Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City lightweight high speed interurban car # 116. Cedar Rapids Iowa, circa early 1950's era.

 
I found this photograph from the Cedar Rapids And Iowa City
electric interurban railroad at my Link page
"New Dave's Railpix". which is located to the right of your
computer screen at...
 
The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City aka "The Crandic", operated
electric interurban passenger trains until 1953, when the Crandic
switched to diesel power, and freight only operation.
 
The line up of cars in the yard with their trolley poles down, and
the apparent lack of overhead wire, indicates that this may be
a "Rare" photograph, taken in the wake of passenger service
discontinuance. Several of the Crandic's lightweight interurban
cars, came from the Indiana Railroad, and the Cincinnati and
Lake Erie interurban railroads.
 
Former Crandic car # 120, ex Indiana Railroad car # 65, has
been restored to it's original Indiana Railroad appearance, and is
operated at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union Illinois
during special events at the museum. www.irm.org

Nickel Plate Road 765: Stretching Her Legs to Leipsic


Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad EMD SD 9 diesel locomotive # 344. Photographed in March of 1969.



I found this photograph at my Link page Fallen Flags.Org, which is located to the right of your
computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org.

Prior to the coming of today's BNSF Railway in 1996, there was the Burlington Northern Railroad
from 1970 to 1996, and prior to that, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Today's BNSF
just like the former Burlington Northern, is made up from the mergers of several railroad
companies.

Seen here a year before the 1970 merger of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Great Northern Railway, The Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Spokane, Portland & Seatle Railroad, are two
C,B & Q / first generation EMD SD 9 high hood roadswitcher diesel locomotives in two C,B & Q
color schemes.

The locomotive to the left, is wearing the bright red and gray "New Image" C,B & Q color
scheme introduced in 1959, while engine # 344 to the right, is still wearing the 1950's era
C,B & Q "Black Bird" color scheme.

C & N W local freight train runby.


Before there were diesel switcher locomotives , steam locomotives handled the switching chores and terminal assignments.

Being an H.O Scale model railroad enthusiast myself,  I have always enjoyed the inexpensive
and good quality line, of Bachman's H.O Scale steam locomotives.

In the near future, I may consider obtaining one of these U.S.R.A steam locomotives, and modifying
it with DCC and sound. Locomotives like this worked mostly in yards and terminals, but were also
assigned to work branchline switching locals, or even short transfer trains on occasion.

A Chicago Transit Authority blue line rapid transit train departs from the Clark and Lake subway station. Chicago Illinois. Tuesday morning, September 29th, 2015.

 
My car was in the auto shop, and I had to use public transportation
to get to and from my place of employment.
 
The Chicago Transit Authority subway train shown here, is departing
from the Clark and Lake subway station, and is enroute to Chicago's
O'Hare International Airport.

Friday, September 18, 2015

The first colorful leaves of the upcoming autum season. Bridgeview Illinois. Early September 2015.


A classic 1950's and 60's era Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad local freight train in H.O Scale.

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

Conrail, Position lights, and Snow. 6 trains in 91 minutes on the Pitt. ...


No longer carrying public transit commuters through the streets of New York City, Third Avenue Railway # 629 now carries tourists at the Connecticut trolley Museum in East Haven Connecticut.


Southern Pacific Railroad EMD GP 9 diesel electric locomotive # 3187. San Jose California, 1981. Gary Overfield photo collection.

 
From my Link page Fallen Flags.Org, which is located to
the right of your computer screen at

Durango & Silverton Railroad Music Video


A 1960's era Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad local freight train, crossing the tall steel Winston Bridge trestle on the club layout.

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

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

An Athearn, H.O Scale model of an Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad CF 7 roadswitcher diesel electric locomotive.

 
I grew up in the city of Chicago Illinois, during the 1960's
and 70's era. This is also the period I chose to model in
H.O Scale.
 
The locomotive shown here, is a CF 7 roadswitcher, which were
unique to the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad.
These locomotives were built, using aging Santa Fe EMD F 7
cab unit diesel electric locomotives, that dated to the early 1950's.
 
Santa Fe began building these locomotives, beginning in 1969.
Several EMD F 7's were pulled out of service, and rebuilt from
the frame up. A new carbody based on the EMD GP 7 and 9 -
models with a chop low front nose for better visibility, would
replace the old cowl carbody F 7 body shell, thus becoming
more practical for switching and terminal work.
 
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe built these recycled F 7  now
CF 7 roadswitcher locomotives at their Cleburne Texas railroad
shops facility, between 1969 and 1978. This model has the
early round cab. Some later CF 7's, had an angular "Topeka Cab"
from their Topeka Kansas shop facilities.
 
The Santa Fe retired their CF 7's in 1987, selling several of these
locomotives to various shortline railroads and Amtrak.
 
This photograph was taken, at the Oak Park Society of Model
Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
OPSME on Facebook.
 

The Harlem Avenue / Chicago Transit Authority green line rapid transit terminal station. Oak Park Illinois. New Years Day, January 1st, 2015.


Northbound Canadian Pacific freight. Deerfield IL. Nov 1st, 2011.


A 1960's era New York Central Railroad freight train in H.O Scale.

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

The "New" Metra Cicero commuter rail station. Cicero Illinois. June 2015.

 
This recently erected Metra commuter rail station, replaced
an old and very run down facility that once stood here, and
was indeed a very urban eyesore.
 
This view is facing east, and the Chicago city skyline can
be seen in the far background.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page!

 
Coming to you, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA!

Wurlitzer band organ plays The Can Can

Wurlitzer band organ plays The Can Can

To view this video, please click on this Link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7fpL7KkLTs

The Merry Go Round / Carousel ride at the Adventure Land Amusement Park. Addison Illinois. (Gone.) in business from 1961 to 1977.

An era many older Chicagoans fondly remember, is that
period from the 1950's (Or earlier) in to the 1970's. It was
during this time, that there were many seasonal family owned
and operated little amusement parks, in the outlying  suburbs
in the greater Chicagoland area.
 
This photograph I found on the internet, shows the lighted Merry
Go Round ride at the Adventure Land Amusement Park in
Addison Illinois, more than likely around closing time.

C & NW local freight passing through the JCT.


An eastbound Metra local commuter train, makes the station stop at Fairview Avenue. Westmont Illinois. November 1989.


Puffing Billy Railway - Chasing the Garrett G42 Steam Locomotive

A Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad switching local at work.

 
Fellow club member Henry Kranz, was operating his
G,M & O Alco RS 2 diesel switcher and train, at the
Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model
Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.  OPSME on Facebook.
 

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Chicago's summer season is now winding down, and coming to a close. Berwyn Illinois. September 2015.

 
I took this photograph on a rainy night recently after work.
 
The seasonal roadside Tastee Freeze soft serve ice cream stand
on West 26th Street and South Clarence Avenue in Berwyn
Illinois, is experiencing a slow late summer season night,
as the rainy weather has kept the local patrons who would
normally line up outside, away on this wet night.
 
Soon the colorful autum leaves will appear on the neighborhood
streets, and once again, this local roadside soft serve ice cream
stand, will be boarded up, and closed for the upcoming winter season.

E B CTA Skokie Swift crossing Niles Center Road. Aug 2008.


Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee Railroad electric interurban coach # 749 at Mundelein Illinois. 1955.

 
From my Link page New Dave's Railpix.

Santo & Johnny "Sleep Walk"


The Illinois Railway Museum repaints a set of former Chicago Transit Authority 1964 Pulman 2000 Series rapid transit cars in to the original as delivered color scheme.

 
The 1960's are alive and well at the Illinois Railway Museum in
Union Illinois, as these former Chicago Transit Authority 2000
Series Pulman rapid transit cars from 1964, have been repainted
in to their original Mint green and Alpine white color scheme.
 
For more information about this wonderful and very family
friendly attraction in Union Illinois, please log on to

A mid 1960's era merger era photograph of the Norfolk & Western Railroad, after acquiring the Wabash through merger in 1964.

 
In October of 1964, the Norfolk & Western Railroad, acquired the
Wabash Railroad, the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad
(Aka Nickle Plate Road), and the Akron, Canton & Youngstown
Railroad in a huge corporate mega merger.
 
Prior to the merger, several Wabash Railroad diesel locomotives
were repainted from a complicated blue and gray color scheme,
to a much simplified and cost cutting solid blue "Dip Job"
paint scheme. After the 1964 merger, several Norfolk & Western
diesels were painted dark blue, as some were acquired from the
former Wabash.
 
In this merger era color photograph, a solid blue / possible former
Wabash diesel locomotive, is viewed as a caboose hop, with a
former and yet unrepainted former Wabash transfer caboose,
complete with the large Wabash "Flag" logo on the sides yet.

live steam Pennsylvania PRR Q2 Prototype model train Mill Creek Central ...


It;s a lovely day to go roller blading at West Park. Des Plaines Illinois. Thursday, September 10th, 2015.

 
I was passing through northwest suburban Des Plaines Illinois
this morning on my day off from work, and just couldn't resist
the opportunity to visit one of my favorite local haunts, good
old West Park on Wolf Road.
 
The asphalt exercise path is in excellent shape, and this park
is maintained to some of the higher standards of civic pride.

A CSX Transportation Company freight train waiting for clearance. Franklin Park Illinois. August 2015.

 
I took this photograph, just south of the Grand Avenue underpass
viaduct, in near northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois.

2010 SNCF 241.A.65



To close out today's edition of Eddie's Railfan Page, here is a very nice
mainline double headed steam locomotive powered rail excursion video
from France.

Oui! They have railfans there as well.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Tuesday, September 08, 2015

A modern EMD Genset "Hybrid" diesel electric locomotive, switching at the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. Chicago / Bedford Park Illinois. August 2015.


Westbound Metra local approaching River Grove IL. April 2011.


An Athearn model of an Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad CF 7 roadswitcher diesel electric locomotive from the early 1970's era.

 
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O
Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
 
This particular model of diesel locomotive, was unique to
the Santa Fe. It was the result of recycling old worn out
EMD cab unit EMD F 7 diesel locomotives, dating back
to the early 1950's. These old engines were rebuilt from
the frame up, utilizing a new roadswitcher style body,
which provided excellent visibility for terminal and yard
switching work. The Santa Fe CF 7's were built between
1969 and 1978. They were retired from the Santa Fe
roster by 1987. Several were sold to Amtrak, short line
and industrial railroads. Some are still work today.
 
The model shown here, is an early round cab CF 7, wearing
the Santa Fe's 1972 introduced yellow bonnet color scheme.

The Veteran's Circle fountain in Brookfield's "Eight Corners" business district. Brookfield Illinois. Sunday, September 6th, 2015. Labor Day weekend.


HO scale Broadway Limited Imports 4-8-2 "Mountain"


Central Railroad of New Jersey EMD SW 1 yard switcher diesel electric locomotive # 1011. Jersey City, New Jersey USA. August 1974. Karl Greffchen photograph.

 
I found this photograph at my Link page Fallen Flags.Org, which
is located to the right of your computer screen at
 
One of the early model of diesel electric locomotives that had
helped to speed up the replacement of steam locomotives, was
the EMD model SW 1 yard switcher, introduced in 1939.
 
These locomotives worked in yards, terminals, branch lines
and even on private industrial railroads for several decades.
Some are still at work today, either switching large industries
as in plant diesel switchers, or pulling tourist trains.
 
CNJ switcher # 1011 shown here, was still hard at work in
August of 1974, at Jersey City New Jersey.

Saturday, September 05, 2015

Another summer in Chicago, comes to a close.


Strasburg Railroad steam locomotive # 89, prepares to depart from the East Strasburg depot with an outbound tourist train. Strasburg Pennsylvania. August 1990.


Toronto Heritage Streetcar on Kingston Road Toronto Transit Commission TTC


An eastbound Burlington Northern Railroad intermodal double stack container train, approaches the Highlands Metra commuter rail station around sunset. Hindsdale Illinois. September 1993.


Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad EMD F7A diesel electric locomotive # 166-A at Kansas City Missouri. June 17, 1967. Bob Snare photograph.

 
This photograph was found on my Link page
Fallen Flags.org, which is located to the right
of your computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org

Miniature steam railroad water stop.




This video was photographed in Late September of 2014, at the Hesston
Steam Museum. Located in the town of Hesston Indiana, near the
border town of New Buffalo Michigan. www.hesston.org

This particular steam locomotive, originally pulled trains on the popular
"Miniature Railroad" ride, at the Kiddieland Amusement Park in
Melrose Park Illinois. (Gone. Closed in 2009.)

A 1960's era New York Central Railroad freight train.

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

Another summer comes to a close. Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!


Thursday, September 03, 2015

The short lived Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad's "Blue Bonnet" freight color sheme. Post 1971.

 
After many years , the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
bowed out of the passenger train business , turning over it's
passenger train operations to the "New" corporation known
as Amrak on May 1st, 1971.
 
Former Santa Fe passenger service EMD F 7 cab unit diesel
electric locomotive # 332, has recently had it's old classic red
passenger "War Bonnet" color scheme, replaced with this new
blue and silver variation of the passenger scheme, and is now
placed in to freight train service for the rest of it's career days.
 
This was an experimental color scheme, as only 6 locomotives
received this color scheme. These locomotives were thus
withdrawn from service by the mid 1970's, and eventually
rebuilt or "Recycled", in to the Santa Fe's famous C F 7
roadswitcher diesel electric locomotives, at the railroad's
Cleburne Texas railroad shops.

Duane Eddy - The Theme from Peter Gunn Glastonbury 2011


The waiting room inside the Elmwood Park Metra commuter rail station. Elmwood Park Illinois. September 2014.


A Norfolk Southern Railroad , Tripple Crown Roadrailer train crossing Wolf Road. Des Plaines Illinois. September 2014.


Pacing a G Scale LGB train.


BNSF Railway intermodal switching activity at Clyde Yard. Cicero Illinois. Late June 2015.