Eddie's Railfan Page is taking a break!

Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here
at Eddie's Railfan Page.

My blogsite Eddie's Railfan Page, has been officially
on the internet since Febuary of 2006. After nearly
2 and 1/2 years of fun posting, local news stories
and happy memorys from the city of Chicago...I have
decided to take a short "Recess" or "Time Off" untill
further notice. I have many obligations, commitments
long working hours...and unfortunately not much time
for railfanning on location lately.

In the meantime....several of My railfan photos can be viewed
at My Links pages -"Join the Eddie's Railfan Group, and
also at My Flickr Photo Page to the right of Your computer screen.
Also on the links pages..is a FUN site called "Mike's Classic Cartoon Themes.'
It's a real laugh down memory lane.

I will be resuming My blogging activities in the near future.
Untill that time...thank You for supporting Eddie's Railfan Page.
This blogsite is having an Intermission untill further notice.

See You again soon with some new railfan photo materials.

Thank You.
Eddie K.

Westbound Indiana Harbor Belt transfer train. Franklin Park Illinois USA. September 2006.

A transfer train of auto rack cars has just rouded the interchange curve connection east of here, and is now proceeding westbound over the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road tracks in downtown Franklin Park Illinois. The train is enroute to the large Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

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

Without a doubt, one of My favorite afterwork activities
I enjoy doing when the weather is just right, is railfanning.
I took this photo after work one day last year at Hawthorne Junction at the Chicago city limits. A southbound Canadian Pacific transfer train is enroute to the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard.

Yellow Kenosha Wisconsin trolley heading westbound on 54th Street. Kenosha Wisconsin USA. Opning day, Saturday, June 17th 2000.

After an absense from Kenosha's city streets that dated back

to the year of 1932, electric streetcars returned to the city

of Kenosha Wisconsin on Saturday, June 17th 2000. This photo

was taken sometime after the official dedication and ribbon

cutting ceremony that day. 54th street is the north end of the streetcar right of way, and travels alongside the harbor.

Boarding a night train at Kiddieland. Kiddieland Amusement Park. Melrose Park Illinois USA. September 2006.

I took this photo from the south parking lot at the Kiddieland Amusement Park in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois. The immediate summer season has ended, and the daylight hours are now officially becoming shorter, as a weekend group of visiting families board the Kiddieland limited 1950's era streamliner passenger train for a nocturnal ride around the perimeter of the amusement park.

The train is painted in the orange, red and black color scheme used during the 1940's and 50's on the Southern Pacific passenger trains on the west coast. This color schemes was called the "Daylight" color scheme, and was used primarilly on the Southern Pacific's mainline limiteds.

Former Grand Trunk Western Railroad locomotives idling at the CN Hawthorne Yard engine terminal. Cicero Illinois USA. April 2006.

It is the early Springtime on this partly sunny day in early April of 2006. The Canadian National acquired their subsidiary railroad GTW , and the former Illinois Central railroad in recent years. Like any railroad going through a transition period after reorganization of any kind after a merger, locmotives and color schemes from the predecessor railroads can be seen for a number of years afterwards.

These former GTW units, are seen idling on the ready tracks at the former Illinois Central Hawthorne Yard engine terminal, located in west suburban Cicero Illinois. This terminal is located on the former Illinois Central Iowa Division Mainline just ewast of South Laramie Ave.

Eastbound Canadian Pacific transfer train. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. November 2006.

A busy railroad mainline to photograph mainline train activity in the greater Chicagoland area, is the Canadian Pacific in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois at the Chicago city limits. This is the former Milwaukee Road mainline wich sees Metra commuter trains between Chicago and Elgin Illinois, as well as Metra's Northern Central commuter trains between Chicago and Antioch Illinois. The Northern Central commuter service trains pass through here, interchange onto the former Soo Line in nearby Franklin Park Illinois, and travel to and from Antioch. There are many freight trains on this line daily as well.

Northbound Canadian Pacific transfer train. Chicago Illinois USA. September 2006.

I spotted this northbound Canadian Pacific transfer train heading for Cragin Junction on the Belt Railway of Chicago elevated embankment near West Lake Street on Chicago's west side.

Southbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern transfer train. Chicago Illinois USA. July 2007.

Heavy thunderstorms will soon be upon the greater Chicagoland area, as a southbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad heavy transfer train, travels over the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage to Clearing Yard in Bedford Park Illinois.The train is flying over the Metra / Union Pacific west line at North Kenton Avenue and East Kinzie Street on the west side of Chicago.

Within an hour, heavy torrential thunderstorms and hail would pelt this area and cause flooding around the greater Chicagoland area. It was deffinately a stormy night in Chicago then.

Norfolk Southern transfer train waiting on a hold order. Cragin Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo one hot summer afternoon in June of 2007. Seen here parked on the interchange connection lead track, is a Norfolk Southern Railroad transfer freight train. The train is waiting for clearance from the dispatcher to depart from the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks, and enter on to the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road mainline at Cragin Junction. Cragin Junction is located just east of the intersection of Grand and Cicero Avenues on the northside of the city of Chicago Illinois. Cragin Junction is the north terminal and interchange for the Belt Railway of Chicago.

Locomotives being serviced. The Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard locomotive shop. Bedford Park Illinois USA.

I took this photo after work one day. This is the very busy Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard located in southwest suburban Bedford Park Illinois. Just immediately north of the large hump yard embankment, is the BRC locomotive terminal. Clearing Yard is a major railroad freight hub operation in the greater Chicagoland area. Many transfer trains going to and from Clearing Yard feature motive power from other railroads interchanging with the Belt Railway of Chicago. Seem here are locomotives from the Canadian National and the Union Pacific recieving some much needed mechanical attention.

Eastbound Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe transfer train. Chicago Illinois USA. September 1988.

I took this photo looking east from the railroad crossing at South Austin Avenue and West 60th Street near Chicago's Midway Airport. An eastbound A, T & S, F transfer train has just left Clearing Yard, and is traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago. This train is more than likely enroute to nearby Corwith Yard in Chicago.

1920's era Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit car. The Fox River Trolley Museum. South Elgin Illinois USA.

Old 1920's era rapid transit equipment from the Chicago Transit Authority, can be ridden and photographed at the Fox River Trolley Museum, located on U.S Route # 31 in the town of South Elgin Illinois. The museum operates their line along the west bank of the Fox River.

Canadian National switching in the rain. Forest Park Illinois USA. August, 2006.

I took this unique photo after work, on a rainy evening in August of 2006. In the background just north of Cermak Road, is the Canadian National Railroad switching local, idling between switching moves on an industrial railroad spur branchline. This single track branchline with spur sidings, is located along the east side of Woodlawn Cemetery in west suburban Forest Park Illinois. This is a former Illinois Central owned piece of trackage that conmnects to the former Illinois Central Iowa Division Mainline in North Riverside Illinois.

Your host and photographer at West 49th Street and South Lawndale Avenue. Chicago Illinois USA. July 1989.

Hi everyone!

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.

Here I am in July of 1989, at an area on Chicago's southwest side that I consider the birthplace of My railfanning experience. I didn't own a car yet back then...but did pretty well on My 12 speed mountain bike nonetheless. I was in great shape!

I attended nearby Curie High School just west of here alongside these railroad tracks from 1977 to 1981. I witnessed many transfer trains from the Atchinson, topeka & Santa Fe on the Belt Railway of Chicago owned tracks behind Me, and switching locals on the now abandoned Indiana Harbor Belt Stockyards branch. The stockyards branch was located in the foreground by all this brush, and recently had it's rails removed by the time of this photograph. The area where I am standing, is now the elevated embankment of the CTA orange line rapid transit to Midway airport. This is another last look at this area before the construction of the CTA orange line.

Railroad traffic jam. Chicago Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo looking east from the South Central Avenue overpass bridge at the Chicago city limits by Stickney Illiniois. An eastbound BNSF Railway intermodal train is waiting on a hold order at Nerska Junction just east of South Cicero Avenue, while a set of Norfolk Southern diesel locomotives running light, are also caught up in this Chicagoland railroad chaos, and have to wait their turn for clearance once the intermodal train finally gets permission to proceed eastbound. This is an everyday behind the scenes look at busy Chicago area railroad opeations.

The BNSF Railway's former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe mainline. Willow Springs Illinois USA. January 2007.

Although there was absolutely no train activity to be found at the time of My visit, the BNSF Railway's former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe mainline seen here in a barren winter landscape, was nonetheless worth a photo spot on My blogsite. Just east of this location is the large intermodal yard that was built during the early 1990's. The BNSF mainline here has it's busy and yet not so busy moments like any other railroad mainline. Prior to May 1st 1971, the Santa Fe's passenger trains like the combined Super Chief / El Capitain travelled this line between the citties of Chicago illinos and Los Angeles California.

Local Illinois Central caboose preservation. Lemont Illinois USA.

Historic railroad rolling stock preservation is wherever You find it in the Greater Chicagoland Area. This modern 1970's era Illinois Central wide vision caboose, is on display in southwest suburban Lemont Illinois. This caboose is located on the east side of Lemont near the north bank of the former Illinois and Michigan Canal, and is part of a Childrens safety City exhibit.

During the 1970's and mid 1980's, I would occasionally spot these orange colored Illinois Central cabooses on the I.C Iowa Division Mainline just south of My old neighborhood in Chicago. They were usually on freight trains being pulled by orange and white Illinois Central Gulf locomotives, or even older black and white locomotives in the pre 1967 color scheme. Sometimes former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio locomotives would show up on these freight trains. Unfortunately...I wasn't a photographer yet, and I missed getting those on film. This caboose brought back happy early railfan memorys for Me.

A simular Illinois Central Gulf wide vision caboose in ICG markings is on display and occasionally operated at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois. There is also an Illinois Central caboose and a retired I.C EMD GP 10 on display in Homewood Illinois. The Fox River Trolley Museum located in South Elgin Illinois, and the Illinois Railway Museum, both have an older steam era Illinois Central side door caboose in the pre 1967 red color scheme with white Illinois Central markings. The Illinois Central became a fallen flag upon the 1999 merger and acquisition by the Canadian National Railroad. Two former Illinois Central steam locomotives also exist at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Westbound Norfolk Southern / UPS hot shot trailer train. Mc Cook Junction. Mc Cook Illinois USA. Early January 2007.

With cold conditions and yet dry ground, a speeding westbound Norfolk Southern trailer train loaded with UPS trailers on board, is litterly flying through the crosstracks at Mc Cook Junction on a cold early winter morning. This view is looking east down the service road. The crosstracks are behind Me and out of view in this photograph. Here the BNSF Railway mainline wich is being occupied by this Norfolk Southern train, crosses and interchanges with the indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. This is a busy junction.

Northbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern transfer train. Hawthorne Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. January 2007.

I took this photo at the Chicago city limits by the border at Cicero Illinois. Traveling northbound over the busy Belt Railway of Chicago north and south crosstown trunk line, is a transfer train from then regional railroad Iowa, Chicago & Eastern. It was a bitterly cold and windy Chicago winter morning when I took this photo, but You just couldn't beat the fresh air, bright sunshine, and frequent transfer train activity at the busy crosstrack and interchange junction on Chicago's near southwest side that day.

The 2 foot narrow guage Rock River Cannonball steam train. Thresherman's Park. Edgarton Wisconsin USA. September 2006.

My Brother in law Ralph took this photo in September of 2006 in Edgarton Wisconsin at Thresherman's Park . Every year on Labor Day Weekend, ( Unfortunately "Only" labor day weekend.) Thresherman's Park in the village of Edgarton wisconsin holds an open house special operating event known as the Rock River Thresheree. Circling the grounds is the two foot narrow guage Rock River Cannonball steam train. This is only a once a year operation for steam enthusiasts, but is a unique operation to see.

Eastbound Belt Railway of Chicago transfer train. Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. April 1987.

This has always been one of My all time favorite Chicago railfan photographs I had taken on location back in the 1980's.

An eastbound Belt Railway of Chicago transfer train being pulled by EMD SW 1500 end cab switchers, is approaching the busy Grand Trunk Western crosstracks at Hayford Junction. Hayford Junction is located at South Central Park Avenue and West 75th Street in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood on the southwest side.

Back then, the Grand Trunk Western was still a double track mainline, and the junction had it's train traffic manually controlled by a dispatcher in that little white single story building. The building was demolished around 1993, and the GTW mainline was single tracked around 1989. I spent many an afternoon railfanning at Hayford Jct.

Westbound Union Pacific transfer train. Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. September 1990.

I took this photo on a Saturday afternoon, way back in early September of 1990. A Union Pacific transfer train is approaching the Grand Trunk Western crosstrack and interchange at Hayford Junction. Notice the lead unit with Missouri Pacific markings on the side. Union Pacific acquired the Missouri Pacific or "Mo Pac" as it was nicknamed, in a 1982 merger. The large building in the background, is the Nabisco cookie factory located alongside the South Kedzie Avenue overpass bridge at approximately West 75th Street. The train is enroute to the nearby Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard.

Your host and photographer inside the Kenosha Streetcar Barn. Kenosha Wisconsin USA. Opening Day! Saturday, June 17th 2000.

Hi there friends!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.
Here I am, Your host and photographer Eddie K, inside the newly constructed electric streetcar barn in downtown Kenosha Wisconsin. The occasion was the official "Grand Opening Day" celebration for the "New" electric streetcar line in downtown Kenosha Wisconsin. Here I am at the end of the day, posing alongside refurbished 1951 built car # 4610, acquired from the Toronto Transit Commision in Ontario Canada. This car is preserved in the colors and markings of the TTC.

If You would ever like to experience a ride aboard a vintage electric city trolley car in an urban setting not far from the greater Chicagoland area, then a trip to downtown Kenosha Wisconsin not far from the Illinois State Line is for You.

Foreward interior view of a Kenosha Wisconsin PCC electric streetcar.

On the date of Saturday, June 17th 2000, the city of Kenosha Wisconsin opened their brand new electric streetcar circulaor line in the downtown section of Kenosha near the lakefront. Kenosha Wisconsin phased out electric streetcars in 1932, and temporarily relaced them with electric trolley buses for a number of years. They were gone by the early 1950's.

Many years and several economic hardships later, the city of Kenosha is rebounding with several new housing and retail developments, and a streetcars system using these refurbished 1951 vintage modern steamlined electric streetcars, acquired from the Toronto Transit Commision in Ontario Canada. This interior view shows how it was like to ride aboard modern postwar electric streetcars decades ago.

BNSF Railway street markings on a railroad crossing signal relay cabinet. La Grange Illinois USA.

An often passed up detail not noticed by many railfan photographers, are the markings found on lineside equipment. These markings are on a lineside signal relay cabinet, that activates the railroad crossing gates and signals on Brainard Avenue in west suburban La Grange Illinois. These signals recieve constant maintenance and attention here on the BNSF Railway 3 track Metra Chicago to Aurora "Racetrack" mainline, and operate the crossing signals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at any given time when needed.

Former Burlington Northern diesels leading an eastbound BNSF Railway container train. Riverside Illinois USA. October 2007.

I took this photo one sunny autum morning, in west suburban Riverside Illinois. I used to photograph those cascade green Burlington Northern locomotives during the 1980's, and it brought back happy memorys to see them again. The BNSF Railway was created through the merger of the Burlington Northern, and the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads in 1995. Although it has been 13 years since the merger, many locomotives and cars in their former color schemes and markings can be seen today on the 3 track BNSF Railway mainline through here. The predecessor railroad Burlington Northern, was created through March 2nd 1970 merger of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, The Great Northern, The Northern Pacific, and the Spokane, Portland & Seatle Railroads. The Burlington Northern however, insisted that the cabooses and locomotives be painted into Burlington Northern's color scheme by 1977. However, several freight cars didn't get this treatment, and it was possible to see cars rolling through Chicago in the color schemes and markings of the pre 1970 railroads that made the BN into the late 1980's and early 1990's. A blast from the past indeed.

A former Soo Line locomotive and caboose sitting in the Schiller Park engine facility. Schiller Park Illinois USA. October 2007.

Although the Canadian Pacific acquired the Soo Line railroad through a merger in the year of 1990, many years later, You can still spot an occasional locomotive, caboose or freight car still rolling around today in Soo Line colors and markings in the greater Chicagoland area. I spotted this weather beaten "Dynamic Duo", at the Canadian National ex Wisconsin Central yard in northwest suburban Schiller Park Illinois.

Westbound BNSF Railway empty unit coal train. Riverside Illinois USA. October 2007.

I took this photo from the back parking area of an apartment building in west suburban Riverside Illinois. A lenghty empty unit coal train from the Burlington Northern, Santa Fe Railway, is seen gradually picking up speed as it passes through Riverside Illinois on a beautiful autum afternoon in October of 2007.

Known to flash the motorists on South Harlem Avenue at West 59th Street. Summit Illinois USA.

I took this picture looking up from the center median just south of the intersection at West 59th Street. This set of railroad grade crossing signals guard the Indiana Harbor Belt branchline that crosses South Harlem Avenue in Summit Illinois.

Eastbound Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad interurban coach crossing over a dry creek bed. The Illinois Railway Museum. July 1988.

I took this photo on a July 1988 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum, located in the town of Union Illinois. A speeding Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad electric interurban M.U coach, is seen passing over the trestle of a now dry creek bed. The State of Illinois and other parts of the midwest, were suffering from a very severe Drought condition. The normally shallow and flowing creek here, was a bed of mud at the time of My visit. Notice the straw brown coloration of the grass on the banks. Further east on the mainline one day, the museum's own steam locomotive Frisco # 1630, a coal burning Baldwin 2-10-0 type steam locomotive built in 1918, had recently set a brush fire due to the dry conditions. It was a hot summer that year at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Southbound Belt Railway of Chicago switching local. Hawthorne Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. March 1987.

I took this photo at the Chicago city limits near Cicero Illinois, on a sunny but chilly afternoon in March of 1987. A southbound BRC switching local is crossing the Illinois Central crosstracks at Hawthorne Junction just east of the border at Cicero Illinois. Back then, there was an old dirty looking interlocking tower that was known as Belt Tower, wich stood on the southeast corner of the crosstracks. A railroad crew I spoke to refered to it as ICG /BELT Tower. A railfan wrote Me later on and said that the tower was controlled by the Illinois Central, and was called "Belt Tower".
The tower was demolished in 1990.

Springtime blossums. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. April 2008.

The trees and grass are coming to life once again in the greater Chicagoland area! I took this lovely seasonal Springtime photograph, in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois.
We are at the northwest corner of West Diversey Avenue and North 74th Court. Spring is in the air, as the blooming trees and plant life are adding lots of color today. Winter is finally over!

Northbound Indiana Harbor Belt transfer train. Argo Junction. Summit Illinois USA. December 1990.

A sunny but relatively mild afternoon in December of 1990, finds a northbound transfer freight train from the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad passing the crosstracks at Argo Junction. In a few short yards, this train will soon be passing over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The straw brown scenery indicates that Winter will be arriving soon to the greater Chicagoland area once again.

Northbound CP Rail transfer train. Chicago Illinois USA. April 2005.

I took this photo on a sunny morning in early April of 2005. A northbound Canadian Pacific transfer train traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago's north and south trunk line, is waiting on a hold order at Craigin Junction approximately one Mile north of here on Chicago's west side.

It is at this location at the corner of West Kinzie Street and North Kenton Avenue, that the Belt Railway of Chicago passes over the Metra / Union Pacific west line. The Union Pacific line here was formerly the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad. The building in the background, is the abandoned Brach's Candy Factory in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. This is a busy location.

Steam trains both large and small. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. June 1990.

This photo shows what an interesting type of comparison can be experienced on a visit to the Hesston Steam museum in northwest Indiana.

The train in the background is a European Meter Guage (U.S 2 foot guage.) locomotive from Czechloslovakia. The train in the foreground immediately adjacent to the Hesston Junction depot platform, is a miniature 14" track guage live steam locomotive. For another added dimension, the museum also has a tiny 7 and 1/2 inch track guage miniature railroad on the property as well. There are also examples of antique tractors, automobiles, fire equipment, and industrial steam driven machinery on the museum property.
The museum is located near the Michigan State line, in the town of Hesston Indiana near the city of New Buffalo Michigan. It is a fun and pleasant place to take Your family to in an outdoor countrylike setting. Check out there website at www.hesston.org

1960's era Chicago Transit Authority logo. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. August 2000.

I took this photo on an August 2000 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum, located in the town of Union Illinois.

This was the corporate logo used by the Chicago Transit Authority during the 1960's. This logo was used on Buses, Rapid Transit Trains, Company buildings, and Maintenance equipment operating in and around the city of Chicago Illinois. This logo lasted on some buses into the 1970's, and on the outgoing 6000 series rapid transit cars during the mid to late 1980's.

Southbound Indiana Harbor Belt RR transfer train. Bridgeview Illinois USA. September 2007.

The evening traffic has come to a stop on West 71st Street. A lenghty and slow moving transfer train from the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is occupying the railroad grade crossing. This is a very busy Junction point for the Indiana Harbor Belt, as interchange connections to the nearby Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard in Bedford Park Illinois, and the IHB's own Argo Yard in Summit Illinois are just north of this location.

Eastbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern freight train passing through the town of Roselle. Roselle Illinois USA. Early September 2007.

An eastbound heavy freight train from the regional railroad Iowa, Chicago & Eastern, is seen passing through the Metra commuter rail station in Roselle Illinois on a lovely morning in early September. It was a great morning to go railfanning on location with a camera in hand.

Riding the miniature Whiskey River Railroad. The Little -A-Merrick -A Amusement Park. Marshall Wisconsin USA. September 2007.

My Brother in law Ralph took this photo last year on Labor Day Weekend of 2007.

This is the miniature live steam Whiskey River Railroad, wich operates here in Marshall Wisconsin at the Little -A-Merrick -A Amusement Park. The train is seen traveling at speed through a wooded cut with passengers onboard.

The Whiskey River Railroad operates on 16" guage track with miniature steam locomotives.

Switching the Metra coachyard at West Roosevelt Road and South Canal Street. Chicago Illinois USA. September 2006.

I took this photo looking south from the West Roosevelt Road overpass bridge, just outside of downtown Chicago Illinois. A 1st Generation EMD SW series diesel switcher, is at work spotting commuter coaches at the shop building.

The former Burlington Northern RR Clyde Yard. Cicero Illinois USA. June 1985.

One place that I have childhood railfan memorys of (But unfortunately no photos from that time.)
is the Burlington Northern Clyde Yard in the west suburban village of Cicero Illinois. I took this photo on a hot summer morning in June of 1985 when the yard was run by the Burlington Northern Railroad. In 1995, the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe RR and the Burlington Northern merged and became todays BNSF Railway.

During My childhood days, this yard belonged to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. I can still remeber seeing red and gray locomotives with large BURLINGTON letters on the sides, or even black and gray EMD switchers with EVERYWHERE WEST and WAY OF THE ZEPHYRS on their sides. Silver C,B & Q cabooses with red stripes were very common here prior to 1970.

A Flintstone's cartoon car on display. Palos Heights Illinois USA. November 2003.

I took this photo on South Ridgeland Avenue near Cal Sag Road / Illinois U.S Route # 83 in southwest suburban Palos Heights Illinois.

The people who own and operate the Kilarney Auto Collision Body Shop , just couldn't resisit having a visual joke and a pleasant conversation piece to draw attention to their business.

I believe that this is a mock up replica, of the car that Flintstone's cartoon character Barney Rubble drove. Ah yes, a real life remnant of My Saturday morning TV viewing childhood.

Chicago bound Metra commuter local arriving at the Hollywood depot. Brookfield Illinois USA. June 2007.

With late afternoon summer sunshine glinting off of it, a Metra commuter local enroute from Aurora to Chicago Union Station, slows for a stop at the tiny Hollywood depot on the east side of west suburban Brookfield Illinois. Brookfield actually has 3 commuter rail stations on the BNSF Railway mainline. There is the Hollywood flagstop depot shown here, wich is near the Chicago Brookfield Zoo, the larger Brookfield station at Prairie and Brookfield Avenues, and the tiny Congress Park flagstop just east of the border near La Grange Illinois. Brookfield is a pleasant community with plenty of photographic activity for visiting railfans on the BNSF Railway.

Looking south on Main Street. The Memphis Main Street Trolley. Memphis Tennesee USA. September 2007.

I took this pleasant city sunset photo last September, on My vacation to the city of Memphis Tennesee. This is at the north terminal of the Memphis Main Street trolley just south of the carbarn facilities. Two former W-2 Class trams from Melbourne Australia, are about to meet and pass each other on Main Street. This photo was taken around sunset, as My Wife and I decided to take a late day streetcar ride.

Auto rack cars on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Bridgeview Illinois USA. April 2008.

I topok this photo on a cloudy afternoon in southwest suburban Bridgeview Illinois. A unit train of auto rack cars, is seen waiting on a hold order just below the 79th Street overpass bridge. The Indiana Harbor Belt is a busy Chicagoland railroad with many transfer and manifest trains passing through southwest suburban Bridgeview Illinois. Bridgeview is a major junction point on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, as there is an interchange junction to the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard , and the IHB's own Argo Yard in Summit Illinois just north of West 71st Street near the "New "Toyota Park stadium.

Switching activity at Clearing Yard.Bedford Park Illinois USA. March 2008.

I took this photo after work one evening, in March of 2008. Spotting cars on sidings along an industrial bypass branchline, is a Belt Railway of Chicago 2nd generation EMD end cab switcher. I took this photo looking east from South central Avenue at the north entrance to Clearing Yard. The late day sun was getting ready to set at this time. Still, the Belt Railway of Chicago works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week non stop.

Sunset on Cermak Road. Broadview Illinois USA. Late March 2008.

I took this photo after work one evening in late March of 2008. I was traveling westbound on Cermak Road AKA West 22nd Street and approaching the Canadian National ex Illinois Central railroad grade crossing just east of 1st Avenue / Illinois U.S Route # 171 in west suburban Broadview Illinois. The winter season was coming to an end this week on the calender, but the magnificent beauty of a spectacular winter sunset could still be enjoyed. Although there was no train activity, this photo was worth taking nonetheless.

Northbound transfer train departing Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois USA. April 2008.

I took this photo after work one evening in April of 2008. I was enroute to visit My Parents in southwest suburban Bridgeview Illinois, when I spotted this northbound transfer train departing the nearby Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. The slow moving transfer freight train, is departing from the west end of Clearing Yard, and will travel north along the east side of South Harlem Avenue / Illinois U.S Route # 43 -from West 65th Street to West 63rd Street and then turn eastbound. This is near Chicago's Midway Airport at the Chicago city limits.

Northbound Amtrak Hiawatha train enroute to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Glenview Illinois USA. Early March 2008.

Yes folks, it wasn't that long ago when the greater Chicagoland area had plenty of snow on the ground. I took this photo after work one day, in early March of 2008.

I was traveling south on Lehigh Avenue in north suburban Glenview Illinois, when I spotted this northbound Amtrak Hiawatha service regional train enroute to Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Amtrak Hiawatha corridor, is a very active route between Chicago and Milwaukee on the former Milwaukee Road mainline. If You would ever like to travel to Milwaukee Wisconsin via Amtrak and don't want to board at Chicago Union Station downtown, The Amtrak Hiawatha corridor trains also stop at the Glennview Illinois Metra / Amtrak station on Harlem Avenue just north of Glenview Road. An economical way to travel.

The arrival of Springtime in the greater Chicagoland area. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. April 2008.

I took this photo on a lovely springtime morning, in April of 2008. The trees have started to bloom on George Street in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois, as the grass becomes a vibrant shade of green. The arrival of lush scenery, warm temperatures, and longer daylight hours were lovingly embraced by the citizens of Elmwood Park. The winter of 2008 found Elmwood Park buried under heavy lake effect snow accumulations and bitter cold temperatures. The annual sounds of birds, and the sight of green scenery is more than welcome.