Hi everyone!
welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.
My good friend and fellow Chicago railfan Anthony C, took this photograph of Me during a layover in switching activity on South Paulina Avenue. The occasion was a special event, that was sponsored by the Central Illinois Railroad. The railroad was having a special "Open house" for photographers and railfans. We were invited to take photos inside the company's locomotive yard and headquarters at 918 west Cermak Road in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. The occasion was the official unveiling of locomotive # 1206, now repainted into a Chicago,Burlington & Quincy Railroad style Heritage Paint Scheme.
we were allowed to follow the locomotive on a working freight train westbound, from the company's headquarters, to the BNSF Railway interchange at South western and Blue Island Avenues.
The weather was perfect! There was lots of sunshine, no clouds, and a mild outside temperature of 69 Degrees Farenheight. The 3 man Central Illinois Railroad crew, with members Kevin, Bob and John on deck, went "All Out" and made this a really special occasion to remember. It was fun going behind the scenes firsthand, on a working industrial shortline railroad.
A special thanks to the management and crew members, of the Central Illinois Railroad. Great P.R guys!
2 comments:
Glad you liked the photo. Thanks for using it.
I join you in thanking and complimenting the CIRR crew members (Kevin, John, Bob) for the great show they put on that day for us all. What a nice bunch of guys.
I used to think the only railroading worth being interested in was the well-known mainlines with the big power, but there's a lot to be said for the shortlines and inner-city switching operations. My only disappointment in our outing that day was to see so many of the spurs now disconnected and/or covered over, a couple very recently. That entire line must have been very interesting and busy back in the day.
I first witnessed this line during the late 1960's when I was just a kid. I can somewhat remember that the original railroad Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, was using first generation EMD SW series yard switchers on this line in the "Blackbird" color scheme. The Central Illinois Railroad adopted this as their "Heritage" paint scheme. Some of the old C,B&Q switchers back then, had "Everywhere West" on one side of the locomotives hood, while the other side read "Way of the Zephyrs". Some of the later C,B & Q pre BN switchers, had BURLINGTON spelled out in big and bold white letters on the cab sides.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
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