A long lamented landmark on Chicago's southwest side, was the former
Grand Trunk Western railroad roundhouse located at west 49th Street
and South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago's Elsdon neighborhood. This old
brick steam era enginehouse, was built in 1914, abandoned in 1983,
and finally demolished in 1987 to make way for a strip mall. The
first replacement strip mall featured a Jewel food store and a small
handful of stores. The first mall was unsucessful after Jewel/ Osco
decided to close the store at this location in recent years. The original
replacement strip mall was demolished and replaced with a newer facility.
4 comments:
I remember this well. I never really knew what facility you were talking about until photo - now I know!
I could remeber seeing GTW locomotives in the pre 1972 black, red, and white color scheme, and in the later blue red and white color scheme during the 1970's and very early 1980's being serviced here, or turned around on the turntable deck bridge. After the 1981 merger and acquisition of the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, former orange D,T & I engines were regualr sights here.
I miss the Elsdon roundhouse.
Thank You.
Eddie K.
And let's not forget that the blue wall visible in your photo with "GT" painted on it is where a locomotive punched through and partially stuck out toward Kedzie Avenue.
I believe that the slow speed run away engine through the wall accident happened in 1979.
Thanks
Eddie K.
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