The Illinois Northern Railroad. My old neighborhood railroad I grew up with in Chicago, before I was born. Chicago Illinois, early 1950's era.

 

Hi Everyone! This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer

here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

 

I was born in Chicago Illinois, during the year of 1962. I grew

up in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood near West 26th

Street and South Kedzie Avenue, on the west / near southwest

side of the city during the 1960's thru 1990.

 

An icon of my old neighborhood, was the former Illinois Northern

Railroad, which was an industrial short line railroad, that had once

serviced the numerous industrial / factory spur sidings in my gritty

old blue collar industrial neighborhood. I vaguely remember the

1960's era I.N, which operated with a fleet of Alco S4 switchers, that

wore the 1950's era Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad's black

and silver "Zebra Striped" color scheme. During the year of 1972,

the parent railroad Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, bought the I.N

outright, and operated the neighborhood I.N local from Corwith Yard

Monday thru Friday, with Santa Fe diesel switchers.

 

This photograph, shows what kind of locomotives had served the

Illinois Northern Railroad, prior to dieselization in 1953.

 

The old Illinois Northern branch is now abandoned through my

old neighborhood, and the tracks and crossing signals have since

been removed. Still...this was my neighborhood railroad.

 

Thanks.

Eddie K.