This is a "Rare" photograph I had taken in April of 1983. This is the long gone Grand Trunk Western Railroad's Elsdon depot on west 51st Street on Chicago's southwest side. A crew member has stepped outside by the bench for some fresh night air, while the yard dispatcher goes about his business inside the depot.
I took this photo of a rare behind the scenes action photograph, of a railroad museums operations. Frisco steam locomotive # 1630 didn't always pull tourist passenger trains at the museum, sometimes it had to "Pitch In" and do some chores like switching and moving cars. Here is a scene of # 1630 doing what it did in it's service life back in the steam era. Working.
A CP Rail freight train, has no choice but to sit and wait for clearance to proceed from the dispatcher. This scene was photographed by Myself at Craigin Junction, located just east of the brand new Metra Cicero / Grand Avenue commuter rail station on Chicago's northside.
I took this photo on a snowy and very overcast day, in Febuary of 2007. This is a Metra commuter rail maintenance department truck. The maintenance crew was doing some construction and maintenance work at the Cicero / Grand Avenue commuter station at Craigin Jct. The two tracks in the foreground are for Metra commuter trains, while the track in the background is a connecting track for freight trains entering or leaving the Belt Railway of Chicago interchange at Craigin Junction.
This was an old photo I had taken in La Grange
I took this photo looking west from south Kostner Avenue and west 52nd Street, in May of 1990. The gravel road I am standing on, was the Indiana Harbor belt Railroad's former Stockyards industrial branch, wich was abandoned in December of 1988 and dismantled the following year. These are the concrete trestle piers for the CTA Orange line rapid transit to Midway Airport, and run adjacent to the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks that serve the Santa Fe Corwith Yard. This corridor was being redeveloped for public transportation and new housing at the time of this photograph. The CTA Orange line opened for service in the fall of 1993. Rapid transit trains roar overhead today.
Hello everyone!
I took this photo on a lovely autum Sunday, in late October of 1989. Seen here racing westbound through the west suburban village of Hindsdale Illinois USA, was one of several Burlington Northern Railroad freight trains dispatched with clearance on the 3 track Chicago to Aurora Illinois "Racetrack", as this line was so nicknamed. The commuter trains terminate at the west terminal in Aurora Illinois, while the freight trains continue to points west beyond. Another mainline branches off in Aurora and proceeds northwest to Wisconsin, Minesota, and other states in the pacific northwest region of the United States of America. The BN casccade green color scheme highlights the lovely seasonal autum colors in the greater Chicagoland area.
A short Burlington Northern freight train is seen passing through the village of West Hindsdale Illinois USA , on a lovely Autum Sunday afternoon in the year of 1989. The train is being pulled by an elderly 1st Generation EMD GP-7 diesel locomotive. The long tubes on the top of the locomotives hood carbody, are air tank reservoirs. Locomotives with this option were dual service, and used on secondary passenger trains. The inside space normally used for this was taken up with a large water tank and boiler, for steam heating and power generation on passenger trains. Therefore, the air tanks were moved up to the roof. The former Chicago,Burlington & Quincy Railroad, a pre 1970 BN predecessor Railroad used these dual service early EMD's on freight and passenger trains. This may be a former unit inherited from the C,B & Q.
I took this photo one Sunday in late October of 1989. I was still living on Chicago's southwest side, and was riding My bicycle "cross Country"
This unique display of antique vehicles, is located just north of the intersection of Roosevelt and Manheim Roads, in the village of Hillside Illinois.
Yes it's true folks. Believe it or not...You can take a Metra train to "Mars"!
I took this photo looking east, at the Metra station in northwest suburban River Grove Illinois USA. The maintenance department superintendent spotted Me with My camera, gave Me a beep on his horn, and waved nicely to Me as He passed through the station between train times. This is a behind the scenes view of maintenance operations on a commuter rail system. He may have been enroute to a job site.
I took this photo looking sw from the west Roosevelt Road overpass near south Canal Street. This is a day to day,behind the scenes view of what happens at the Amtrak coach yard.
The light of day is fading, as a westbound Metra commuter train heads to Elburn Illinois. This train is being pulled by a late 1970's vintage EMD F-40PH passenger diesel. This is the Union Pacific "West line" wich was formerly known as the Chicago & North Western railroad. The train is speeding along west Kinzie Street.
Hello everybody!
This is a picture postcard of a Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad diesel locomotive.
This is a picture postcard of the Rock Island Railroads's Peoria Rocket passenger train.
Here is a picture postcard I had purchased quiete some time ago.
The Chicago ,Rock Island & Pacific railroad was
I took this photo in the town of Alsip Illinois, on a mild October afternoon in 1990. It was late October, and that wonderful 70 degree day was spent riding My bicycle. Heading southeast through southwest suburban Alsip Illinois, is an IHB transfer train passing through some tall lineside grass near west 123rd Street and south Cicero Avenue. U.S Route 50.
I took this photo back in early April of 1989, near Chicago's Midway Airport. This old railroad crossbuck and partially dismantled trackage, is from the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad's Stock Yards industrial branch. This scene is around west 52nd Street approximately one block west of south Keeler Avenue. The stockyards branch was in poor shape with operating speeds about 5 MPH and occasional slow speed derailments due to rotted ties and kinked rails. This branchline was abandoned in December of 1988, and the IHB switching locals were diverted to the adjacent Belt Railway of Chicago track, just to the south.
I took this photo on a mild sunny day in December of 1990, in Forest View Illinois near the village of Stickney.
Here is My one and only photo that I have, from one of My early railfan locations. I attended nearby Curie High School from 1977 to 1981, and spent a lot of time visiting 55th Street junction and tower near Chicago's Midway Airport. I would sometimes come here after school to watch the Belt Railway of Chicago trains come and go from Clearing Yard in southwest suburban Bedford Park IL.
I took this photo after work one day, in Febuary of 2007. We are looking west into a very frigid 8 degrees above zero farenheight winter sunset.
A 2 unit BNSF Railway light engine movement, has just passed over the former Illinois Central RR crosstracks at Hawthorne Junction. This very active interchange junction is at the Chicago city limits,just east of the suburban village of Cicero IL. The grassy hill in the background, is the abandoned Bel Aire Drive In movie theatre east of south Cicero Avenue at approximately west 33rd Street. Chicago winter railroading.
I had taken this photo just south of west 71st Street, in May of 1987. I was just walking north along the GTW right of way, after spending part of an afternoon railfanning at Hayford Junction.
I took this lovely early summer day photo in the suburban village of La Grange Illinois. This photo was taken just east of what is todays Metra La Grange Road commuter rail station. During the 1970's and 80's...Orange diagonal reflective striping was the standard on Chicago commuter trains on some lines, prior to the creation of Metra. I had spent this lovely afternoon shopping and exploring one of My all time favorite suburban communities. It was and still is, a great place to go railfanning, shopping, or just hang out.
I took this photo at work, on March 1st 2006. My soft drink company I work for was doing a big promotion on Green River soda, and sent Me downtown to prospect some of the old Osco drug stores prior to the CVS takeover. Parking in downtown Chicago Illinois, is either hard to come by, or very expensive. So I took the Chicago Transit Authority's Brown Line rapid transit. Seen here is My train arriving at the west Addison Street station near north Ashland Avenue. This station has since been closed, and is being rebuilt to accomodate 8 car rush hour trains instead of the original 6 car standard, and better accessibility for the elderly and handicapped patrons. Prior to the CTA's use of color coding the rapid transit lines during the 1990's, this particulair line was known as the "Ravenswood Elevated Line". It still had wooden platforms in 2006.
I took this photo after work one day, on location in North Riverside Illinois. I was walking and exploring Commons Park on DesPlaines Avenue, and found the old neon sign from the legendary "Melody Mill Ballroom", in the public works little storage lot behind a chain link fence. The property that is Commons Park, was once a golf driving range. The old Melody Mill Ballroom was immediately adjacent to the property. The Melody Mill Ballroom was demolished around the late 1970's along with the golf driving range, and was redeveloped into todays Commons Park. There is a local Chicago ghost story, about how supposidly the apparition known as "Ressurection Mary" used to dance here and ask for rides home afterwards, only to dissapear into the night in front of Ressurection Cemetery. The Melody Mill was frequented by many older Chicagoans, and they would dance -socialize -and listen to 1940's swing / big band music.
I took this photo one day after work, on location at a place called Commons Park , in the west suburban village of North Riverside Illinois. The Canadian National Railroad's former Illinois Central Iowa division mainline runs adjacent to the north side of this large city park. This park is located on the east side of Des Plaines Avenue between west 26th Street and west Cermak Road, and is located next to a large Police and Fire station, and also the city Public Works. The lead diesel locomotive in the gray color scheme appears to be a secondhand unit from the Kansas City Southern Railroad,wich uses this particulair color scheme. The 2nd unit looks like it may have been borrowed from CSX Transportation. 
I took this photo one Sunday evening in January of 2007.
I took this photo near west 49th Street and south Lawndale Avenue, in late January of 2007. A westbound Chicago Transit Authority orange line rapid transit train heading to Midway Airport, was spotted in blue and orange Chicago Bears NFL football markings. Seen in the background behind the elevated rapid transit embankment, is My old alma matter Curie High School. I attended Curie from 1977 to 1981.
I took this photo on My way to work one morning, in Febuary of 2007. The Chicago Bears NFL Football team had unfortunately lost Superbowl 41 to the Indiannapolis Colts.
Good morning everyone!
I took this photo of these two Pre CTA , Chicago Surface Lines vechicles. The bus on the left, is a 1944 White bus. The vechicle on the right is a 1922 electric streetcar. These historic transit vechicles were used by the company known as Chicago Surface Lines, wich was mostly a streetcar operator, but used motor buses on lightly patronized routes. The Chicago Transit Authority was formed in November of 1947, from the amalgamation of the CSL, and the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. In the year of 1952, transit bus operator "Chicago Motor Coach" also joined and became part of the CTA. Both of these two historic transit vechicles are restored and operated for the visiting public.
I took this evening rush hour photo, on a cold December evening in 2003. We are on north Cicero Avenue near Belmont on Chicago's northside. Prior to 1973, this was a very busy Trolleybus intersection, as the overhead wires and special work from the Route # 77 Belmont, and Route #54 Cicero Avenue bus lines crossed here. A group of commuters are heading home on a southbound CTA Nova bus on the Cicero Avenue line. Another working day is over.
I took this dramatic Chicago weather photo on location in November of 2006. We are looking north on Lincoln Avenue at the intersection of west Berteau Street on the northside of Chicago.
I took this photograph just north of the intersection of Western Avenue and Division Street on Chicago's near northside. It was raining out at the time of this morning photograph, but things were about to get worse. The dark black and gray clouds of an approaching thunderstorm out of the north were quickly arriving. In about 2 to 3 minutes...This place was looking like a waterfall with low visibility. I got drenched!
This 1967 GMC bus originally worked for the West Towns Bus Company in Chicago's western suburbs. After the 1974 creation of RTA...This bus was "Hand painted" into the unique color scheme shown here to honor the Chicago Brookfield Zoo. This bus ran in service until the mid 1980's, and is now privately owned and occasionally operated at the Midwest Transit Bus Museum in Cresthill Illinois near the city of Joliet.
I took this photo on a quiet Saturday Morning in downtown Chicago Illinois USA, during April of 2001. Seen here heading west on Madison Street near Franklin, is a CTA 1991 Flxible Metro transit coach.
The city of Chicago Illinois USA and it's surrounding areas in the midwest, have been undergoing a deep freeze condition since early Febuary of this year. With days on end of outside temperatures at either above or below zero degrees farenheight, and bitter windchill factors, the city of Chicago has been experiencing numerous problems with broken water main pipes and frozen fire hydrants. Seen here heading north at the intersection of north Broadway and west Granville Avenues, is a tractor / trailer dump truck from the Chicago Department of Water Management. He is more than likely heading to a water main repair site. Flooding and extreme ice conditions on city streets have brought hardship to the windy city during one of the worst winters that Chicago has seen in a number of years. Hurry springtime! Please.
Seen here enroute to the BNSF Clyde Yard in the village of Cicero Illinois USA, is a northbound two unit BNSF Railway light engine movement. It was a bitterly cold 8 above zero farenheight with a ten below windchill factor out of the west, when I took this sunset photo on location.
I took this cold winter evening photo during the deep freeze that Chicago was experiencing, in early Febuary of 2007. We are just east of Hawthorne Junction, on the Canadian National Railroad's former, Illinois Central Iowa Division Mainline. A former GTW diesel acquired through merger, is seen setting out covered hoppers, as the sunslight fades out on a bitterly cold day.
Seen here waiting for clearance to proceed north, is a Union Pacific freight train, travelling over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. This was a blustery bitter cold day in early Febuary of 2007. The greater Chicagoland area was in a deep freeze condition at this point in time. It was a bitter 6 above zero farenheight with a windchill out of the west when I took this photograph.
I took this photo at the corner of north Kilbourn Avenue and west Kinzie Street on Chicago's west side, during the December 1st 2006 snowstorm. Chicago was hit with heavy snowfall and treacherous driving conditions that day.
Seen here on the west side of Chicago, is an Iowa Chicago and Eastern RR freight train on a hold order. Approximately 40 feet ahead of this train on the same track, is yet another freight train stuck waiting for clearance at Craigin Junction about one mile north of this location. This picture was taken on the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage, where it passes over the Union Pacific Railroad's former Chicago & NorthWestern RR.
Hello everyone!
This is a rare photo I had taken back in late May of 1983. This railroad officers business car was photographed on the east side of the GTW Elsdon Yard near south St.Louis Avenue along west 51st Street. Everything seemed normal to Me on this very lovely and warm late spring sunset. In October of 1983...The GTW Elsdon Yard on west 51st Street and the roundhouse / locomotive servicing facilitties at 49th Street and south Kedzie Avenue would be closed permanently.
I took this photo near west 67th Street,east of south Cicero Avenue. The freight train seen here is a southbound Burlington Northern railroad transfer train, and it is traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage enroute to nearby Clearing Yard, in southwest suburban Bedford Park Illinois. This is just located south of Chicago's Midway Airport.
