The former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Elsdo Yard site. Chicago Illinois. April 2007.

The former Grad Trunk Western Railroad Elsdo Yard site. Chicago Illinois. 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I was driving eastbound on West 51st Street in Chicago's Elsdon neighborhood one lovely but chilly springtime morning, back in April of 2007.

Having my camera with me that morning, I could not resist the opportunity to stop, and take the time to photograph what was left of the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad's Elsdon Yard, which the GTW closed in October of 1983.

Seen here along the north side of West 51st Street east of South Lawndale Avenue, is the former GTW Elsdon Yard track department office building. This building now surrounded by tall barbed wire chain link fencing, was now graffiti tagged on the sides, and featured the logo of the 1999 succesor railroad Canadian National on a sign.

After the Grand Trunk Western moved their switching operations to the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard when Elsdon had closed, a portion of the former GTW Elsdon Yard site, would become a railroad owned construction materials storage depot.

Not much of Elsdon Yard reamins today, and portions of the property are gradually seeing commercial and residential real estate redevelopment in slow stages. I fondly recall spending much time railfanning here unfortunately minus a camera, when I attended nearby Curie High School from 1977 to 1981.

The old GTW Elsdon Yard facility, helped to shape my railfan character to what it is today.

Thanks.
Eddie K.