Early 1970's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad caboose hop. December2011.

Early 1970's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad caboose hop. December 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph recently, at The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers, H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1960's, 70's and 80's era.

A railroad I fondly remember from the southwest side of Chicago, was the former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. I lived approximately one mile north of the ICG's former Illinois Central RR Iowa Division Mainline, and the former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio RR line south of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

The Illinois Central Gulf, was created from the August 10th 1972 merger of the Illinois Central, and the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroads.

Seen here on the club layout in west suburban Oak Park Illinois, is My Life Like Proto 2000 EMD SW 9 yard switcher wearing pre 1967 Illinois Central colors and markings, and My recently purchased Centrailia Car Shops model of a former Illinois Central RR side door caboose, wearing the post 1972 Illinois Central Gulf colors and markings.

I used to see these unique and colorful ICG locomotive and caboose combinations when I was growing up on the southwest side of Chicago during the early 1970's.

My two models, represent how a typical ICG switching local operating as a caboose hop,as it would have looked like way back in 1973 or so.

Thanks.
Eddie K