The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.Oak Park Illinois USA. Early April 2011.

The Oak Park Society of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois USA. Early April 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

Just recently, I had become a member of The Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. This club, is located at 255 West Augusta Boulevard, in west suburban Oak Park Illinois.

Aside from having the opportunity to operate My own H.O scale 1960's era Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe freight train, wich has appeared numerous times here at Eddie's Railfan Page...I have the wonderful privelidge of seeing the other members trains operate as well.

One of My favorites is from one of My fellow club members named Mitch,, is this late 1960's and early 1970's era Illinois Central freight train. I grew up approximately one mile north of the Illinois Central's Iowa Division mainline, and enjoyed seeing the orange and white locomotive color scheme back in the days.

Attention all electric city streetcar enthusiast!

Saturday, April 23rd 2011 from 1:00 until 3:00 PM, I will be hosting the Chicago Railfan Photo Slideshow at the Eisenhower Public Library in near northwest suburban Harwood Heights Illinois.

A special treat for anyone who grew up in the city of Chicago Illinois prior to the end of Chicago Transit Authority electric streetcar operations in June of 1958, will be a short musical photo slideshow I have put together entitled "When Chicago Rode The Streetcars!" This musical short photo slideshow, is set to authentic historic period music ranging from Ragtime Piano, Dixieland Jazz, and 1940's era Big Band Standards from the orchestras of Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, Count Bassie and Tommy Dorsey.

See how Chicago commuted by public surface transportation some 60 years ago.

The Eisenhower Public Library, is located at 4613 North Oketo Avenue in Harwood Heights Illinois. This will be a fun event, and we hope to see You there.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

I found this photo at My Link page Yesteryear Depot.Com, located to the right of Your computer screen.

40 years ago next month on the date of May 1st, 1971, Amtrak began operations.
This goverment agency wich would assume operation of America's National passenger train services, was signed in to law in the year 1970, by the late United States President Richard M. Nixon.

Prior to that, America's railroads had operated their own passenger train services. Passenger train travel had began to decline during the mid to late 1950's, as many Americans began to travel by commercial airlines to save time. In the upcoming years, many railroads would gradually "Downgrade" equipment and schedules on passenger trains, and sometimes "Eliminate" them all together. Some of these were on a case by case cost cutting measure.

Seen here in July of 1966, is a passenger train from the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad aka "Frisco", pulling in to the passenger train station at Seymour Missouri.
The Frisco would exit the passenger train business by 1967.

Digital Live Sound Video: Westbound Metra local departing. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011.

Digital Live Sound Video: Westbound Metra local departing. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011. a video by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I photographed this digital live sound video last Tuesday, in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois.

Looking east toward the large diagonal Grand Avenue railroad crossing, We spot a westbound Metra evening rush hour local commuter train, departing from the Elmwood Park station late in the afternoon.

One of the many railroads I had grown up with on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1970's era, was the former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.

Created from the August 10th, 1972 merger of the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and the Illinois Central, this railroad often featured some colorful if not often quite "Weather Beaten" locomotive consisits on the head end of any given freight ICG freight train.

I found this photo at My Link page Fallen Flags.Org located to the right of Your computer screen.

The date given, is May 30th, 1977. Two former Gulf, Mobile & Ohio early 1960's era EMD model GP 30 roadswitchers, are viewed at Homewood Illinois. The lead locomotive, is wearing the Illinois Central Gulf's orange and white color scheme, wich was introduced by the former Illinois Central in 1967. It appears that this locomotive had a very recent paint job. The trailing unit, is still wearing the early 1960's era G,M & O black and white color scheme with G,M & O markings yet.

Westbound Metra local at the River Grove station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011.

Westbound Metra local at the River Grove station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photo last Tuesday evening, at the River Grove Metra commuter rail station.

With the late day sun glistening off of the sides on these Metra bi leval gallery commuter cars, this westbound evening rush hour local enroute to Elgin Illinois, boards and alights passengers at the station.

Chicago's Brookfield Zoo. Brookfield Illinois USA. September 2010.

Chicago's Brookfield Zoo. Brookfield Illinois USA. September 2010., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

I took this photo last September, at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago's western suburbs.

Chicago's Brookfoeld Zoo, opened in 1934, and has been entertaining generations of families for many years.

A Polar Bear, is viewed enjoying a little playtime at the pool on a sunny and warm day.

Digital Luve Sound Video: A westbound Metra expree and a Canadian Pacific local freight. River Grove Illinois USA. Tueday, April 12th, 2011.

Digital Luve Sound Video: A westbound Metra expree and a Canadian Pacific local freight. River Grove Illinois USA. Tueday, April 12th, 2011. a video by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I photographed this digital live sound video this past Tuesday evening, at the River Grove Metra commuter rail station.

An outbound Metra rush hour express commuter train enroute to Elgin Illinois, passes My camera location along the south depot fence, on what is normally the "Wrong" or "Eastbound" mainline.

Immediately after the express passes, We find a short westbound Canadian Pacific Railroad switching local, that appears to be heading to Bensenville Yard with a short train of covered hoppers in tow.

Hello everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

On Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 from 1:00 until 3:00 PM, I will be a hosting an event entitled "The Chicago Railfan Photo Slideshow", at the Eisenhower Public Library.
The Library is located at 4613 North Oketo Avenue, in near northwest suburban Harwood Heights Illinois.

One of the main features I will be showing at the Chicago Railfan Photo Slideshow, is a short homemade musical photo slideshow I had put together entitled
"When Chicago Rode The Streetcars!"

This musical photo slideshow, features many old historic photographs of Chicago, set to authentic period music ranging from Ragtime Piano, Dixieland Jazz, and 1940's era Big Band Standards from the Glen Miller Orchestra, Count Bassie, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey.

If You grew up in the city of Chicago Illinois prior to the end of Chicago Transit Authority electric streetcar operations in June of 1958, or know someone who did...then You will definately enjoy viewing "When Chicago Rode The Streetcars" at the Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights Illinois.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

SP # 4449 whistle demonstration. Franklin Park IL. Aug 1st, 2009.

I photographed this digital live sound video, in a light rain at northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois.

The date of Saturday, August 1st, 2009, would find a visiting preserved Southern Pacific Railroad GS 4 class 4-8-4 maniline steam locomotive on display near the historic Tower B-12 exhibit.

Southern Pacific GS 4 steam locomotive # 4449, was built by the Lima Locomotive Works of Lima Ohio in April of 1941. It is a semi streamlined passenger service locomotive, painted in the attractive orange, red and black of the Southern Pacific's "Daylight" series of passenger trains from many years ago.

Locomotive # 4449's crew, is viewed performing a steam whistle demonstration for the public.

A popular railroad in North America for many years, was the former Southern Railway.

The Southern, was one of many North American Railroads that were in a hurry to dieselize their locomotive operations after World War 2 had ended in 1945, and had successfully completed that phase in the year of 1953.

Although the Southern Railway had a large fleet of well used first generation diesel electric locomotives on their roster from the 1940's and 50's era from EMD and Alco, the 1960's and 70's era would find the railway in yet another "Quest" for motive power modernization.

Painted in the Southern Railways black and white with gold lettering "Tuxedo" paint scheme as many railfans had nicknamed it, is this EMD model GP 38 AC working in Raleigh North Carolina in 1975.

Coca Cola International tractor trailer delivery truck. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011.

Coca Cola International tractor trailer delivery truck. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Springtime is now here in the greater Chicagoland area, and Summer isn't very far away either.

With the approach of the warm weather seasons, soft drinks will be in big demand soon at many grocery stores, gasoline stations, fast food restaurants and entertainment venues.

This International tractor and trailer truck, is viewed working for the Coca Cola Corporation.

I found this historic Chicagoland area railroad photograph from 1966, at My Link page Yesteryear Depot.Com located to the right of Your computer screen.

When I was growing up in Chicago during the 1960's and early 1970's era, one of My personal favorites amongst the many railroads that had served the Windy City, was the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.

During pre Amtrak times prior to 1971, the former C,B & Q operated several daily passenger trains in and out of Chicago. One of those trains, was the C,B & Q "City of Denver". This Chicago to Denver Colorado streamline passenger train, is viewed arriving at the west suburban Riverside Illinois station way back in July of 1966.

Pennsylvania Railroad EMD SW 1 yard switcher locomotive.

Pennsylvania Railroad EMD SW 1 yard switcher locomotive., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I found this photo at My Link page Fallen Flags.Org, located to the right of Your computer screen.

The former Pennsylvania Railroad, was one of many North American railroads, that owned a large fleet of diesel switching locomotives during the late steam and early diesel transition era back in the 1940's and 50's.

The model shown here, is an EMD model SW 1 yard switcher, wich was introduced in 1939.
This was a popular and economical yard switching locomotive at the time.

As freight and passenger trains eventually became longer and heavier, these locomotives eventually became inadequate for the job, and were primarilly assigned to branchline switching locals, or even shop switchers.

Many of these locomotives would find homes operating for shortline railroads. Some would prove themselves ideal for industrial applications, like in plant switching locomotives at places like stone quarries, steel mills or even oil refineries.

The EMD SW 1 was a well built machine, and many would be found in recent times hauling tourist trains on excursion railroads like the Wilmington & Western in the state of Delaware. The Illinois Railway Museum in nion Illinois, operates a former Commonwealth Edison Company in plant EMD SW 1 switcher, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola Californa....owns the former Western Pacific Railroad's first diesel locomotive, wich is an EMD SW 1 from 1939.

During the 1980's Amtrak used a few EMD SW 1's to switch Chicago Union Station. In nearby west suburban Cicero Illinois, the Manufacturers Junction Railway used two of these to switch on line industries in to recent times.

The River Grove Metra commuter rail station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011.

The River Grove Metra commuter rail station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photo this past Tuesday just before sunset, in near northwest suburban River Grove Illinois.

Seen here just immediately west of Thatcher Avenue in the late day sunshine, is the River Grove Metra commuter rail station.

It was a lovely early Springtime day to go out for a walk, and I did just that with My camera at the ready.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Kiddieland Amusement Park. (Gone.) Melrose Park Illinois USA. June 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Hi everyone!
This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

On Saturday, May 14th from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM...I will be hosting a photo slideshow at the Franklin Park Public Library .

The main theme of My show, will be a photo and video tribute to Chicago's Kiddieland Amusement Park, wich existed in nearby Melrose Park Illinois from 1928 until 2009.

If You were a former Kiddieland Employee, or even just someone who enjoyed going there with Your family or friends...Then You will enjoy this presentation in the library community room.

Come out and enjoy the fun at the Franklin Park Public Library on May 14th.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

The Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois USA. Early April 2011.

The Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club. Oak Park Illinois USA. Early April 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photo recently, at the Oak Park Society Of Model Engineers H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago Illinois during the 1960's and 70's era. I have happy memories of this time as a kid back then, and have decided to model equipment from this era as well.

Seen here on the club layout, are some of My Athearn 1960's era box cars. The Illinois Cetral car to the left, and the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio one to the right, help demonstrate the fact, that these two railroads had merged in August of 1972, and thus became the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.

Westbound Metra local departing the River Grove station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011.

Westbound Metra local departing the River Grove station. River Grove Illinois USA. Tuesday, April 12th, 2011., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photo this past Tuesday evening, at the River Grove Metra commuter rail station.

With the late day sun begining to sink lower and lower in the west, a westbound evening rush hour local commuter train enroute to Elgin Illinois, is viewed departing from the station.

Digital Live Sound Video: The Chicago Botanic Garden. Glencoe Illinois USA. Wednsday, September 15th, 2010.

Digital Live Sound Video: The Chicago Botanic Garden. Glencoe Illinois USA. Wednsday, September 15th, 2010. a video by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I photographed this digital live sound video last September, at the Chicago Botanic Garden in north suburban Glencoe Illinois.

A 1950's era Baltimore & Ohio Railroad passenger train crosses over the bridge, while soon afterwards...a Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad pasenger train passes underneath.

All this action and more, can be enjoyed at the Chicago Botanic Garden's outdoor G Scale Model Railroad exhibit.

milw-E29Adsa.jpg Butte Montana. July 4th, 1969.

milw-E29Adsa.jpg Butte Montana. July 4th, 1969., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I found this historic late 1960's era photograph at My Link page Fallen Flags.Org, located to the right of Your computer screen.

The former Milwaukee Road, was a big time user of electric freight and passenger locomotives in America's Pacific Northwest region. Although Milwaukee Road passenger trains had quit serving this area during the early 1960's, electric freight operation would continue until July of 1974.

These electric motors, are viewed at Butte Montana in 1969.