Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Last Day Of Central Illinois Railroad


Eastbound Metra mid day local commuter train, departing the Mont Clare station. Chicago Illinois. July 2011.


A southbound Metra morning rush hour local commuter train. Glenview Illinois. June 2011.


A 1960's era switching local from the Illinois Central Railroad in H.O Scale.

 
I joined the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale
Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois, back in January of
2011. here is a photograph from my early days as a fellow
club member.
 
I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1960's
and 70's era, and I model the trains I seen during this period. Here
is my 1960's era Illinois Central Railroad switching local, post 1967.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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

 
The Brainard Avenue railroad crossing. La Grange
Illinois. January 2008.

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad , General Electric 44 Ton diesel locomotive # 8302. Bound Brook New Jersey. April 1973.

 
I found this historic early 1970's era American railroad photograph
at My link page Fallen Flags.Org, which is located to the right of
your computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org
 
Railfan photographer Carl Greffchen JR, photographed the B & O's
little General Electric 44 Ton center cab diesel electric locomotive
# 8302 at work in April of 1973, at Bound Brook New Jersey.

North Shore 749 & 714 at the Illinois Railway Museum


A southbound Belt Railway of Chicago switching local, passing through Hawthorne Junction. Chicago / Cicero Illinois. March 1987.


A 1970's era freight train from the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in H.O Scale.

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

RPSI Irish Steam trains, No 186 & No 4. (HD) Dublin, Brayhead, Ireland


Modern diesel locomotives from the Norfolk Southern and BNSF Railway idling. The Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois. December 2014.

 
Photographed near the north entrance from South Central Avenue.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Welcome aboard the "Bus Day" edition of Eddie's Railfan Page! Please, hop on board!


Returning to the bus garage at night. Bedford Park Illinois. February 2015.


Buses in Newark, New Jersey (NJ Transit Buses) 2010


Interior steps leading to the elevated / split leval rear section aboard a 2012 Gillig 35 foot transit bus.


A local school bus heading northbound at the intersection of Harlem and Touhy Avenues. Niles Illinois. March 2014.


Magic Bus The Who ( HQ sound )


A northbound First Student ,International school bus. Elk Grove Village Illinois. February 2014.

 
I took this photograph at work last year, during a very
bitterly cold February morning. Notice the frost and
ice build up, on the side of the school bus.

Chicago's Midway Airport buses # 3.


An eastbound Pace bus, passing through Elgin Illinois. February 2014.


A westbound Pace Route # 304 / La Grange bus passing through *Eight Corners." Brookfield Illinois. May 1989.


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

An eastbound freight train passing through the La Grange Road Amtrak / Metra commuter rail station. La Grange Illinois. Early February 2015.


Fox's Restaurant & Pub neon sign on South Cicero Avenue. Oak Lawn Illinois. February 2015.

 
I lived in Oak Lawn Illinois from 1990 until 1993. My family
and I, used to order their pizza sometimes on Friday or
Saturday nights. I may stop here sometime soon.

                                         
                                                                     Thanks.
                                                                     Eddie K.

Classic Trains from Galesburg and Cameron, IL


A former Chicago & NorthWestern diesel locomotive, leads a Union Pacific Railroad, empty unit coal train. Elmhurst Illinois. July 1996.

 
Acquired through the recent merger with the Union Pacific.

V&T's INYO


An early 1970's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad local freight 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.
February 2015.  OPSME on Facebook.


 

Do you enjoy viewing photographs of transportation subjects?

 
Be sure to visit my Facebook photo and discussion open
group site "Bus Fan's Boulevard."
 

                                     This is an open / public group site. Photographs and positive
                                      comments are always welcomed here. Please.."Hop on board."

                                                                        Thank You.
                                                                       Eddie K.
                                 

NJ Transit Light Rail: Same LRV Model, Two Different Lines


An eastbound pair of BNSF Railway locomotives running light. Cicero Illinois. Early September 2007.

 
Photographed at the Cicero Illinois Metra commuter rail
station on South Cicero Avenue, at the Chicago city limits.

 

A BNSF Railway covered hopper car being humped, at the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard. Bedford Park Illinois. December 2014.


N B Metra local crossing Dempster Street. Morton Grove IL. Feb 2009.


The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. July 1996.

 
Preserved Illinois Terminal Railroad lightweight suburban
trolley # 415, boarding passengers at the East Union depot.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

J. Neils Lumber Company steam powered Shay locomotive # 5 pulling a caboose train.

 
Photographed at the Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois.
July 1996. www.irm.org

If you can't get enough of "Eddie's Railfan Page" at this blogsite location...

 
Be sure to check out "Eddie's Railfan Page # 2 on Facebook.
 
 
This is an open public group page. Photographs are
always appreciated, as are positive comments.
 
Thank you.
Eddie K.

An early 1970's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad local freight train passing through Stocton.

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

Pine Creek Railway - Allaire State Park, NJ 1980's footage


A westbound Union Pacific Railroad unit coal train, powered by former Chicago & NorthWestern locomotives acquired through the recent merger. Elmhurst Illinois. July 1996.


A 1970's and 80's era Santa Fe local freight train passing the tower.

 
A classic EMD CF 7 powered 1970's and 80's era local freight
train from the former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad,
is viewed passing the large wooden tower near the big bridge.
 
This photograph was taken at the Oak Park Society of Model -
Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club, in Oak Park Illinois
in January of 2015.  OPSME on Facebook.

Southbound Metra local. Glenview IL. Dec 2008.


Monday, February 09, 2015

Two trains meet on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad at West 31st Street. La Grange Park Illinois. March 1990.


Westbound CTA Skokie Swift train. Feb 3rd, 2011.


A 1970's era Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad local freight train.



                                 I took this photograph last autum, at the Oak Park Society of
                                 Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak
                                 Park Illinois. OPSME on Facebook.

                                Seen here, is my 1970's era Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe -
                                Railroad local freight train, being pulled by my Athearn -
                                model of a Santa Fe early round cab rebuilt EMD CF 7
                                roadswitcher diesel electric locomotive, wearing the 1972
                                "Yellow Bonnet"paint scheme.

A westbound Burlington Northern Railroad / early Metra local commuter train, approaching the Riverside Illinois station. October 1989.


Mallets in the Mountains


A Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad freight train passing through Joliet Union Station. Joliet Illinois. 1966.


AHM H.O J.W Bowker 2-4-0 runby.



I photographed this video recently, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,
H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois. OPSME on Facebook.

Normally used on the spare 4' x 8' guest layout, is this donated vintage AHM
model, of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad J.W Bowker 1875 Baldwin 2-4-0
steam locomotive. The prototype is preserved, at the California State Railroad
Museum in Sacramento California. It appeared in the 1939 movie "Union Pacific"

I like this locomotive which is no longer in production. I would eventually like
to purchase one of these second hand, perhaps replace the motor, add electrical
pick ups to the tender wheels which do not have any on this model, add a sound
DCC decoder, and definitely repaint the model in to a more realistic looking
paint job from the 1800's era.

Here is the non DCC AHM J.W Bowker, making a runby on the club's main layout.

Chicago, South Shore And South Bend Railroad ex Chesapeke & Ohio EMD GP 7 # 1504. Michigan City Indiana. May 26th, 1980. Alan Gaines photograph.




                              I found this historic photograph from the Chicago, South Shore and
                              South Bend Railroad at My Link Page Fallen Flags.Org, which is
                              located to the right of your computer screen at
                              www.rr-fallenflags.org

                              Although the Chicago, South Shore And South Bend was an electric
                              powered interurban railroad operating between Chicago Illinois and
                              South Bend , hauling both freight and passenger trains via the high
                             voltage overhead catenary wires, the railroad was beginning to haul
                              some of it's freight traffic behind diesel locomotives by the 1960's.

                            During many visits I made to Michigan City Indiana beginning in the
                            mid 1970's, I fondly recall the railroad using these former C & O EMD
                            GP 7's, pulling long freight trains through downtown Michigan City
                            Indiana.

                           Railfan photographer Alan Gaines, photographed former C & O EMD GP 7
                           # 1504, at the railroad's Michigan City Indiana shops in May of 1980. The
                           Chicago, South Shore And South Bend ceased all electric freight operations
                            in 1981, and now the railroad's freight trains, are 100 percent diesel pulled.

Thursday, February 05, 2015

New York Central steam freight train.


A classic Santa Fe freight train from the late 1960's / early 1970's era passing the tower.

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

Amtrak Illinois Zephyr arrives at dusk. La Grange IL. May 2012.


An early 1970's era Illinois Central Gulf Railroad switching local, crosses the tall steel trestle.



                              A scene right out of 1972 and beyond.

                              A former Illinois Central Railroad EMD SW 900 yard
                              switcher diesel electric locomotive, still wearing the
                               pre 1967 black and white Illinois Central colors and
                             markings, pulls an early merger era Illinois Central Gulf
                              local freight train across the tall steel trestle on the club
                             layout.

                           This photograph was taken at the Oak Park Society of
                           Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in
                           Oak Park Illinois. February 2015.

Tuesday, February 03, 2015

An eastbound CSX Transportation Company freight train, approaches downtown La Grange Illinois. Monday, February 2nd, 2015.

 
Traveling over the 3 track BNSF Railway mainline.

Playland Park 1969



A place that was very near and dear to my heart when I was growing up in
Chicago Illinois during the 1970's, was a fun family attraction located in
southwest suburban Justice Illinois near Willow Springs, known as
"Playland Park."

Playland Park was a family owned amusement park, that was in business
from approximately 1949 until 1979. I visited this place a handful of times
with my family during the 1970's. Playland Park closed at the end of the
1979 season for good, and is now the site of the Sterling Estates trailer park.

Do you enjoy viewing photographs from the greater Chicagoland area?

 
Be sure to check out My Facebook photo and discussion group
page entitled "Chicago's Western Suburbs."
 
 
This is an open group page, that I am sure you will enjoy seeing.
Please feel free to submit photos or comments if you have any.

The Summit Illinois Amtrak / Metra commuter rail station. Sunday, January 25th, 2015.


A spectacular winter sunrise. Burbank Illinois. January 2015.


N B Amtrak Hiawatha. Northbrook IL. Feb 2009.


A classic Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad Alco powered switching local.

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

An eastbound CSX Transportation Company freight train passing through the La Grange Road Amtrak / Metra commuter rail station. La Grange Illinois. Monday, February 2nd, 2015.

 
Traveling over the 3 track BNSF Railway mainline.