Friday, July 29, 2016
Recently removed derelict Gray Line Sightseeing double decker buses in the rear bus yard. Gone / sold for scrap. Chicago Illinois. July 2016.
Last known use, was being a parts source.
The operator's cab aboard Big Bus Tours of Chicago, Freightliner replica trolley bus # T 8. Chicago Illinois. July 2016. "This is my office at work."
Being a sightseeing bus driver in Chicago, does have it's perks.
Lately, I have been assigned to work our "Zoo Link" trolley shuttle
bus, to the Chicago History Museum, The Lincoln Park Zoo, and
the Nature Center one day a week. Usually on Mondays.
A Chicago Transit Authority Route # 49 / Western Avenue bus at the intersection of North Western and West Montrose Avenues. Chicago Illinois, 1970.
I found this photograph at the internet site "Tom's Trolleybus Pictures"
A Chicago Transit Authority 1955 Flxible -Twin Coach Company
40 foot liquefied propane gas powered bus, is viewed working the
CTA Route # 49 / Western Avenue bus line, during it's final years
in operation, on the northside of Chicago Illinois.
My fellow bus driving buddy Wayne. Evanston Illinois, Circa 2012.
Hi everyone! This is Eddie K, your host and photographer here
at Eddie's Railfan Page. I am a bus operator by trade, and I had
started my career as a bus driver in 2008, working in paratransit
ADA handicapped service, driving mini buses in Chicago's north
and northwest suburbs. I did this for 6 and a half years.
Seen here standing next to this gray MV Transport Ford mini bus,
is an old friend of mine named Wayne. We worked together for
a few years at the now closed First Transit / North Cook garage in
north suburban Glenview Illinois. Wayne and I, were always
swapping stories and having a good laugh or two at work.
After a few years, Wayne decided to work for MV Transport. I
would occasionally spot him at a handicapped passenger pick up
site or two, like a special needs school or workshop, or even
stopping for a coffee at a local Mc Donald's fast food place.
I am now working at my 3rd bus job , and I still think about
the great people I worked with at one time like Wayne, and
several fellow drivers and staff members in years past.
Thanks.
Eddie K.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
An old Athearn "Blue Box Kit" I purchased recently. July 2016.
I model 1960's and 70's era American railroading, which
translates to an endless variety of old and new equipment,
first and second generation diesels, as well as railroads that
have either disappeared through mergers, or even new
railroads created through them.
This car, is an Athearn model of a 40 foot Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe Railroad box car, painted in the 1959 introduced
red with white lettering "Shock Control" markings. I own a
Bachman "Sound Value series Santa Fe Alco S 4 yard switcher
diesel locomotives, wearing the 1950's era ATSF black and
silver "Zebra Stripes" color scheme used from 1950 to 1960.
These two H.O Scale pieces of vintage Santa Fe equipment,
would look nice coupled together.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
The recently released Bachman "Sound Value" series , H.O Scale Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad Alco S 4 yard switcher.
Bachman just recently released their popular H.O Scale
"Sound Value" series Alco S 4 diesel switcher, in a few
more prototype railroad roadnames, one of them being
the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad model shown here.
The paint scheme reflects the economized Chicago &
NorthWestern scheme used during the late 1960's and
early 1970's era, with C & N,W markings on the
side of the locomotive cab.
Thursday, July 21, 2016
A 1960's era Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad local freight train.
A yet to be repainted Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
Alco S 4 switcher wearing 1950's era ATSF livery, pulls a
red 1966 era caboose and a cut of period freight cars, at the
Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model
Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
A Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad switching local working at sunrise. Rapid City South Dakota. June 1984.
I took this photograph, during my June 1984 motorcoach bus
vacation, to Yellowstone National Park in northwestern
Wyoming.
We were on our way west / northwest, when I took this early
morning photograph from my hotel room window in Rapid
City South Dakota. I was awakened to the all too familiar
sound of a railroad switching local, spotting cars on the local
industrial railroad spur sidings at sunrise. Still in my pajamas,
I grabbed my camera, and took this photograph. I am so glad
that I did.
A Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad local freight train, passes a row of urban tenement apartment buildings.
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O
Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois. Friday night,
July 1st 2016.
Friday, July 08, 2016
Welcome aboard the "Bus Day" edition of Eddie's Railfan Page!
Your host and photographer "Eddie K" at work. June 2016.
An American Precision Models H.O Scale model, of a 1950's era Flxible motorcoach bus.
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,
H.O Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois.
Big Bus Tours of Chicago, recently acquired 1988 Brittish / Leyland double decker sightseeing bus. Chicago Illinois. June 2016.
Seen here parked inside the Big Bus Tours garage in Chicago
Illinois, is a recently acquired Brittish / Leyland double deck
sightseeing bus.
Just arrived at the garage, it is still wearing the markings from
The Big Bus Tours / Washington D.C - U.S operation.
This is an authentic "Old School" Brittish double decker bus
from London England U.K , complete with a right side
operator's cab.
First Transit 2012 Gillig 35 foot transit bus # 1208. Glenview Illinois. Early September 2012.
First Transit 35 foot transit bus # 1208, is seen in the wash bay
at the now since closed, First Transit / North Cook Garage in
north suburban Glenview Illinois.
The First Transit / Chicago Midway Airport -Rental Car Shuttle
service operation, was just getting ready to start up, and for a
short period of time, these buses were being washed, maintained
and serviced mechanically here.
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page! Coming to you from the city of Chicago Illinois USA!
A Cabadian National EMD roadswitcher , idles above the
South Laramie Avenue underpass viaduct in Cicero Illinois.
This is the former Illinois Central Railroad's Iowa Division
Mainline, and Hawthorne Yard facility.
The recently closed Sabre Room Banquet Hall. Hickory Hills Illinois. June 2016.
In business from 1949 to 2016.
Former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad motive power at work. Photographed at the BNSF Railway's Clyde Yard facility. Cicero Illinois. June 2016.
View facing west from the South Laramie Avenue bridge.
An eastbound Burlington Northern Railroad freight train, passing through La Grange Illinois. Circa 1980's era.
Photograph found on the internet.
A classic 1960's era Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad local freight train.
Photographed at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O
Scale Model Railroad Club in Oak Park Illinois. July 2016.
A small City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation "Sterling" garbage truck. Chicago Illinois. June 2016.
Photographed on North Fairbanks Court, in Chicago's
Streeterville neighborhood.
The fill sized operating replica , of the Central Pacific Railroad's 1868 Baldwin 4-4-0 steam locomotive "Leviathan."
Built by the Kloke Locomotive Works in Elgin Illinois.
Although the prototype of this 1860's era American steam
locomotive, that helped to construct America's historic first
transcontinental railroad was scrapped and lost to history, -
This full sized operating replica, gives one an idea of how
America's railroad locomotives from the 1860's were like .
