answer is quiete simple, I am employed as an "Outside Sales Rep" for a local Chicago bottling company. I sell soft drinks by the case to many Chicago area Restaurants -Convenient Stores -Grocery Stores -Lounges , and businesses. "I love My job!"
Eddies Railfan Page is largely possible because, I work outside as My own boss ( for the most part.) and ...Many of the locations I visit on business calls are near major rail locations around the greater Chicagoland Area. Don't get Me wrong....I am a very serious business man, and My career comes first.

I am blessed with a great job, and lots of photographic opportunities to share with everyone here.

Thank You. Your host and photographer....Edward Kwiatkowski. "Eddie".

Coachyard switching during the "Mid Day Layover". Chicago Illinois USA. June 2006.

I photographed this seen at West Roosevelt Rd and South Canal Street, in the city of Chicago, around 1 pm on a weekday afternoon. I had just finished servicing an account in the area, and couldn't resisit the opportunity to photograph this seen just outside of downtown Chicago. This is one of many commuter coach yards around town, utilized by the Metra commuter agency. This facility was origianally owned and operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and after 1970, the Burlington Northern Railroad. Today ot is still staffed -maintained and operated by crews from the BNSF Railway. The Burlington Northern ,Santa Fe Railway is still using this 1950's Vintage EMD Switcher for switching the commuter coachyard facilities here. At this time of the day, the commuter coaches are cleaned -inspected -and repaired as needed. In a couple of hours, they will be busy hauling rush hour commuters out of the city of Chicago Illinois. The "Locals" will make all the stops, while the "Express" runs will speed along with few or no stops to Aurora Illinois.

Westbound Union Pacific freight train. Chicago Illinois. June 2006.

This photograph was taken on the "West Side" of the city of Chicago Illinois USA in June of 2006. This photo location is on West Kinzie Street, just west of North Pulaski Rd. I photographed this quick moving Union Pacific Railroad freight train at the end of My work day. I am employed as an "Outside Sales Rep" for a local soft drink bottling company, and I am blessed that I can railfan on location in many places around town, as many of My customers are near railroad lines. The diesel locomotives in the background, are being serviced at the Union Pacific M-19 Diesel Shop. This is an old "Steam Era" facility with a couple of surviving concrete "Coaling Towers" still on the property today. The modern diesel house here serves both Union Pacific, and Chicago's "Metra" Commuter locomotives. Prior to the merger of 1998, this facility originally belonged to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.

Northbound Canadian National freight train passing through Summit Illinois USA.

A partly cloudy but pleasantly mild spring morning in May of 2006, finds our photo location in a Lumberyard parking lot. This photograph was taken by Me, on My way to work that morning. The old concrete railroad viaduct bridge seen here, is located on South Archer Rd -U.S Rt # 171 just south of West 63rd Street, in the southwest suburban village of Summit Illinois. The train shown here, is entering the Indianna Harbor Belt Railroads "Argo Yard". This is a very busy location for shooting railroad photographs in the greater Chicagoland area.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

1951 General Motors bus. Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. July 1996.

Hello everyone!
Welcome to Eddie's Railfan Page. Today we are celebrating "Bus Day" here at My blog site. The old bus shown here is a 1951 General Motors TDH Series bus. This bus originally worked for a company called "Chicago Motor Coach", wich later was merged into the 1947 formed "Chicago Transit Authority. This bus was retired in the early 1970's from service on the streets of Chicago Illinois USA. Prior to 1947 , Chicago's transit operations -Streetcars -Rapid Transit -and Buses, were all operated as seperate companies. In may of 1947, The Chicago Surface Lines (Streetcars) and the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (Subways and Elevateds) Merged and became CTA. The Chicago Motor Coach Company joined CTA in the year of 1952. I rode these buses as a kid, and remember seeing pictures of them in the newspapers being stranded during the blizzard of 1967.

Southbound CTA Rt# 52 Kedzie California bus. June 2005.

I took this photograph in June of 2005 on Chicago's northside. I was just leaving "Hot Doug's" hot dog stand at the corner of California and Roscoe Avenues, and caught this scene of a southbound Chicago Transit Authority Rt # 52 Kedzie / California bus, as it just left the north terminal bus turnaround loop. This bus will proceed south to Chicago Avenue -make a right turn and go west to south Kedzie Avenue. It will then go south and terminate its run at West 63rd place and South Kedzie Avenue on the southwest side near Marquette Park. Notice the "Cue Card" in the right front windshield and the window behind the front door. Those NEW electronic route destination signs have been known to fail occasionally, and unfortunately, it has happened to this bus too. Back to the garage soon.

Westbound CTA Rt# 77 Belmont Avenue bus. April 2006.

This photograph was taken looking east from the corner of Belmont and Francisco Avenues, in April of 2006 on Chicago's northside. This bus is a 1991 Flxible Metro transit coach. I had fun shooting photographs on this lovely spring day.

Navistar school bus in Bridgeview Illinois USA. June 2005.

Seen here in a parking lot of a shopping mall , is a Navistar school bus. This photograph was taken in June of 2005, at West 87th Street and South Harlem Avenue in the suburban village of Bridgeview Illinois USA, just a few miles southwest of the city of Chicago.

Hot Doug's. 3324 North California Avenue. Chicago Illinois. USA

Sometimes when I am on location photographing transportation subjects, it is very easy to build up a really good appetite doing this fun outdoor activity.
This is a really good Hot Dog Stand restaurant on Chicago's northside that I very highly recomend. My friend Doug is the proud owner of "Hot Doug's" at 3324 North California Avenue on the Northside of the city of Chicago Illinois USA. This take out restaurant is "NOT" your ordinary Hot Dog Stand, They specialize in "Gourmet Sausage" and have been featured on the cable television channel known as "The Food Network".
This restaurant is on the southwest corner of California and Roscoe Avenues,near the north terminal of the CTA Rt # 52 Kedzie / California bus line.
Get there early because lines do form around the building at lunchtime. Call here at 1-773 279-9550.
P.s -Tell Doug that You heard about his place at Eddie's Railfan Page. http://eddiesrailroad.blogspot.com

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Steam Preservation.

Hello everyone!
Welcome to Eddie's Railfan Page. Today we are paying tribute to "Steam Preservation" at My blog site.
This early 1900's steam tractor, is an example of what type of machinery was in use before the advent of Internal Combustion Power. This photograph was taken by Me in August 2005, at the Hesston Steam Museum. This Museum is located in northwest Indianna near the Michigan State line. This museum is in the town of Hesston Indianna USA, and is a fun and educational place to visit with Your family.

New Mexico Lumber Company Shay locomotive # 7. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indianna USA. August 2005.

In August of 2005, My fiancee "Cheryl", who became My wife on June 24th 2006, took a pleasant Sunday road trip with Me to northwest Indianna. We visited the Hesston Steam Museum wich has appeared here in numerous past postings at Eddie's Railfan Page.
Shown here is New Mexico Lumber Company "Shay" locomotive # 7. Built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima Ohio in 1927. This 3 foot track guage locomotive, was Lima's "last" narrow guage shay type built. The locomotive was nearing the end of it's "Fire Damaged" rebuilding at the time of this photograph, and is scheduled to resume operation for the 2006 season. The locomotive was badly fire damaged in 1985, when the Hesston Enginehouse caught fire at the end of the openiong day operations. The Shay locomotive was invented by a man named Emphriam A. Shay in the 1880's. The Lima locomotive Works bought the patent after being impressed by this industrial type steam locomotive. These engines were not fast, but had plenty of torque. They were used in Logging, Mining, and various Industrial railroad applications. Many are in use today pulling leisurely tourist railroad passenger trains.

Inside the cab of C,B & Q Locomotive # 3006.

This is "Me", Your host and photographer Edward Kwiatkowski (Eddie.) in the year 1998 BC. ( Before "Contacts")
We are in the cab of Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad preserved steam locomotive number # 3006 in the city of Galesburg Illinois USA. This locomotive has a 4 -6 -4 wheel arrangement. that being 4 lead truck wheels -6 driving wheels -and 4 trailing truck wheels to support and balance the weight of the enormous firebox. This type of locomotive was called a "Hudson Type". The New York Central railroad had America's first 4 -6-4 types and named them after the "Hudson River". These locomotives were used almost exclusively on fast express passenger trains. Near the end of the steam era, some railroads pressed theirs into limited freight train service, as many passenger trains were rapidly becoming "Dieselized". The C,B&Q used engines like this and others on railfan passenger excursions from 1955 to 1966. Locomotive # 3006 was donated to the city of Galesburg Illinois in the year of 1961. Locomotive # 3007 is in the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois USA.

Chicago,Burlington & Quincy Railroad steam locomotive # 3006. On display in Galesburg Illinois. June 1998.

Photographed on display in Galesburg Illinois USA, is Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad steam locomotive # 3006. This locomotive is a fast and powerful 4-6-4 "Hudson " type steam locomotive. C,B & Q # 3006 was built in 1930 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA, for express passenger train service, and was in service until the late 1950's. This locomotive was donated to the city of Galesburg Illinois for display in the year 1961. The engines cab is open for display. Also a rope is attatched so You can ring the engines bell, and a small "Air whistle" with an air compressor has been installed for Your "Tooting Pleasure". It is a small whistle, not the original Baldwin 5 chime.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Scrap Yard Switcher. Chicago Illinois USA. Febuary 1986.

I had taken this photograph in Febuary of 1986, on Chicago's southwest side around west 73rd Street and South Kedzie Avenue. For about a year or so approximately, There was a privatly owned railroad locomotive scrap yard operation located just east of the Kedzie Avenue overpass bridge. In this location, anything fron retired diesel locomotives to outdated freight cars were "Cut up" for scrap metal. The old diesel locomotive here is a possible late 1940's -early 1950's vintage EMD SW-1 diesel yard switcher. These locomotives, too small for tadays class 1 operations are very versitile and after rebuilding, are still working day to day switching private industries -oil refineries -grain elevators, or in this case, switching in a privately owned scrapyard.

The Hesston steam museum. August 1984.

I took this photograph in August of 1984, during a fantrip excursion to the Hesston Steam Museum in Northwest Indianna, near the border with the State of Michigan. I had met up with a group called "The railroad club of Chicago" that day. We had boarded a Chicago, South Shore, And South Bend railroad electric commuter / Interurban train at Chicago's Randolph street station, and travelled to Michigan City Indianna. From there the group had boarded 2 chartered motor coaches, wich took us to the town of Hesston Indianna to enjoy a day at the Museum.The locomotive pictured here is New Mexico Lumber Company # 7, wich was an industrial "Shay" locomotive used primarily in Industrial and Logging railroad applications. This locomotive has 3 vertically mounted steam cylinders mounted on thee right side of the locomotive, and drive shafts connecting the geared wheels on the locomotives trucks. They weren't fast, but they were very powerful and agile. The old wooden boxcars mainly came from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad in Colorado. The following year after I had taken this photograph, Tradgedy struck at the Hesston Steam Museum. After the Memorial Day "Opening Day" operations, The hesston Enginehouse had "Caught Fire", and the wooden cars here were totally "Destroyed". Several locomotives were badly fire damaged including Shay #7 seen here. Several second hand Ex Amusement park cars were acquired in upcoming years, including cars from Chicago's "Brookfield Zoo" railroad, wich had closed in 1985. After many years of rebuilding, Shay #7 is scheduled to resume operating for the 2006 seaon.

Friday, July 07, 2006

After work railfan activities. May 2006.


Hello Everyone!
Welcome to Eddie's Railfan Page. In todays installment, we will be visiting southwest suburban Hodgkins Illinois USA in the greater Chicagoland area. Chicago Illinois USA is the railroad capital of America. While there is plenty of railroad activity within the metropolitan Chicago area, those inbound and outbound trains have to pass through Chicago's many suburban communities to get where they are going. An active suburban village with plenty of activity for railfan photographers, is nearby Hodgkins Illinois located in the near southwest suburbs. This community has the former Santa Fe railroad mainline and yard facilities inside of it, as well as a large industrial park on East Avenue, and a large railroad Intermodal yard in nearby Willow Springs Illinois. A beautiful May afternoon was spent after My workday was over, photographing the BNSF Railway in Hodgkins Illinois.

Using your own car as a photo prop. Hodgkins Illinois USA. May 2006.

I took this "Staged" photograph on My way home from work in May of 2006. I had decided to go and photograph some freight trains on the busy ex Santa Fe railroad mainline in Hodgkins Illinois, just south and west of Chicago Illinois USA. The railroad crossing on east 67th street, wich connects with "River Road" was already "Closed" to vechicle traffic, and was in the process of being phased out. A new Bypass road just west of here with an overpass bridge on east avenue was already in use. Too many previous train delays is proboubly why they did this. In the distance to the east, I spotted an approaching BNSF Railway light engine move. I then got out of My car, and used it as a prop in the photograph seen here. The crossing signals were already disconnected, and in the distance can be seen the temporary road baricades.

Westbound light engine movement. Hodgkins Illinois. May 2006.

I took this photograph one day on My way home from work, back in May of 2006. Shown here is a four unit set of BNSF Railway diesel locomotives, with one on loan from the Norfolk Southern Railroad, heading to the large BNSF intermodal yard in nearby Willow Springs Illinois USA. This is the former AT&SF (Santa Fe) railroad mainline.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Grand Trunk Western Railroad freight train on Hayford Junction Interchange Track. June 1984.

I took this photograph in June of 1984 at Hayford Junction on Chicago's southwest side. Seen here is a Grand Trunk Western Railroad transfer train heading to the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard. This freight train was heading southbound on the GTW Mainline, and has now switched onto a west bound interchange track to proceed along the Belt Railway of Chicago Trackage. Hayford Junction is located at West 76th street and South St. Louis Avenue in the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

GTW Caboose hop leaving abandoned Elsdon Yard. June 1984.

I had taken this photograph in June of 1984, at the former Grand Trunk Western railroads, now closed "Elsdon Yard" on west 51st street. This light movement seen here consisting of a Locomotive and Caboose, are reffered to by Railfans as a "Caboose Hop". The locomotive and caboose are heading south and are in the process of crossing west 51st street, just east of south Lawndale Avenue. The locomotive is still in Detroit ,Toledo and Ironton Railroad markings, as the Grand Trunk Western Merged with and bought out the D,T& I back in 1981. The tan colored building behind the locomotive, is a transient motel, bar and grill for railroad workers called "Baca's Cook Shop". Until the previous October, The beautiful wooden 1888 vintage Elsdon depot stood behind the locomotive in this seen. The GTW Elsdon Yard was closed in October of 1983, and their switching and Engine Servicing needs, were then moved to the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard in Bedford Park Illinois USA near Chicago's Midway Airport.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Eastbound Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee Railroad interurban coach. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. July 1988.

I was standing in what was normally a flowing creek, on a July 1988 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois USA. Illinois was experiencing an extreme "Drought" condition that summer. I was standing on dry mud, that was normally one or two feet of flowing water running under the wooden trestle seen here. The grass was turning brown in many locations, and the museums steam train operations had experienced a lineside brush fire or two, from coal burning Frisco Railroad No# 1630. Many Illinois farmers had lost crops that summer. By the conditions being as dry as they were, I had the fortunate pleasure, of capturing a scene like this on the museums operating mainline.

The engine house at the Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indianna USA. June 1988.

This is a "Rare" behind the scenes view, of a railroad museum repair shop. This building is normally "Locked" and is generally off limits to the general visiting public. The two narrow guage steam locomotives shown here, are two unfortunate victims of the 1985 opening day enginehouse fire. There was more than considerable damage to these locomotives, and several wooden cars stored in the original shop building were destroyed. By the time I had taken these photos, the museum resumed operations with a Czechloslovakian 0-4-0 tank locomotive and several cars on loan from the recently closed Chicago Brookfield Zoo railroad. Other cars from Ohio's "Kings Island" amusement park and other sources were starting to slowly arrive on the property. The "Shay" logging locomotive in the background was the Lima Locomotive Works last narrow guage shay locomotive built. 1929.
Shay locomotives had verticle side mounted cylinders, and drive shafts attached to the locomotives trucks. They weren't fast, but they were very powerful. Lots of torque. They were used mainly in Logging, Mining, and Industrial railroading. Mainly logging. It was a pleasant surprise on this day, when a museum volunteer let Me inside to photograph this scene.