I took this photo on a lovely evening during the early Springtime back in March of 2007.
An eastbound CSX Transportation Company intermodal double stack container train, approaches the single Canadian National ex GTW crosstrack at Hayford Junction in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood.
This train is heading eastbound over the Belt Railway of Chicago.
I took this photo at the Chicago city limits location known as Hawthorne Junction, back in late March of 2007.
An eastbound Canadian National train made up of tanker cars heading to the nearby ex Illinois Central Crawford Yard, crosses the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks. The hill to the
left of the photo, is the abandoned Bell Air Drive In Movie Theatre in west suburban Cicero Illinois.
In 2011, the Canadian National closed Crawford Yard and removed the tracks.
I took this photo during a June 2007 visit to the Metra ex Milwaukee Road station at Western Avenue, in Chicago's Ukranian Village neighborhood.
Just west of the Western Avenue Metra commuter rail station, is this maintenance department storage depot where maintenance equipment is stored between uses.
I found this photo on the internet recently.
For a 63 year period from 1904 until the place had closed for good in 1967, many Chicagoans would enjoy a pleasant Summer afternoon or evening visit to a local fun place known as Riverview Park.
Riverview Park was located on the northside of Chicago along North Western Avenue. The park was surrounded by West Belmont Avenue to the south, the north branch of the Chicago River to the west, and West Roscoe Street to the north.
Aside from their ever popular roller coaster rides, Riverview Park also featured several portable carnival style rides like the Roll O Plane shown here.
Today the former Riverview Park site, is now the Riverview Plaza Shopping Center. The former Riverview Roller Rink site along the southeast side of the property, is now the Chicago Police Departments huge Riverview police station and headquarters.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I took this photo recently during My morning lunch break, in north suburban Glenview Illinois USA.
A southbound Canadian Pacific Railroad intermodal train, is viewed crossing West Lake Avenue on a beautiful sunny Winter morning.
Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.
Things have been very busy for Myself lately here at Eddie's Railfan Page, as I have been entertaining many offers to do public speaking presentations.
This past Saturday, I hosted a photo slideshow at the Hillside Public Library, located at 405 Hillside Avenue in west suburban Hillside Illinois USA.
Here I am in the library's downstairs meeting room setting up before the show that afternoon. 16 people were in attendance, and I also have a standing invite to host here again next year.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I took this photo back in October of 2008.
Two CSX Transportation Company EMD locomotives, are viewed parked alongside West 16th Street in west suburban Cicero Illinois.
These two locomotives, are today assigned to work the CSX West 16th Street industrial switching local.
This photo is facing west toward South Cicero Avenue.
I took this photo during a July 1981 motorcoach vacation to the states of Colorado and New Mexico.
Durango & Silverton Railroad narrow guage 2-8-2 Mikado steam locmotive # 481, is viewed on the wye at Silverton Colorado.
I took this photo one morning, back in January of 2007.
A westbound Iowa, Chicagho & Eastern train traveling over the Canadian Pacific Railroad ex Milwaukee Road west line mainline, passes through northwest suburban River Grove Illinois USA.
The era of colorful pre Amtrak passenger trains is alive and well at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers, H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.
The fluted side streamlined passenger car to the left with markings for the club's own Oak River Railroad, is actually wearing the 1950's era colors of the former New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. The car to the right, is wearing the unique Daylight color scheme and markings from the former Southern Pacific Railroad.
One of My favorite Chicago railroad memories as a kid growing up on the near southwest side of Chicago back in the early 1970's, were seeing the trains of the former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.
The Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, was created from the August 10th 1972 merger of the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad....and the Illinois Central Railroad.
For many years after the merger, one could find locomotives, cabooses and other equipment from the two predecessor railroads, that were still rolling around in their original color schemes.
My Life Like Proto 2000 EMD SW 7 shown here, wears the pre 1967 Illinois Central colors with the famous I.C Green Diamond logo. The caboose coupled behind, wears the post 1967 Illinois Central orange color scheme, with post 1972 markings for the Illinois Central Gulf.
I used to see these combinations on the southwest side of Chicago before I ever owned a camera, and wished I could have been lineside photographing them back then.
Sometimes You would see former Illinois Central locomotives with G,M & O cabooses, or many times even vice versa. I recall that it was a colorful if not very weather beaten in the long run era.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I took this photo one lovely Springtime morning, back in April of 2007.
An eastbound Chicago Transit Authority blue line rapid transit train, is viewed approaching the Canfield Road overpass bridge over the Illinois U.S Rt # I 90 Kennedy Expressway, near northwest suburban Park Ridge Illinois USA.
I took this photo one morning last week during My lunch break.
I took this photo at The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers, H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.
A Broadway Limited Imports model of a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Baldwin V.O 1000 Yard Switcher locomotive, is viewed working the passenger terminal on the club layout.
The Lyons Public Library located at 4209 Joliet Avenue in west suburban Lyons Illinois, welcomes local Chicago historian and photographer Edward Kwiatkowski to the library on Saturday, March 24th, 2012 from 1:00 until 3:00 PM.
Eddie will be hosting a musical photo slideshow / multi media and lecture presentation about Chicago's historic and now long gone amusement parks of the past.
Admisiion is free.
This will be a fun event, and We hope to see You there.
I took this photo last October in the South Chicago neighborhood on the far southeast side of the city of Chicago Illinois.
A popular subject with many photographers, are those little roadside eateries that once blanketed the greater Chicagoland area.
This old 1950's era Tastee Freeze soft serve ice cream stand, was photographed near East 103rd Street.
These roadside or street corner ice cream stands, were usually opened on a seasonal basis. This one with the large metal burgler screens over the windows and doors, may have either already closed for the season by the time of My visit, or may have actually went out of business a nuumber of years ago.
There are still a small number of these in several Chicago neighborhoods, and in the outlying suburbs today.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I took this photo last November one morning during My lunch break.
A maintenance of way department crew from the Union Pacific Railroad, is viewed preparing to lower the Hi Rail wheels on this Freightliner maintenance truck, for a journey across their freight only "Techny Line".
This behind the scenes view, was taken at the Wolf Road railroad crossing.
Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.
I took this photo recently one night, in northwest suburban Des Plaines Illinois USA.
Seen here along the west side of Lee Street just north of downtown Des Plaines, is the Mc Donald's museum.
This was not the first Mc Donald's fast food hamburger restaurant, but rather the eighth.
This location, was actually the first corporate Mc Donald's restaurant location, and the old 1950's era building with a walk up window and the vintage neon signage, has been preserved as a museum today.
The real working Mc Donald's, is just across the street from here.
I took this photo back in October of 2006 just before sunset on a lovely Autum day.
A southbound Canadian Pacific transfer train traveling over the elevated Belt Railway of Chicago right of way, is viewed approaching the "Flyover" junction with the Metra / Union Pacific west line to Elburn Illinois, at the location of West Kinzie Street and North Kenton Avenue in Chicago Illinois.
The train is passing the long abandoned Brach's Candy Factory in the background.
I took this photo earlier this week, at the Marathon convenience gasoline station in Northbrook Illinois USA.
A Mack conventional tractor and tanker trailer from the W! Smoth Cartage Company, has just delivered a load of fresh fuel to the gasline station, and is now departing the Marathon station at the intersection of Shermer and Techny Roads in Northbrook Illinois.
I was fueling My companie's Ford paratransit bus at the time of this photo, before My return to the nearby garage in Glenview Illinois at the end of My shift.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.
Wow! Has it actually been four years already?
It just seems like yesterday, that I left a Dead End- Go Nowhere job as an unhappy outside sales rep for a company that gave Me NO Sales Support or Respect, and ended up becoming a handicapped bus operator.
Four years later, I couldn't be happier!
I work with one of the all time "Coolest" work crews. We all get along great, and We treat each other like a big family.
It has been a wonderful experience, and it only gets better with time.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Even though February of 2012 has been very mild and Springlike so far with little or no snow...one can never know when a snowstorm can hit the greater Chicagoland area.
This Ford F 250 snowplow equipped Ford pick up truck from the Katz Management Company in Glenview Illinois, is at the ready in a local industrial park .Notice the rock salt residue on the pavement.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Wow!
Hi folks! This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page!
Yes folks it's true. It's hard to believe that the first posting of Eddie's Railfan Pgae occured on Wednsday, February 8th 2006. Where did the time go by?
My blogsite wich was started with a big helping hand from My buddy Tom Gill from My Link page "Tom's Photos and Comments", has actually grown by many leaps and bounds.
Many doors have opened for Me through this blogsite, one of them being "Public Speaking" at a number of local Chicago area suburban public libraries in the past few years.
Proboubly the nicest and most positive thing that I have experienced from all of this, are the many wonderful people I have met who are regular readers of Eddie's Railfan Page.
One of those people who actually recognized Me in public by surprise during a September 2010 visit to the Hesston Steam Museum in northwestern Indiana, was one of the museum volunteers named Ted.
Eddie's Railfan Page is a success due to all the help and support from everyone. The many comments that are shared via E Mail, are always a big help and are greatly appreciated.
Thank You for six great years everyone!
Eddie K.
I took this photo back in September of 2010.
A very pleasant and popular attraction to visit in the greater Chicagoland area, is the Chicago Botanic Garden located in north suburban Glencoe Illinois USA.
Aside from their numerous outdoor flower gardens and varieties of plant life, The Chicago Botanic Garden also operates an outdoor G Scale model railroad exhibit on a seasonal basis. This exhibit features several outdor G scale model train layouts, passing through many lovely outdoor gardens.
Seen here above the indoor Information Center window, is an LGB model of an 1880's era Colorado narrow guage passenger train.
Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page!
Please mark Your calendar!
On Saturday, March 24th 2012, I will be hosting a musical photo slideshow -Multi Media -Lecture event at the Lyons Public Library honoring Chicago's Historic Amusement Parks Of The Past.
If You and Your family have happy Summertime memories of places like Riverview Park in Chicago, Adventureland in Addison Illinois, Playland Park in Justice Illinois, or Kiddieland in Melrose Park Illinois...Then You won't want to miss this fun and nostalgic event.
The Lyons Public Library is located at 4209 South Joliet Avenue, in west suburban Lyons Illinois.
Admission is free.
Thank You.
Eddie K.
I took this photo last year, during a special operating session night at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers, H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.
My Athearn EMD model GP 35 roadswitcher wearing the 1960 to 1972 era Santa Fe freight color scheme, is viewed working a switching local on the club layout.
I took this photo one afternoon last week.
A City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Autocar garbage truck, is photographed turning westbound on to Forest Preserve Drive, at the intersection of West Irving Park Road at the border of north suburban Norridge Illinois.
In the background is the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping center mall.
I photographed this digital live sound video after work one Summer evening, back in June of 2008.
A westbound Metra commuter train rnroute to Elgin Illinois, passes through the Canadian Pacific and former Wiscon Central crosstrack junction, on the east side of northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois.
This end of the day train, is viewed heading off in to the sunset on a quiet Summer evening.
I took this photo one afternoon after work, back in March of 2008.
Two BNSF Railway EMD roadswitcher locomotives, are viewed idling at the top of the south hump at the former A,T & S,F Corwith Yard near South Archer Avenue and West 47th Street in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.
I found this photograph on the internet recently.
The Saint Petersburg Tram Company, is a fine O Scale import company specializing in non operating static models of North American buses and electric streetcars.
One of their more popular offerings, is this model of a Chicago Surface Lines Company (Pre CTA) 1936 vintage streamlined PCC streetcar.
These cars were designed by a group of transit executives in Washington DC operating under the leadership of then U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to lure ridership back to city transit company streetcars across America during The Great Depression era. This group of transit professionals, were known as the President's Conference Commitee. These cars were thus refered to as PCC cars.
Chicago's cars like the model shown here, were delivered in this unique muted blue and cream color scheme, with a red belt rail below the windows. This was known as the CSL's "Blue Goose" color scheme.
The wide broad horizontal stripes across the front, were added by the CSL in 1945, for added safety and visibility in traffic on Chicago's city streets.
Car # 4021 is the only known survivor from Chicago's 1936 fleet of streamlined PCC streetcars that were built by the Saint Louis Car Comapny, and is preserved in inoperable display condition inside one of the barns at The Illinois Railway Museum in the town of Union Illinois USA. www.irm.org
It is displayed in it's original 1936 color scheme.
These cars originally operated on the CSL Rt # 20 Madison Street line when new in 1936.
I took this photo one lovely morning, back in early September of 2007.
Seen here near Lake Street / Illinois U.S Rt # 20 near Barrington Road, is the Hanover Park Metra commuter rail station.
This brick station building, serves Metra commuter rail passengers on the Metra Milwaukee District west line to Elgin Illinois.
I took this photo after work one hot Summer afternoon, back in June of 2007.
Cabooses have disappeared for the most part on many American railroads begining during the 1980's. For some reason or another, the Canadian Pacific Railroad is still using several former Soo Line cabooses on transfer trains traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago.
This northbound CP intermodal transfer, was photographed passing over the West 47th Street underpass viaduct near South Knox Avenue.
I took this photo on a mild December morning back in 2006.
A westbound Metra morning rush hour local commuter train enroute to Aurora Illinois, has just departd from the Brookfield Metra commuter rail station at Prairie Avenue.
The train has clear weather and a clear track ahead on it's westbound morning journey.
Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.
What do You do with a snowplow equipped Ford dump truck from the Berwyn Department of Public Works when it is mild outside and no snow to be plowed anywhere? Easy! Just fill the dump body with asphalt and go out and patch a few potholes in the street.
I took this photo back in early January of 2008, at the intersection of South Harlem Avenue and West Windsor Street, in west suburban Berwyn Illinois.
One week after I took this photo, a heavy lake effect snowstorm would strike the greater Chicagoland area. Better keep the plow on for now. You can never tell when the snow may come.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I took this photo one morning, back in early January of 2008.
A Norfolk Southern freight train made up of empty intermodal double stack container cars, waits for clearance to proceed westbound, at the Wrightwood Metra commuter rail station near the three way intersection of South Kedzie Avenue, West 79th Street, and Southwest Highway (Columbus Drive.) in Chicago's Ashburn and Wrightwood neighborhoods.
Heres a real piece of nostalgia for You.
My family and I, were one of many people who grew up with the old F.W Woolworth stores in their old neighborhoods in Chicago.
Seen here is an old 1950's era F.W Woolworth lunch counter menu that was sent to Me a few years ago.
Check out those prices!
The Lyons Public Library located at 4209 South Joliet Avenue in west suburban Lyons Illinois, welcomes local Chicago historian and photographer Edward Kwiatkowski to the library on Saturday, March 24th 2012 from 1:00 until 3:00 PM.
Eddie will be hosting a musical photo slideshow, multi media and lecture show about Chicago's once many historic amusement parks from the past.
If You could remember Riverview Park in Chicago, Adventureland in Addison Illinois, Playland Park in Justice Illinois, or the recently closed Kiddieland Amusement Park in northwest suburban Melrose Park Illinois, then You won't want to miss this fun and nostalgic presentation.
This will be a fun event, and We hope to see You there! Admisiion is free.
I took this photo back in October of 2006 around sunset.
An eastbound Union Pacific unit coal train, is viewed crossing North kilbourn Avenue at West Kinzie Street, inside Chicago's Northwest Industrial Park on the west side of the city.
I took this photo back in October of 2006, on West Erie Street in Chicago's Ukranian Village neighborhood.
Seen here on the right side door of a City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation White / GMC garbage truck...is the official Chicago City Seal.
I took this photo during a September 2000 fantrip excursion to Kenosha Wisconsin.
The downtown Kenosha Wisconsin streetcar line was new in 2000, having opened for business on Saturday, June 17th of that year.
Seen here a few months later in early September of 2000, is Kenosha's orange former Toronto Transit Commision 1951 PCC streetcar heading eastbound toward Harbor Park along the grassy private right of way.
I took this photo one Winter morning, back in January of 2007.
I braved bitterly cold single digit outside temperatures with a sharp wind blowing out of the west, to capture this rare snapshot.
Seen here at Hawthorne Junction, is a Manufacturers Junction Railroad local turning north off of the Canadian National ex Illinois Central RR Iowa Division Mainline, and heading northbound over the Belt Railway of Chicago with a few cars in tow.
This litle train had just departed from the Canadian National's ex Illinois Central Hawthorne Yard, located in nearby west suburban Cicero Illinois USA.
Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard ddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.
I took this photo a few years ago, back in early January of 2009.
Wintertime in Chicago, isn't always the fabled land of snow and ice. Sometimes the outside temperatures can be somewhat mild on occasion.
When the outside weather conditions merit, city crews are often dispatched to go on location and patch potholes along Chicago's many busy streets.
Chicago's street sweeping schedule is listed as April 1st to November 1st of any given year. However...if the conditions are pleasant enough, these vehicles can also be found tidying up Chicago's many city streets at any time during the Winter.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
I photographed this digital live sound video, back in June of 2008.
An eastbound Chicago Transit Authority orange line rapid transit train enroute to downtown Chicago from Midway Airport, is viewed passing over the South Lawndale Avenue underpass bridge near West 49th Street, in Chicago's Elsdon neighborhood.
I took this photo back in December of 2008.
Locomotives and equipment from recent fallen flag railroads acquired through mergers, are a common site today in the greater Chicagoland area.
These locomotives from the former Illinois Central and Wisconsin Central Railroads, were acquired through merger in recent years by the Canadian National Railroad.
These two EMD locomotives, are waiting for clearance to depart from the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road Bensenville Yard with an eastbound freight train.
I took this photo after work one evening, back in early December of 2006.
The date of Friday, December 1st, 2006...had found the greater Chicagoland area hit with a heavy all morning lake effect snowstorm.
This photo was taken just before sunset, at the Norwood Park Metra commuter rail station.
A westbound Metra evening rush hour express comuter train enroute to Harvard Illinois, passes a very wintery looking scene on the far northwest side of Chicago Illinois.
I took this photograph, way back in August of 1987.
Neighborhood landmarks come and go. Unfortunately....the Marquette Movie Theatre building on West 63rd Street and South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood, was one that had went.
This view facing southeast, shows the demolition of the building. Notice that there wasn't any temporary rental fencing at the demolition site like You would see today.
Safety standards have come along way according to this.
Thanks.
Edie K.
I took this photo one late Autum afternoon, back in November of 2008.
A locomotive and caboose from the former Soo Line Railroad, are viewed parked on top of the Lawrence Avenue viaduct, in northwest suburban Schiller Park Illinois.
