Friday, January 23, 2015

An H.O Scale caboose hop.


Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,
H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
January 2015.  OPSME on Facebook.

A westbound Union Pacific Railroad unit tank train. Elmwood Park Illinois. January 2015.


An old AHM H.O gauge model, of the 1875 Baldwin built J.W Bowker 2-4-0 steam locomotive, from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.


I took this photograph this past Wednsday night, at the Oak
Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad
Club in Oak Park Illinois.

This used model of the J.W Bowker steam locomotive, normally
is used on the club's little spare 4 x 8 foot guest layout. I took
it, and did a short test run on a small portion of the club layout.

Although it is an inexpensive locomotive that obviously could use
an extra set of electrical pick up contacts, perhaps a new motor 
and a DCC decoder, It could proboubly be upgraded. A new
and more realistic period paint job too would be nice as well.

I may eventually try an experiment like this myself in the future.
It's a nice locomotive, that could use a few improvements.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

An old photograph from the former Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee electric interurban railroad?

 
No. Just a fun and memorable July 1996 visit to the Illinois
Railway Museum in Union Illinois.  www.irm.org

Busy with plenty of train activity at Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois. November 2014.


An early 1980's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad unit grain train, crossing the tall steel trestle.

 
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale
Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois. September 2014.

A former Chicago Brookfield Zoo ex German meter gauge 0-8-0 steam locomotive, currently under mechanical restoration, at the Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana. September 2014. www.hesston.org.

 
For those born after 1985, the Chicago Brookfield Zoo operated
a 2 foot narrow gauge steam powered railroad around the -
outer perimeter of the zoo from May of 1967, until Labor Day
weekend in early September of 1985.
 
After many years in storage, the former Chicago Brookfield Zoo
train is now at a good home since 2002, at the Hesston Steam
museum near Michigan City Indiana. 2 of the zoo's 3 engines-
are currently operable. This one was photographed on one of
the museum's engine house lead tracks, outside the engine house.

Sunset at the Elmwood Park, Metra commuter rail station. Elmwood Park Illinois. September 2014.


MTA NYCT Subway - (D) (N) (Q) via West End & Nostalgia Special to Coney ...


An Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad switching local, passing through a small yard.

 
I took this photograph earlier this month, at the Oak Park
Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad
Club in Oak Park Illinois.
 
My 1970's era Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad local
freight train, is seen passing through a small freight yard
on the club layout, in an industrial district.
 
The locomotive, is a modified Athearn, Santa Fe rebuilt
EMD CF 7 light roadswitcher, in the early short round
cab version.

A Philadelphia Transit Company "Petwer Witt" type streetcar in 1957. Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA.

 
This is a photo taken from My Link page,"New Dave's Rail Pics",
which is located to the right of your computer screen.

Steamtrain at Rauma (Norway)


Hump activity at the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois. Late December 2014.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page! Coming to you from the city of Chicago Illinois USA!


A southbound BNSF Railway transfer train waiting on a hold order. Bridgeview Illinois. January 2015.

 
This train was photographed north of the West 79th Street
overpass bridge, on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

Be sure to check out my "New" Facebook page, "Chicago's Western Suburbs"!

 
A brand new Facebook photo group page that I just began
yesterday, featuring photos from Chicago's western suburbs.
 
This is an open group photo and discussion page, please
feel free to contribute photos or share stories about
this part of the greater Chicagoland area. It's fun!
 

A former Burlington Northern Railroad covered hopper car. Hodgkins Illinois. January 2015.


N B Metra departing Glenview IL at daybreak. Dec 26th, 2013.


Nickle Plate Road 4-6-2 Pacific type passenger service steam locomotive # 164. Cleveland Ohio. 1936. H.S Ludlow photograph.

 
I found this classic steam era photograph from the former
New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad / aka the
Nickle Plate Road at my Link page Fallen Flags.Org,
which is located to the right of your computer screen
 
The Nickle Plate Road was famous, as being one of the last
mainline North American railroads to operate steam -
locomotives later than most railroads, finally ending steam
locomotive operations in June of 1958.
 
Although the NKP as it was known, had their own famous
line of Lima Locomotive Works built 2-8-4 super power
Berkshire type steam locomotives used in both freight
and passenger service, they also had many standard 4-6-2
Pacific types like # 164 shown here in 1936, at
Cleveland Ohio.

Wintertime in Hodgkins Illinois. January 2015.

 
I took this photograph while train spotting the BNSF Railway's
former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad mainline,
near West 67th Street, in Hodgkins Illinois.
 
The greater Chicagoland area, was under a blanket of recently
fallen snow.It was a nice day, to photograph scenes of seasonal
Chicago winter railroading. Yeah...there was a cold wind blowing,
but plenty of sunshine to make up for the discomfort, and a hot
coffee purchased after this photo was taken.
 
Thanks.
Eddie K.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page! Coming to you from the city of Chicago Illinois USA!

 
A view of the Chicago city skyline facing northeast, from the
diagonal South Ogden Avenue / aka Old U.S Route # 66, in
the west suburban towns of neighboring Cicero and Berwyn
Illinois. Late December 2014.

Railroad stenciling on the cupola steps, inside a preserved 1981 vintage caboose.

 
Photographed at the Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve.
Hodgkins Illinois. December 2014.

Eastbound Canadian Pacific local. Franklin Park IL. Feb 2010.


A northbound Chicago Transit Authority purple line train, enters the Linden Avenue terminal and yard. Wilmette Illinois. February 2010.


The Union Pacific Railroad / Metra M 19A Diesel Shop. Located at 400 North Pulaski Road in Chicago Illinois.

 
A former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad
locomotive maintenance repair facility

Bourbon Street Parade - Heartbeat the Dixieland Jazz Band - Hot Steamed ...



Well folks, once again it is wintertime, and many parts of the nation are feeling
the cold winds, ice, overcast days, and snow storms. However...Mardi Gras
season is almost upon us, and soon the Crescent City of New Orleans Louisiana
and other cities who enjoy Dixieland Jazz, will be celebrating as well.

Here's a little taste of Mardi Gras for you, here at Eddie's Railfan Page!

Fellow club member Joe's modern BNSF Railway Hi Tech diesel electric locomotive.

 
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model
Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in
Oak Park Illinois.  OPSME on Facebook.

Old Trams (WWII Era) in the Winter in Boston - Ashmont-Mattapan High Spe...


A red Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad bay window caboose, brings up the rear of a 1970's era freight train.

 
The former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad, painted their
cabooses in this red color scheme, prior to 1972.

Eastbound BNSF Railway intermodal train waiting on a hold order. Hodgkins Illinois. January 2015.


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Welcome aboard the "Bus Day" edition of Eddie's Railfan Page!


A 1960's era Chicago Transit Authority photo of the CTA Route # 81 / Lawrence Avenue bus line, during the electric trolleybus era.

 
Photographed facing east, at the intersection of West Lawrence
and North Austin Avenue, in Chicago's Jefferson Park
neighborhood on the north side of the city.

Los Angeles Metro Bus Line #686 always empty


A view looking out the front windshield at the Departures terminal exit down ramp.

 
This is a view I see everyday at work as an airport rental car
shuttle bus driver, at Chicago's Midway International Airport.
Chicago Illinois. January 2015.

Chicago's Midway Airport buses # 2.


My bus stop that I pull up to in the arrivals terminal.

 
Photographed at Chicago's Midway International Airport.
Chicago Illinois. Late December 2014.

Midway Hotel Center Ford shuttle bus. Chicago Illinois. January 2015.

 
 
Photographed in the arrivals terminal, at
Chicago's Midway International Airport.

Friday, January 09, 2015

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page! Coming to you from the city of Chicago Illinois USA!


The former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad's "I.N-ex Illinois Northern Railroad" branch line local freight train in H.O Scale. Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois. January 2015.

 
I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago, in the city's
Little Village neighborhood from 1962 until 1990.
 
A train that I grew up with and fondly rememeber, was the -
slow moving Monday thru Friday Santa Fe ex Illinois Northern
Railroad (Acquired in 1972.) industrial branch line switching
local. This freight train operated out of the Santa Fe's Corwith
Yard, and served the once many industrial spur sidings in
Chicago's Little Village neighborhood.
 
My train shown here being pulled by an Athearn Santa Fe
round cab EMD CF 7, is a facsimile representation of how
this train looked like during the mid 1980's.
 
The BNSF Railway has since abandoned the Santa Fe
I.N branch line. The track and crossing signals have
all since been removed today.
 
I occasionally operate an H.O Scale version of my old
neighborhood freight train I grew up with in Chicago,
at the model railroad club today.
 
Thanks.
Eddie K.

A miniature quarry in H.O Scale.

 
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale
model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois. January 2015.

Heber Valley Railroad winter photo freight


The old 1960's era Chicago Transit Authority logo with wings. Photographed at the Harlem Avenue / Lake Street CTA green line terminal station building. Oak Park / Forest Park Illinois. Early January 2015.


The Santa Fe's former "I.N -Illinois Northern Railroad" local.1980's era.


An eastbound Metra local commuter train on a bitterly cold winter morning. Elmwood Park Illinois. January 2015.