Switching the former Illinois Central Forest Park Illinois spur branch during a light rain. Forest Park Illinois. Late Agust 2006. (Gone -Abandoned. Rails removed in 2013.)

 

I took this photograph after work one late rainy afternoon, back in late August of 2006.

 

For many years, the Illinois Central Railroad served a handful of online industries,along

this single track dead end spur branchline that passed through North Riverside and nearby-

Forest Park Illinois. This line connected to the Illinois Central's own Iowa Division Mainline

one mile south of here near West 26th Street in North Riverside Illinois.

 

After the Canadian National acquired the Illinois Central through merger in 1999, they served

whatever little business was left on this line, until it was decided to abandon this branch for

good in 2013. The tracks were soon removed upon the abandonment of this line.

 

I took this photograph, standing on a grassy knoll, on the east side of the neighboring

Woodlawn Cemetery, near the north end of the branch, adjacent to West Cermak Road.