Chicago Gravel Company 0-6-0 # 18 in the snow. Bensenville Ilinois USA. Early Febuary 2008.

I took this photo after a heavy lake effect snowstorm had struck the greater Chicagoland area in early febuary of 2008. Chicago Gravel Company # 18, an 0-6-0 steam switching locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in 1922, shows the effect of heavy snow accumulation. This locomotive has been on display in Bensenville's Veterans Park since 1961.

Eastbound Canadian Pacific freight train. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Late January 2008.

I had spotted this eastbound Canadian Pacific freight train passing through Elmwood Park Illinois, on a sunny but very cold Sunday afyternoon in January of 2008.

Northbound Metra commuter train at the Glenview station. Glenview Illinois USA. November 2007.

I took this photo on a bright and very sunny November afternoon in 2007. A northbound Metra commuter local is seen arriving at the Glenview Illinois Metra / Amtrak , train station.
The annual Christmas Holidays were just one month away according to the lampost decorations.

Westbound Indiana Harbor Belt switching local. Melrose Park Illinois USA. October 2007.

I took this photo on a lovely October afternoon in 2007. Seen here traveling slowly along the south side of Armitage Street in Melrose Park Illinois, is a two car Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad industrial switching local. This train consisited of an EMD GP-38 -2 roadswitcher, two covered hopper cars, and an open platform transfer caboose. The train was traveling caboose first with one crewman on the ground flagging the crossings, and another on the caboose calling off the commands to the locomotive engineer. The train was heading toward Manheim Road -Illinois U.S Route
# 12 / # 45 at very slow speed. Stop and Go.

The Kiddieland Limited at the station. Kiddieland Amusement Park. Melrose Park Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo one evening around sunset, at the Kiddieland Amusement Park in Melrose Park Illinois.

Evening was falling in the Greater Chicagoland Area on this hot day in June of 2007, and several local familys were arriving at the Kiddieland Amusement Park for a summer evening of family fun.

The Kiddieland Limited, is a miniature gasoline powered replica of a 1950's era streamliner passenger train. This train operates on 14" guage track around the park's perimeter.

Eastbound Belt Railway of Chicago transfer train. Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. April 1987.

An elderly 1950's era EMD 1st Generation Cow and Calf switcher set, are seen approaching the Grand Trunk Western Railroad crosstracks at Hayford Junction with a transfer train in tow.

Hayford Junction is located at West 75th Street and South central Park Avenue in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood on the southwest side.
I spent much time railfanning here in the 1980's.

Westbound BNSF Railway empty unit coal train. Riverside Illinois USA. October 2006.

I took this photo on a lovely Autum morning in October of 2006. A westbound empty unit coal train has just left nearby Berwyn Illinois east of Harlem Avenue, and is now picking up speed as it approaches and passes thrrough west suburban Riverside Illinois. It was a great day to be trackside with a camera in hand for railfans.

Northbound CSX Transportation Co transfer train at night. Bridgeview Illinois USA. October 2006.

I took this night time photo just west of the railroad crossing on West 71st Street, in southwest suburban Bridgeview Illinois.

A northbound CSX train traveling over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, has just recieved a green block signal and an OK from the dispatcher. Notice the former Conrail locomotive on the head end, acquired through merger in the year of 1999.

Marzano's Miami Bowl on South Archer Avenue. ( Gone.) Chicago Illinois USA. September 2004.

I took this photo from the west parking lot looking east. This was Marzano's Miami Bowl, wich was located on the southside of South Archer Avenue, just west of the intersection of South Pulaski Road in Chicago's Archer Heights neighborhood.

After many years in operation, the owners of this Archer Heights neighborhood institution near Midway Airport, had just recently announced the upcoming closure in the Chicago Sun Times newspaper. I immediately went there on location to take some last photographs. Miami Bowl was eventually demolished, and today is a vacant lot.

The Chicago Transit Authority was planning on using the site for parking near the Pulaski Road CTA Orange line station nearby.

I have many happy memorys here at Miami Bowl. I attended Curie High School just east of here from 1977 to 1981, and would sometimes hang out, play pinball or video games in the arcade, have a bite to eat at the snack bar, play the jukebox, or even bowl a game or two occasionally.

My High School Gym class had a bowling course in the fall of 1979 here at Miami Bowl too.

The little gas powered box cab that could. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. August 2005.

I took this photo on an August 2005 visit to the Hesston Steam Museum located in NW Indiana in the area east of Michigan City near the border at New Buffalo Michigan.

This homemade gasoline powered boxcab motor, is normally assigned to the maintenance of way trains on the museum's 14" guage miniature railroad. The locomotive had recieved a new Gray paint job recently, replacing a blue scheme.

On My visit this hot August day in 2005, the locomotive was pulling visiting passengers. The 14" guage train is passing the yellow restrooms.

The original La Grange Hobby Center storefront. La Grange Illinois USA. June 1985.

I took this photo on a hot summer day in June of 1985. Seen here on the east side of La Grange Road, aka Illinois U.S Route # 12 /# 45 in downtown La Grange Illinois, is the original storefront of one of My favorite local Chicagoland hobby stores.

The La Grange Hobby Center for many years, was two storefronts big. Approximatly 10 years ago, the store was remodeled and downsized into todays one storefront configuration. It is still a very pleasant hobby shop specializing in model trains, and radio controlled aircraft models.

Special chartered Amtrak train. The June 8th 1985 Galesburg Illinois Railroad Days Festival.

I took this photo in the city of Galesburg Illinois, way back in June of 1985. I had rode this train from Chicago, wich was a special chartered excursion on behalf of the 20th Century Railroad Club. The locomotive on the head end of our trip...Amtrak # 229 a late 1970's era EMD model F-40 PH passenger diesel locomotive, was adorned with temporary "Galesburg Zephyr" markings, and a taped on logo from Chicago's 20th Century Railroad Club.

It was a hot June day, with lots of fun and family attractions.

Westbound two car interurban train. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. August 2006.

I took this photo from the parking lot at the Illinois Railway Museum. A two car train of Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad interurban coaches, are seen passing the preserved interlocking junction tower from Spaulding Illinois. The car to the left is wearing the 1940's era green, red, and gray color scheme, while the coach to the right wears the final color scheme used by the North Shore until the January 1963 abandonement due to bankruptcy.

The Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad operated daily high speed interurban passenger service between Chicago Illinois and Milwaukee Wisconsin. North Shore trains operating within metropolitan Chicago utilized the CTA elevated.

Preserved 0-4-0 T industrial fireless steam locomotive. Tinley Park Illinois USA. August 2006.

I took this late night photo in South Suburban Tinley Park Illinois. This preserved example of industrial steam locomotive design from the 1920's and 30's era, is on display adjacent to the Tinley Park Metra commuter rail station on the east side of South Oak Park Avenue.

Fireless steam locomotives were a unique design, and were manufactured by the Porter and Davenport Locomotive company's in the 1900's.
They did not burn fuel, hence the term "Fireless". The locomotive would have a steam hose connected from the factory boiler house on the site they worked at. The boiler would be charged with hot steam, and the next few could be spent spotting freight cars on that same charge of steam. These locomotives were utilized at industrial operations where fires were too much of a hazzard. A number of these have been preserved in many North American museums.

East Troy Railroad electric steeplecab locomotive # L-9. The East Troy Electric Railroad and Museum. East Troy Wisconsin USA. September 2000.

Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.

Here I am, Your host and photographer in September of 2000 having fun in East Troy Wisconsin. Although I wasn't a "Salesman" by trade yet, here I am showing off East Troy Railroad electric locomotive # L-9 just like it was in the showroom at Carmax or somewhere.

I was on a chartered fantrip visit to the East Troy Electric Railroad and Museum that day, with a group from the Midwest Transit Bus Museum, and also the Chicago Chapter of the Omnibus Society of America. It was a fun outing for all.

Southbound BNSF Railway unit grain train. Hawthorne Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. March 2007.

I took this photo one day after work, in March of 2007. A southbound BNSF Railway unit grain train is passing over the former Ilinois Central crosstracks near the Chicago city limits at Hawthorne Junction. The train is traveling over the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage, and is more than likely heading to Clearing Yard in Bedford Park Illinois. A pleasant surprise that day, was finding this old weather beaten 1950's era EMD SD-9 high hood roadswitcher in the locomotive consist. The weather was becoming a little milder, and soon the local scenery would turn green.

Southbound Metra commuter local. Glenview Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo one morning in Febuary of 2008. A southbound Metra commuter train enroute to Chicago Union Station, is seen boarding passengers at the Metra / Amtrak -Glenview Illinois railroad station. The two locomotives on the rear of this train, are there to balance out the motive power fleet at Union station. It's good to have an extra engine or two ready for the next rush hour travel period.

Westbound Chicago Transit Authority Blue line train. Forest Park Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo looking west from the Circle Avenue overpass bridge, in west suburban Forest Park Illinois. The CTA Blue line runs in the median of the I-290 Congress Expressway. The train is ducking under the former Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (Now CSX Transportation), and will soon arrive at the west terminal on Des Plaines Avenue in Forest Park Illinois.

A scene from one of My past H.O model railroads. Chicago Illinois USA. Circa 1989.

I took this black and white 35 mm photo back in late 1989 in My family's old apartment I lived at when I resided in the city of Chicago. ( Southside.)

My ficticious " ALSIP" Railroad, was an industrial shortline railroad serving a branchline on the outskirts of any midwest town. It was an outlying railroad much like the E,J & E. The layout itself, was four feet wide by six and one half feet long with industrial sidings on a switchback arrangement. It was in a small town setting too.

The Alsip railroad had three locomotives. Athearn Baldwin s-12 switcher # 10 shown here, a Bachman G.E 44 Ton centercab switcher, and a model Die Casting 0-6-0 with a slope back tender that didn't operate well mechanically. When I wasn't operting the Alsip Railroad switching local...I would run Santa Fe passenger and freight trains.

I still have Alsip Railroad Baldwin switcher # 10 today, still painted in the blue and cream color scheme with the large white ALSIP roadname on the sides. It was My best diesel switcher then.

BNSF Railway two train meet on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Bridgeview Illinois USA. Early September 2007.

I took this photo one evening in early September of 2007. Two BNSF Railway freight trains meet in Bridgeview Illinois traveling over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. This view is looking south from West 71st Street, as another summer day is getting ready to end.

Delicious homemade Italian spaghetti dinner.(Or whats left of it.) Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

With a large local ethnic population of Italian Americans, and an abundance of Italian delicatessens and specialty stores, northwest suburban Elmwood Park is a tast of Italy.

My Mother in law prepared a large homestyle spaghetti dinner recently for My Brother in law Chris's Birthday, and this was all that was left by the time I arrived upstairs with My camera.

This stuff is really good! Better hurry up and grab some while You can. Mangia Mangia!

Northbound Canadian National transfer train. Franklin Park Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo one summer morning in June of 2007. Seen here heading northbound and crossing over the recently erected Grand Avenue Underpass in Franklin Park Illinois, is a lenghty Canadian National transfer freight train traveling over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

Northbound Metra commuter train. Glenview Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo one morning, in Febuary of 2008. A speeding northbound Metra commuter train enroute to Fox Lake Illinois, is seen passing the railroad crossing at Lehigh and Chestnut Avenue's in north suburban Glenview Illinois. This location is on the former Milwaukee Road commuter line to Fox Lake Illinois. This is an excellent are to photograph winter train scenes when the conditions are just right, as the many speeding trains through here kick up snowdust in their wake.

Chicago Surface Lines car # 1374 approaching the Central Avenue trolley stop. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. June 1999.

I took this photo on a June 1999 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum. One of the museum's remarkable restorations, CSL electric streetcar # 1374 was seen here arriving at the Central Avenue trolley stop and concession stand on a hot summer afternoon.

Chicago Surface Lines ( Pre CTA) # 1374, was built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1906. It was in passenger transit service in Chicago untill 1945, when it was demoted into maintenance of way operations. It was last used as a rock salt spreading car for wintertime street maintenance operations. After many years in derelict but restorable condition at the Illinois Railway Museum, it was finally restored over an eight year period. It now hauls passengers at the museum, like it was built to do over Chicago city streets 102 years ago.

A former Illinois Central locomotive switching the Canadian National Crawford Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. Early April 2007.

I took this photo after work one evening, in early April of 2007. A weather beaten former Illinois Central EMD roadswitcher, is seen at work switching a cut of tank cars at Crawford Yard on Chicago's near southwest side, just east of Cicero Illinois. Crawford Yard, is a former Illinois Central facility located at approximately West 33rd Street and South Kostner Avenue. This yard is located on the former Illinois Central Railroad -Iowa Division Mainline, wich operates between Chicago Illinois and Waterloo Iowa.

Canadian Pacific maintenance of way truck. Bensenville Yard. Bensenville Illinois USA. Late January 2007.

I took this photo on a bitterly cold winter morning, in late January of 2007. This maintenance department Hi Rail equiped truck, is one of the many support vechicles needed to keep a railroad in constant operation. This photo was taken alongside Green Street in Bensenville Illinois near the intersection at Wolf Road. This view is looking north into the large rail yard.

Eastbound CTA Orange line train. Chicago Illinois USA. January 2007.

I took this photo one morning, in late January of 2007. We are looking west on 50th Street, just west of South Lawndale Avenue toward Curie High School. ( I attended here from 1977 to 1981)

An eastbound Chicago Transit Authority Orange line rapid transit train enroute to downtown Chicago, shatters the quiet of a cold winter morning as it approaches the underpass bridge on South Lawndale Avenue in Chicago's Elsdon / Archer Heights neighborhoods.

A change of career for Your host and photographer! Febuary 2008.

Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.

Big things are in store for 2008, as a promising career offer surfaced recently for Myself. I am trading My Salesmans Shoes for a reflective safety vest and some important work skills.

I am currently in training as a Paratransit Driver in Chicago's northern suburbs. Soft drinks are a very poor seller this time of the year, and as it turns out...helping people that are less fortunate than Yourself is a much more rewarding experience. I am becoming a handicapped bus operator, and the experience is worth the many long 12 hour + days that We work daily here.

I will be occasionally updating My blogsite with some behind the scenes paratransit bus photos.

Thank You.
Eddie K.

Eastbound Metra commuter local. Riverside Illinois USA. October 2006.

I took this photo one morning in October of 2006. An eastbound Metra commuter local enroute to Chicago Union Station, is seen making a scheduled stop at the Riverside Illinois Metra commuter rail station. This station is located on the BNSF Railway.

Roller bearing truck detail. Chicago Illinois USA.October 2006..

I took this photo of a modern roller bearing equipped railroad truck or "Bogie" as Brittish Railfans refer to them as, on Chicago's near southwest side. Seen here in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood parked on the former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Illinois Northern industrial branchline at South Spaulding Avenue...is a modern tank car waiting to be spotted at a small asphalt company. The amount of functianal working detail on railroad equipment is quiet astounding when one takes a closer look.

Eastbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern freight train. Roselle Illinois USA. September 2007.

I took this photo one morning in September of 2007, at the Metra commuter rail station in Roselle Illinois. An Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad freight train is passing through town on the former Milwaukee Road mainline.

Official Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard sign. Bensenville / Franklin Park Illinois USA. January 2007.

I took this photo one norning last year, in January of 2007.
This is the official sign that greets visitors and employees at the huge Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road Bensenville Yard near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
This sign is in a driveway entrance on the north side of West Green Street in Bensenville Illinois.

Chicago's Veteran Tamale Shop on South Archer Avenue. Chicago Illinois USA. Early Febuary 2008.

A local neighborhood curiosity on the southside of Chicago, is the Veteran Tamale Shop located at the intersection of Archer Avenue and South Robinson Street in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood. Veterans Tamale Shop is a local store with a little sit down eating area. I may be visiting this little southside neighborhood secret sometime soon in the near future. I support our Veterans...and I want to try their Tamales.

Winter sunrise at the Glenview Illinois Metra commuter rail station. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo recently, at the Metra commuter rail station in Chicago's northern suburbs. The morning sun was rising on a bitterly cold Febuary morning, as a Chicago bound Metra commuter local prepares to depart for downtown Chicago. Night was departing, as a clear and sunny winter day was approaching. The greater Chicagoland area was just waking up.

Westbound Auto Rack train. Hayford Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. April 1987.

I took this classic railfan photo in April of 1987, at Hayford Junction. A westbound Auto Rack train slowly clatters over the "Then" double track Grand Trunk Western crosstracks located at West 75th Street and South Central Park Avenue, in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood. Notice the Tri Leval Auto Racks in colors and markings of the now Fallen Flag railroads Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Southern Railroad. The A,T & S, F merged with the Burlington Northern in 1995 creating todays BNSF Railway, while the Southern merged with the Norfolk & Western in 1982 creating todays Norfolk Southern Railroad. The blue bicycle in the background is Mine. I took photos at many of these locations in the 1980's arriving via My bicycle. The Grand Trunk Western single tracked their mainline through here in 1989.

The Hindsdale Metra commuter rail station. Hindsdale Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo after work one evening in June of 2007. An architectural beauty from decades past, and still serving commuters well today...is this lovely brick train station in downtown Hindsdale Illinois. The Hindsdale station is a surviving example of early 1900's era architecture and styling. Although the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad station no longer serves the Burlington's many passenger locals, Mail trains and /or streamlined zephyrs, You can still board commuter passenger trains here from Chicago's Metra commuter rail agency.

Canadian National freight train rounding the southbound interchange connection curve. Hawthorne Junction. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

I took this photo on a hot and humid summer afternoon in June of 2007. A Canadian National freight train has just left the former Illinois Central Hawthorne Yard in Cicero Illinois, and is now rounding the interchange curve that connects to the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks at Hawthorne Junction. The train is moving very slowly and the wheel flanges are squeeling loudly on the curve. Notice the third and last diesel locomotive in Illinois Central colors and markings. The CN absorbed the I.C through a large corporate buy out merger in 1999.

Southbound Amtrak train from Milwaukee Wisconsin racing through the Glen of North Glenview Illinois Metra commuter rail station. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo a few weeks ago at The Glen of North Glenview Metra commuter rail station in Chicago's northern suburbs. A speeding southbound Amtrak Hiawatha service train enroute to Chicago from Milwaukee Wisconsin, is seen kicking up snowdust at speed. The train will stop approximately two miles south of here at the Glenview Illinois Metra / Amtrak station in downtown Glenview Illinois on Harlem Avenue -
Illinois U.S Route # 43.
North suburban Glenview has two passenger train stations. The Glenview station in the downtown village square section, and this one located just east of the former Glenview Naval Air Station site, wich has since been redeveloped into a trendy outdoor shopping center.

Westbound Chicago Transit Authority Blue line train at rush hour. Chicago Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo looking west on Chicago's I-90 Kennedy Expressway during rush hour ,one evening in Febuary of 2008.
Although being stuck in one spot with My foot on the brake just barely inching along at a crawl wasn't much fun...being a local Chicago area railfan with frequent rapid transit trains passing Me, and a camera in My hand...I made the most of a slow moving and very conjested westbound afternoon commute. This train is enroute to O'Hare International Airport in northwest suburban Rosemont Illinois as another winter day in Chicago is coming to an end.

The original Chicago Public Library's Mount Greenwood Branch building on South kedzie Avenue. Chicago Illinois USA. December 1986.

I took this photo on a sunny Saturday afternoon in December of 1986, on one of My many visits to Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood.

This was the original Mount Greenwood neighborhood public library, wich was then located in a storefront building on the east side of South Kedzie Avenue at approximately west 109th Street. This facility was already outdated
and quiet inadequette by the mid 1980's.

A new and much larger Chicago Public library building was erected across the street at approximately 110th Street during the early 1990's, replacing an old gasoline service station.

Belt Railway of Chicago wide vision caboose # 126. Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois USA. July 2007.

I took this photo one day after work, in July of 2007. Seen here at the eastern foot of South Central Avenue near the north entrance to the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard, is the somewhat elusive caboose # 126. Painted in an attractive red and yellow color scheme with reflective safety striping on the ends.

Locomotive hostling and hump yard activity. The Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois USA. August 2007.

I took this photo looking south on Central Avenue near approximately West 68th Street in Bedford Park Illinois. We are looking south toward the Belt Railway of Chicago locomotive terminal, and the large two way classification hump in the background. This suburban Bedford Park, and nearby Chicago Clearing neighborhood landmark, is a busy Chicago railroad terminal located near Midway Airport. It is active 24 -7 always.

Former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad baggage cart. The Riverside Illinois Metra commuter rail station. September 2006.

I spotted this relic from North America's glory days of passenger train travel on display at the Riverside Illinois Metra commuter rail station in Chicago's western suburbs. The stenciling on the front wooden bulkhead indicated that this cart was originally assigned to the passenger train station in Pontiac Illinois, while the sides were stenciled for the G,M & O. Today it is a displayed curio from decades past for all to see.

Wintertime at the Fox River Trolley Museum. South Elgin Illinois USA. December 2007.

I took this photo one afternoon in December of 2007. Although the place was officially closed for the season, the bright sunshine, snowy landscape and the simple fact that I was passing through the area...Heck. I just couldn't resist taking this quiet "Off Season" photograph of the site.

This view is looking east from on top of the hill at the museum site on Illinois U.S Route # 31 in the village of South Elgin Illinois. Behind the billboard are two late 1950's vintage Chicago Transit Authority 5-50 series rapid Transit cars originally used on what is the CTA Purple line today. Today they haul tourists along the west bank of the Fox River. The museum operates from Castlemuir Depot (Here) to the Blackhawk Forest Preserve approximately 2 and 1/2 Miles to the south of here from May to October.

Eastbound Union Pacific unit coal train. Chicago Illinois USA. December 2006.

I took this photo on an overcast December afternoon in 2006 on Chicago's westside. An eastbound Union Pacific unit coal train is seen passing the M-19A Diesel Shop at 400 North Pulaski Road. This was the former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad mainline and facilities that Union Pacific had acquired through merger.

Westbound Metra commuter local. Brookfield Illinois USA. December 2006.

I took this photo one morning in December of 2006. A westbound Metra commuter local has just left the Brookfield Metra commuter rail station at Prarie Avenue, and will soon be stopping in La Grange Illinois at the next stop.
There will be many stops between here and Aurora Illinois on the BNSF Railway.

Vince's Pizza Restaurant on West 63rd Street. Chicago Illinois USA. Early Febuary 2008.

Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.
I am feeling rather hungry now, and I thought it would be great for us to get together for Pizza.

This is Vince's Pizza restaurant, located near the intersection of west 63rd Street and South Melvina Avenue in Chicago's Clearing neighborhood near Midway Airport. I made many trips for dinner here with My family during the 1980's. We always enjoyed coming here, and I just may be returning here soon in person with some of My fellow railfans, photographers, and fellow southside Chicagoans for some great pizza.

It takes more than a heavy snowstorm to stop the Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard. Early Febuary 2008.

I took this photo alongside Green Street in Bensenvile Illinois, not long after a heavy Chicagoland lake effect snowstorm had finally stopped falling. The Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard located near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, is a major Chicago rail hub with non stop action 24-7. Even old man winter doesn,t have what it takes to stop the constant railroad operations here. It is a very rugged and dependable transportation center.

CTA buses waiting on Forest Preserve Drive. The Harlem Irving Plaza. Norridge Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

A popular local attraction at the Chicago city limits that is easilly accessed via public transportation, is the Harlem Irving Plaza, wich is also known as "The Hip". It is a nice place to escape Chicago's winter conditions, and enjoy pleasant indoor shopping. This mall has been here since 1956, but has been rebuilt, modernized and expanded several times over the past several decades.

Westbound Metra commuter local. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Febuary 2008.

I took this photo one afternoon in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois. The sun is very bright, but the outside temperatures are bitterly cold on this winter afternoon in Febuary of 2008. A westbound Metra commuter local, is seen approaching the railroad crossing on 75th Avenue, and will soon come to a stop at the Metra Elmwood Park commuter rail station.