Won't -You -let Me take You on a -sea cruise. Chicago's sightseeing boat rides and luxury cruises on Lake michigan. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo out of My cars passenger side window, while heading northbound on Lakeshore Drive. Lake Michigan is alive and well during any Chicago summer season. Seen here is one of the many charter luxury dinner or party cruise line boats that depart from Chicago's Navy Pier. Sightseeing boat cruises are a big part of summer tourism in the Windy City. I have happy memories of sit down / narrated sightseeing cruises, night time cruises with a full view of the Chicago city skyline at night, Luncheon buffet cruises, and even a dinner party dance cruise on the Spirit of Chicago cruise line. Summer boat cruises on Lake Michigan has always been a happy summer memory for Me growing up in the city of Chicago Illinois. Its a great time!

Indiana Harbor Belt 2 unit light engine movement approaching Argo Yard. Summit Illinois USA. June 2007.

A two unit set of Indiana Harbor Belt EMD roadswitchers, is seen heading northwest to the IHB Argo Yard facility . A CSX Transportation Maintenance of way department worker has returned to his company's utility truck, as this set of locomotives proceeds to the yard ahead. I tookthis photo from a lumber company parking lot along the east south of South Archer Road near west 63rd Street.

Westbound Norfolk Southern transfer train waiting for clearance. Cragin Juction. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo after work one late afternoon approximately 2 weeks ago. We are at Cragin Junction on Chicago's northside . Located just east of the intersection of Grand and Cicero Avenues near the Metra Grand / Cicero commuter rail station. The train is seen waiting on a hold order on the Belt Railway of Chicago interchange connection track. Cragin Junction is the north terminal for the Belt Railway of Chicago, and interchanges here with the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road mainline. This was during rush hour, and the train shown here had to wait for several inbound and outbound Metra commuter rail trains to pass.

East Troy Electric Railroad open streetcar # 21. The East Troy Electric Railroad and Museum. East troy Wisconsin USA. September 2006.

Summer had just ended in 2006, and My lovely wife Cheryl and Myself were celebrating our belated Honeymoon in nearby Lake Geneva Wisconsin USA. Seen here on a beautiful and cool temperatured September day in 2006, is East Troy Electric Railroad 4 wheel oped trolley # 21. The train was waiting for eastbound passengers at the East troy station. September was a nice month to visit this operation, as there was plenty of equipment operating, the weather was nice, and it wasn't too crowded with patrons.

Sunset in south suburban Tinley Park Illinois. August 2006.

The railroad crossing gate is backlit by the setting sun, on a lovely summer evening back in August of 2006. Another summer day is ending in Chicagoland. I took this photo looking west toward South Oak Park Avenue, from the Metra Tinley Park commuter rail station. Prior to the year of 1980, this was the former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, aka The Rock Island Line. Today, a small handfull of run through freight trains from the Iowa Interstate Railroad speed through this town. Railroad traffic is mostly Metra commuter rail trains operating between Chicago and Joliet Illinois on this particular railroad mainline.

Northbound Union Pacific transfer train. Mc Cook Junction. Mc Cook Illinois USA. May 2007.

A northbound Union Pacific Railroad transfer freight train, traveling north on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, has just cleared the east / west - BNSF Railway crosstracks at Mc Cook Junction. The large gravel piles to the left, are on the property of The Vulcan Materials Company. I took this photo on a very lovely springtime morning in May of 2007. It was a lovely morning to be on location with a digital camera.

Switching tank cars at the former Illinois Central Crawford Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. May 2007

I took this photo after work one lovely Spring evening back in May of 2007. The facility shown here, is the former Illinois Central Crawford Yard on Chicago's near southwest side. In the year of 1999, the Canadian National Railroad merged and absorbed the former Illinois Central Railroad. On any given day, this little facility on the old I.C Iowa division mainline, can find locomotives from fallen flag railroads acquired through mergers. An example being this former Grand trunk Western blue and red EMD Roadswitcher. Sometimes former Illinois central diesels in full 1990's black with white markings, can be found spotting cars here at Crawford Yard. Crawford Yard is just a few city blocks east of Hawthorne Junction along West 33rd Street, between South Pulaski road , and South Kostner Avenue near the Chicago city limits.

A happy Chicagoland memory from summers past. Irv's Golf Range on South Cicero Avenue. Bedford Park Illinois. July 1985.

Hi Everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page from the city of Chicago.
Seen here along the west side of South Cicero Avenue at approximately West 70th Street, is the entrance sign to the now gone Irv's Golf Range in southwest suburban Bedford Park Illinois, near Chicago's Midway Airport. For many years begining around 1974, My Family and friends, and occasionally Myself, enjoyed spending many fun hours hitting a bucket of practice golf balls here. Irv's featured batting cages, miniature golf, and an arcade with video and pinball games. The site was in operation until 1991. The place was later sold and redeveloped into a Walmart store. Irv's Golf Range was located along the south side of the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. Think about it -Golf -Batting Cages -Arcade -Railfanning.
It didn't get much better than that! Irv's was really a fun place!

Southbound Canadian Pacific Railroad transfer train approaching Hawthorne junction. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo Monday after work this week. Seen here heading southbound on the Belt Railway of Chicago, is a Canadian Pacific transfer freight train, approaching the Canadian National Railroad's former Illinois Central crosstracks at Hawthorne Junction. I was standing just west of the crosstracks, to get the best lighting advantage from the late day sunshine for photography. Hawthorne Junction is located at the Chicago city limits, just a few blocks east of the west suburban Village of Cicero Illinois. Most of the trains through here are slow transfer freight trains to and from Clearing Yard in Bedford Park, as well as Glen Yard and Corwith Yard interchange runs. The former Illinois central Iowa Division mainline features numerous locals and occasional transfer trains. There is also some degree of switching locals serving online industries on the Belt Railway of Chicago's north -south line.

The Metra Western Avenue commuter rail station. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo last Wednsday on a hot Chicago afternoon. Seen here on Chicago's near northside at North western avenue and west hubbard street, is the Metra Western avenue station. This station is located on the former Milwaukee Road mainline. The former Chicago & NorthWestern mainline passes on the south adjacent to the station. This is a very busy location, as both railroad lines feature Metra coach yards to the near west at North California Avenue. There are many commuter trains coming and going here, as well as coachyard switching, and light equipment and engine moves to and from Chicago Union Station. Bring Your camera for lots of photos.

Downtown La Grange Illinois USA. June 1986.

A cautious pedestrian is seen walking northbound along La Grange road by the Metra / Burlington Northern Railroad commuter rail station on a hot summer day. This view has changed greatly in recent years, as the La Grange State Bank at the northeast corner of La Grange Road and West Hillgrove Avenue, was demolished and replaced by a large Border's Books and Music store.. The old wendy's fast food restaurant in the background to the left, is now a vacant lot awaiting redevelopment.

Chicago Transit Authority PCC streetcar # 4391. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. July 1988.

I took this photo at the Illinois Railway Museum during a very Hot and extremely dry July 1988 summer visit. The State of Illinois and other parts of the midwest were experiencing an extreme Draught condition. Notice the straw brown and yellow wintery looking grass from the lack of rain. This electric streetcar, CTA # 4391 was built by the St, Louis Car Company in 1948, and was one of the last streetcars built and ordered for the recently former Chicago Transit Authority. The CTA was already in the process of phasing out the streetcar lines, and upgrading the Rapid Transit lines instead. Car # 4391 ran until the end of Chicago streetcar service on june 21st 1958, and is the only newer PCC streetcar preserved. The other ones were cut up for scrap, and recycled into 6000 series rapid transit cars.

Northbound Grand Trunk Western train passing through Mc Cook Junction. Mc Cook Illinois USA. May 1990.

Seen here passing the large Vulcan Materials facility just north of the IHB / A,T & S, F crosstracks, is a northbound Grand Trunk western Railroad transfer train. The train is traveling over the Indiana Harbor belt Railroad. Back in May of 1990, The Indiana Harbor Belt crossed over and interchanged with the former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe mainline. In 1995, the Burlington Northern railroad and the Atchinson , Topeka & Santa Fe merged and became todays BNSF Railway. Mc Cook Junction is still a very busy crosstrack interchange today.

It's that time of the year again in Chicago. Summer!

I took this photo at the intersection of South Archer and Oakpark Avenue's. Seen here in Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood community near Midway Airport, is one of the many green painted Chicago public drinking fountains.
After spending the winter months in storage, these fountains are now in place, and ready to quench many a hot Chicago summer thirst. This has always been a favorite seasonal summer sight in the windy city for Me.

Westbound Burlington Northern RR commuter local leaving the Metra / Cicero Avenue commuter rail flagstop depot. Cicero Illinois USA. June 1986.

A real blast from the past would describe this 1980's era Chicagoland railfan's photograph.
Believe Me....I am so glad I took this when I did.
A westbound Metra / Burlington Northern commuter local to Aurora Illinois, is seen leaving the Cicero Avenue commuter rail flagstop depot in west suburban Cicero Illinois. The bridge in the background, is West Ogden Avenue, formerly old U.S Route # 66. The bridge was removed and Ogden Avenue relocated during the 1990's. The old Burlington northern 1953 vintage EMD E-9
locomotives like the one seen here, were retired in September of 1992. In 1995, the Burlington Northern and the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe merged and became todays BNSF Railway.
This is an example of how You can capture and document local history on film for others to see.

Grand Trunk Western locomotives idling between assignments at the former Elsdon Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. August 1986.

I took this photo looking north from West 51st Street near South Lawndale Avenue, on a hot summer day in August of 1986. The busy 14 track Elsdon Yard and roundhouse on Chicago's southwest side, was closed in October of 1983. For a few years afterwards, this curved section was used as a temporary locomotive and crew terminal. Locomotives were fueled on site via tractor and trailer semi tank trucks. The following Month of September 1986, would find this last remnant of a once proud Chicago railroad yard closed for good.

Eastbound Metra commuter rail train leaving Hollywood station. Brookfield Illinois USA. Early June 2007.

The late day sun is glinting off of the stainless steel sides of an eastbound Metra commuter local. The train seen here has just reved it's engine block after an airbrake test, and is slowly gaining momentum as it leaves the Hollywood Station -aka Zoo Stop, on the east side of Brookfield Illinois. The next stop will be Riverside Illinois. After a few more stops, the train will arrive at Chicago Union Station.
This was photographed on the busy BNSF Railway mainline. Commuter trains travel daily over the 3 track mainline between Chicago and Aurora Illinois.

Westbound Canadian Pacific unit grain train crossing 25th Avenue. Franklin Park Illinois USA. Early June 2007.

All traffic on 25th Avenue has come to a stop, as a slow moving westbound Canadian Pacific railroad unit grain train, is heading to the former Milwaukee Road Bensenville Yard.
Franklin Park Illinois in Chicago's near northwest suburbs, has plenty of photo opportunities for local and visiting railfan photographers. If You do not own a car, this location can be reached by Metra commuter rail trains, or Pace buses.

Eastbound Metra commuter train passing through Chicago's Norwood Park neighborhood community. Chicago Illinois USA. April 2007.

I took this photo around sunset, in the parking lot of a local business along Northwest Highway.
An eastbound Metra / Union Pacific Northwest Line commter local to downtown Chicago Illinois, is seen passing a few blocks east of the Norwood Park commuter rail station. The Metra / Union Pacific Northwest line commuter trains travel daily between Chicago and Harvard Illinois. Some of the communities served on this line include Edison Park -Park ridge -Desplaines -Arlington Heights -Cary -Palatine -Cary and Woodstock Illinois. This rail line was formerly the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad.

Springtime flowers in Chicago. May 2007.

One of My all time favorite seasonal topics I love to see and photograph in the windy city, is the annual flowers that bloom in the Spring and Summer. After months of cold temperatures, brown grass and bare trees, The flowers seem to smile and say "Hello", as a new season arrives.
Springtime is definately My personal favorite time of the year in the greater Chicagoland area.

Elgin,Joliet & Eastern RR 2-8-2 Type # 765. Gary Indiana USA. July 1988.

I took this photo from a coach window, aboard a Chicago, South Shore & South Bend electric passenger train enroute to Michigan City Indiana. The old steam locomotive shown here on display in a Gary city park, is the sole surviving steam locomotive from the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. The outlying belt railroad known as the Elgin ,Joliet & Eastern Railroad, was once owned by U.S.S Steel Corporation, and was known in nickname as the Chicago, Outer Belt line. The E,J & E had dieselized early during the 1940's after World War 2 had ended. This is their only surviving steam locomotive today.

Westbound Canadian Pacific RR transfer freight train approaching Franklin Park Illinois USA. Early June 2007.

The railroad crossing gate mechanism box on the foreground, is gleaming in a fresh coat of silver paint, as a westbound CP Rail freight train approaches the grade crossing on 25th Avenue in downtown Franklin Park Illinois. The train is being lead by two former Soo Line locomotives, that are still in the former railroads colors and markings after all of these years. The Canadian Pacific merged and absorbed the former Soo Line in a 1990 merger. Old and new equipment and color schemes is an everyday sight in Franklin Park Illinois. This is a very busy railroad junction and freight yard town in Chicago's northwest suburbs, near O'Hare International Airport.

The La Grange Road Metra commuter rail station. La Grange Illinois USA. June 2007.

Seen here on West Burlington Avenue in downtown La Grange Illinois, is the very lovely and architecturally stylish La Grange Road Metra commuter rail station in Chicago's western suburbs. This facility is also served by the Amtrak Illinois Zephyr passenger train wich runs from Chicago to Quincy Illinois. I took this photo on a lovely late Spring afternoon in early June of 2007. This commuter rail station is located on the BNSF Railway mainline. This is a very active place for railfan photographers to visit with frequent commuter and freight train activity.

Inside the 14 inch gauge enginehouse. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. June 1990.

Sitting quietely between operating assigments, is this miniature live steam 14 inch track gauge 4-4-0 type steam locomotive. This is the enginehouse and shop building for the museums 14 inch guage equipment. This is a behind the scenes view of how this particular group of miniature railroad equipment is stored and maintained. A garage for trains.

Northbound Grand Trunk Western RR freight train passing through Alsip Illinois USA. April 1990.

I took this photo looking west on 123rd Street, in the south suburban village of Alsip Illinois. This was a cloudy springtime sunday afternoon in the year of 1990, and occasional rain showers did fall on this particular day. The ringing of crossing gate signals and tooting of locomotive air horns, interupted the silence of a quiet sunday afternoon in Alsip. The blue and red GTW locomotives in a recent paint job, helped to add color to an otherwise gray afternoon.

The original Chickie's Hot Dogs on South Pulaski Road. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I was passing through My old Chicago neighborhod one day on a business call, and stopped to photograph the original Chickie's Hot Dogs on South Pulaski Road near west 28th Street. After doing business at this location in the Little Village neighborhood for 45 years, the Family that owns it decided to sell the store.
Not to worry! Chickie's business has expanded, and they are pursuing suburban locations around Chicagoland. This place is as old as I am, and I can recall childhood memorys of eating here with My Family during the 1960's and 70's. This was a great place for Chicago style Hot Dogs -Italian Beef and Sausage -and Home Cut French fries.
I witnessed several now famous Chicago restaurants such as Connie's Pizza -Home Run Inn Pizza -Giordano's -Eli's Cheesecake -Lalo's -Mi Tierra -Nicky's gyros -and Al's italian Beef
before they were even famous and franchised with several locations. This may be one of them.

Eastbound Canadian Pacific freight train crossing Thatcher Avenue. River Grove Illinois USA. June 2007.

Even though I was stuck in a traffic jam, and still a considerable distance from the railroad tracks...I decided to attempt this evening photograph looking north on Thatcher avenue in northwest suburban River Grove Illinois. A slow moving eastbound Canadian Pacific Railroad transfer freight train, has brough all traffic on Thatcher Avenue to a complete stop. To the right at the fence, is the site of the recently demolished Questhoff's Flower Shop. The approaching night time sky and mild temperatures made the waiting a pleasant experience for this photographer.

Sunset at the River Grove Metra commuter rail station. River Grove Illinois USA. June 2007.

Another beautiful late Spring day is coming to an end, as the setting sun paints a colorful picture on the sky in near northwest suburban River Grove Illinois. The outdoor station and platform lights had just turned on before I snapped this photo looking west from Thatcher Avenue.

Passengers disembarking the Kiddieland Limited. Kiddieland Amusement Park. Melrose Park Illinois USA. September 2006.

I took this photo from the south parking lot at the miniature railroad station. The Kiddieland Limited gas powered replica 1950's era streamliner passenger train, has just came to a complete stop, and the passengers are now leaving the train. This post summer season photograph, was taken on a Friday night approximately during the last hour of amusement park operations for the night.

The ready tracks at the Union Pacific Railroad M-19 diesel locomotive shops. Chicago Illinois USA. September 2006.

Seen alongside West Kinzie Street in the city of Chicago Illinois, is the Union Pacific Railroad's own M-19 diesel locomotive servicing shops .
This facility located on Chicago's westside, services numerous road freight, and local terminal switching locomotives, as well as Metra commuter rail service diesel locomotives. This is located on the Union Pacific / Metra commuter West Line to Elburn Illinois. This facility formerly belonged to the Chicago & Northestern Railroad in recent past years.

Attention Chicago area railfans!

Be sure to visit the River Grove Public Library on Monday, July 9th 2007. Eddie K. from the popular Chicagoland transportation blog site
Eddie's Railfan Page http://eddiesrailroad.blogspot.com

will be hosting a Railfan slide show and video presentation.
The River Grove Public Library is located at 8638 West grand Avenue in NW suburban River Grove Illinois. The show will begin at 7:00 PM.

Seating is limited, First come -first serve.

We hope to see You there.

Your host and photographer in 1984 at age 22.

Hi everybody!

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page. Here is a picture of Me back in my early railfan photography days in 1984. In todays edition, I will be showcasing a small collection of My 1980's tourist railway photographs. I hope that You enjoy these.

Kettle Moraine Railway # 9. Northlake Wisconsin USA. August 1985.

I took this photo at the Kettle Moraine Railway in Northlake Wisconsin, during an August 1985 fantrip with The Railroad Club of Chicago. This was My one and only visit to this now defunct tourist railroad. Seen here at the Northlake depot, is steam locomotive # 9 and train waiting for departure. Locomotive # 9 was built in 1901 by the Baldwin locomotive Company, and pulled logging trains for the Mc,Cloud River railroad in Northern California. This locomotive is a 2-6-2 prairie type, and was equiped with two different whistles, at least in tourist railway service.

Polsen Lumber Company # 2 in temporary storage. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. September 1982.

I took this photo at the Illinois Railway Museum during a September 1982 visit. During this time, the museum had built up quiete a surplus of equipment that wasn't needed. Some of it belonged to private individuals who had a lack of any place else to store it. Locomotive # 2 seen here, was a Baldwin 2-8-2 logging type from the Polsen Lumber Company, and in recent years...was hauling tourist trains on the now defunct Kettle Moraine Railway in Northlake Wisconsin. To raise much needed funding, the museum held a Grand Auction of their surplus equipment. Locomotive # 2 went to the Mid Continent Railway Museum at North Freedom Wisconsin, and hauled tourist trains into the 1980's and 90's. It is currently undergoing a lenghty mechanical overhaul at North freedom Wi.

Nickle Plate Road steam locomotive # 765 at the former NorthWestern Station. Chicago Illinois USA. September 1985.

I took this photo of the famouse NKP # 765 prior to departure from Chicago Illinois. On September 7th 1985, Chicago's 20th Century Railroad Club ran this chartered mainline excursion from Chicago to Sterling Illinois, over the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad. The steam building up in the locomotives boiler was nothing compared to the outside temperatures that day. It was the HOTTEST day of the year in Illinois, with temperatures topping 100 degrees farenheight, and an air conditioning system that didn't work at all in My 2nd class coach. I spent most of the ride in the vestubule with an open dutch door to get some circulating air. It was miserably hot outside, but still a nice charter trip.

Springtime in Chicago. View looking south on North Kolmar Avenue. May 2007.

I took this lovely Springtime afternoon photo, on Chicago's northside back in mid May of 2007.
I had just turned south off of West Belmont Avenue, and was totally captivated by the beauty of North Kolmar avenue in all of it's seasonal lush green beauty. North Kolmar Avenue through here, is in a Boulevard setting, and is a lovely sight to behold in the windy city.
Chicago Illinois USA, has seen much planting and landscape improvements throughout the various neighborhoods in recent years.

Eastbound Metra commuter local departing the Congress Park flagstop depot. Brookfield Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo, on a lovely springtime morning in May of 2007. Seen here approaching the Maple Avenue grade crossing in west suburban Brookfield Illinois, is a Metra all stops commuter local, enroute to Chicago Union station. The train has just left the tiny Congress Park flagstop shelter style station approximately 4 blocks west, and will soon be taking passengers to their places of employment in the greater Chicagoland area. Morning rush hour rail commuting.

Locomotives idling between assignments. Schiller Park Illinois USA. May 2007.

A trio of EMD locomotives from various railroads, are seen in a small terminal yard in Schiller Park Illinois. These locomotives were sitting on the ready tracks, with the sounds of their internal engine blocks softly idling away.

Eastbound Metra commuter rail train enroute to Downtown Chicago. Maywood Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo one morning in May of 2007. A Metra commuter local to downtown Chicago Illinois, is seen departing west suburban Maywood Illinois. This is on the Union Pacific West line to Elburn Illinois. On any given day, this line is very active with numerous freight and commuter trains keeping dispatchers busy.

Switching activity at the Canadian National Railroad's Glen Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo after work one evening in May of 2007. This view is looking east from the South Central Avenue bridge just south of the U.S Route I-55 Stevenson Expressway. A large cut of tank cars is seen being moved back and forth on the east end of the former Illinois Central Glen Yard on Chicago's southwest side. Out of view to the left, is a bl;ack and white former Illinois Central EMD Roadswitcher still in late 1980's and early 1990's Illinois Central logo and markings. The Canadian National Railroad merged and absorbed the old I.C in 1999.

Southbound Canadian Pacific Railroad transfer train. The Belt Railway of Chicago's north-south line. Chicago Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo on Chicago's westside. This is alongside north Kenton Street between West Lake Street and west Kinzie Street. Seen here traveling southbound on the Belt Railway of Chicago, is a slow moving Canadian Pacific Railroad transfer train. The train is passing over the Union Pacific Railroad's former Chicago & NorthWestern RR West line, out of view to the right. With a great abundance of freight train yards and terminal operations in and around the city of Chicago Illinois, transfer service freight trains are a very common site in the windy city.

Coming soon! Chicagoland Railfan Slide Show!

The River Grove Public Library will be presenting a Chicagoland Railfan Slide Show on Monday night, July 9th 2007 , hosted by
Eddie K. from the popular Chicagoland transportation blog site Eddie's Railfan Page.

The slide show and railfan video presentation
will begin at 7:00 pm in the library.
The River Grove Public Library is located
at 8638 West Grand Avenue in near NW
suburban River Grove Illinois.

We hope to see You there. All A-boooaard!

Summer has finally arrived in Chicagoland! Franklin Park Illinois. June 2007.

There is nothing more happier, than seeing an active outdoor swimming pool on a hot day in the greater Chicagoland Area. After many months of staring at bare trees , brown grass, putting on jackets, and hoping for some sunny warm weather....It finally showed up! This outdoor public swimming pool, is located in downtown franklin Park Illinois near the Metra commuter rail station. the sounds of laughter and splashing now fill the air with the happy sounds of summer.

The elaborate Oaklawn Metra commuter rail station. Oaklawn Illinois USA. June 2007.

This is the elaborate, spacious, and relatively new Metra commuter rail station ,in southwest suburban Oaklawn Illinois near West 95th street. I can recall during the 1990's before this big station was built, that the station that stood here then, was nothing more than a 3 sided plastic bus shelter type of structure with the platforms and a bench or two. This is on the Norfolk Southern Railroad line. In recent times, the Metra trains only went from Chicago to Orland Park Illinois on a very limited schedule. Now the trains run from Chicago to Manhatten Illinois in Will County. These trains still only run 5 days a week, only now there is more trains during the weekdays.

Preserved historic Tower B-12. franklin Park Illinois USA. June 2007.

Lovingly preserved as part of a park display, is the historic Tower B-12 in downtown franklin Park Illinois, near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Tower B-12 was used as an active interlocking junction tower into the late 1990's.
After it was closed...it was moved from the Indiana Harbor belt / Canadian Pacific crosstracks site, to this park setting about 6 blocks west. This parklike setting is along franklin Avenue, parralel to the Canadian Pacific Railroad's former Milwaukee Road mainline.

Northbound CSX Transportation trailer train. Alsip Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo looking north from West 123rd Street , in south suburban Alsip Illinois. This northbound CSX Transportation train was tying up traffic on West 123rd street. I took this photo while I was waiting, of these two UPS "Pup" trailers riding on the piggyback flatcars.
Alsip Illinois has the Indiana Harbor belt Railroad mainline passing through town, and there is a lot of photographic opportunities for local Chicagoland railfan photographers.

Westbound Canadian National Railroad tank car train approaching Hawthorne Junction. May 2007.

I took this photo after work one evening in May of 2007. This Canadian National freight train with a former Grand trunk Western EMD roadswitcher on the head end, has just finsished switching tank cars at the nearby Crawford Yard.

These cars will soon be backed up on the interchange connection on the north -south Belt Railway of Chicago trackage. This scene is at the Chicago city limits on the border with west suburban Cicero Illinois.

An asortment of railroad tank cars. Mc. Cook Illinois USA. May 2007.

I spotted this group of various types of railroad tank cars, on a siding track in Mc.Cook Illinois one morning in May of 2007. This is in an industrial park setting west of South Lawndale avenue near Joliet Road. This is on the BNSF Railway mainline, and there is frequent train traffic daily on this former A,T & S ,F RR line.

Rare photograph! An eastbound Indiana Harbor Belt switching local passing CTA Orange line construction scene. Chicago Illinois USA. May 1990.

This is a very "Rare" photograph, of life after the abandonment of the IHB Chicago stockyards industrial branch. The old Indiana Harbor Belt Railroads Stockyards branch was abandoned in December of 1988, and the rails pulled up the following year. The photo shown here was looking west around sunset from South Lawndale avenue near West 49th Street. The Chicago Transit Authority Orange Line to Chicago's Midway Airport was already under construction. The Indiana Harbor Belt switching local, was now traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago owned track that connected to the Santa Fe Corwith Yard. The IHB Stockyards branch wich ran adjacent to the right of this line, was poorly maintained and in terrible shape. Average train speeds were 5 to 10 miles an hour over kinked rails and rotted ties. Slow speed derailments were a common site on the worn out branch.
This rare photograph was taken on Chicago's southwest side near Curie High School.

Westbound Canadian Pacific Railroad transfer train. Franklin Park Illinois USA. June 2007.

A hot June afternoon in 2007, finds a slow moving Canadian Pacific transfer freight train crossing 25th Avenue in downtown Franklin Park Illinois. Two weather beaten former Soo Line EMD Diesel locomotives are on the head end. Franklin Park is a very busy railroad town.
Every year in May...the city celebrates with a carnival called Railroad Daze.