Eastbound Union Pacific freight train. Chicago Illinois USA. Late April 2007.

I took this photo at work one afternoon, in late April of 2007. An eastbound Union Pacific freight train of mostly covered hopper cars, is seen at the railroad crossing on north Kilbourn Avenue.
This is on the Union Pacific "West Line", wich was formerly the Chicago & NorthWestern RR.

Canadian National yard switchers. Crawford Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo after work one day, in early May of 2007. A two unit set of EMD roadswitchers were seen getting ready to pick up a cut of tank cars, at the former Illinois Central RR Crawford Yard at west 33rd Street and south Kostner Avenue. This is located just foot steps from the Belt Railway of Chicago's Hawthorne Junction on the Chicago city limits.

Eastbound CSX Transportation west 16th Street industrial switching local. Cicero Illinois USA. April 2007.

I took this photo after work one evening in April of 2007 around 5: 15 PM. This was one of those "Lucky" right time-right place photographs of an eleusive local Chicagoland freight train I have come to know. Seen here slowly moving eastbound to Chicago, is the CSX Transportation Company industrial switching local, that serves the former B&O line along west 16th Street, in the west suburban village of Cicero Illinois. I was chasing and pacing the train from alongside west 16th Street, and took this photo from My cars front windshield. The train was finished working the factories, and was returning to the Belt Railway of Chicago interchange embankment.

Morning at the Riverside Illinois Metra commuter rail station. April 2007.

An inbound Metra morning commuter local to Chicago from Aurora Illinois, has just stopped to pick up and disembark passengers at the Riverside commuter rail station. This was a lovely spring morning with plenty of sunshine.

Frisco Railroad 2-10-0 steam locomotive # 1630. The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois USA. September 1984.

I took this photograph at the Illinois Railway Museum, during their September 1984 Members Weekend Celebration. Seen here, is 1918 Baldwin built # 1630 from the St.Louis & San Francisco Railroad -aka "Frisco". The locomotive is seen easing slowly into the station track lead to the East Union Depot on the museum grounds.

Westbound Union Pacific freight train with a caboose. Somewhere in Nebraska. June 1984.

I took this photo looking out of a window of a moving bus. I was returning to Chicago from a motor coach tour vacation in northwestern Wyoming. Seen here on the return leg of the trip back to the windy city, is a westbound Union Pacific container train with a caboose on the rear.
Cabooses were begining to disappear from mainline freight trains during the 1980's, and this once common sight was fading into rail history.
The example seen here, may have been one of the last ones on the Union Pacific.

A classic and timeless sign. Bensenville Illinois USA. July 2006.

I took this photo at work one day last year. Seen here in an industrial section of Bensenville Illinois on Wolf Road, is this classic highway sign that alerts motorists to an upcoming railroad grade crossing. This particulair style of highway warning sign, has benn the industry standard for decades.
It is both reflective and effective.

Strasburg Railroad 2-10-0 Number # 90 arriving at the East Strasburg Depot. Strasburg Pennsylvania USA. August 1990.

I took this evening photo, on an August 1990 vacation I had taken to Strasburg Pennsylvania.
Locomotive # 90 , has just arrived at the East Strasburg Depot with the last train of the day.

With the locomotives bell still ringing, the crew will soon uncouple the locomotive, run around the train, and head to the nearby enginehouse for the night. This 2-10-0 or "Ten Coupled" 1920's era freight locomotive, is light enough for the Strasburg Railroad trackage, but powerful enough to handle the long tourist car consisits.

Center entrance vestibule on a Metra Gallery commuter car. Berwyn Illinois USA. April 2007.

I took this photo after work one cloudy evening, back in early April of 2007. Seen here just a moment before departure to Aurora Illinois, is the interior of the center entrance vestibule, of a Metra (Chicago) Bi leval commuter rail coach. Notice the abundant use of reflective safety materials on the steps, as well as the doorway leading inside the coach. Automated announcements inform the passengers as to when the doors are opening and closing, as well as to wich side of the train to get off.

Eastbound Canadian National freight train. North Riverside Illinois USA. April 2007.

I took this photo one evening after work, back in April of 2007. Seen here along the north side of Commons Park, is a slow moving Canadian National Railroad transfer freight train enroute to Chicago Illinois. This train is traveling over the former Illinois Central Railroad Iowa Division Mainline.

Eastbound Metra express commuter train. Brookfield Illinois USA. April 2007.

I took this photo one evening after work, in April of 2007. Seen here zooming past My camera at lightning speed, is an express commuter train racing to Chicago Union Station. I took this photograph in west suburban Brookfield Illinois USA, at the Maple Avenue grade crossing. This commuter train action was recorded on the BNSF Railway mainline. The trains through here during rush hour are fast and frequent, so by all means be cautious and stay off of the tracks. Safety first.
The fact that this diesel locomotive is giving off smoke, is an indication that it may be due for a tune up at the diesel shop.

Life before Millenium Park. Chicago's Randolph street station. May 1990.

A Chicago, South Shore and South Bend electric interurban commuter train, is seen waiting for it's departure time.
This open air terminal station was modernized during the 1980's, and rebuilt into an underground subway style terminal during the late 1990's. Steel collums and concrete were used as a foundation for Millenium Park, wich was built above the former station seen here. Immediately behind the train on east Randolph Street, is the Prudential Insurance building. During the 1950's and 60's...The Prudential building used to be the tallest building in Chicago, and had an observation skydeck for tourists wanting an ariel view of Chicago and the surrounding areas. Later skyscrapers such the John Hancock Building and the later Sears tower, were taller and had their own skydecks.

Now that is a really cool looking set of wheels! Chicago Illinois USA, Early November 2006.

I took this photo at work one day, in early November of 2006. Seen here parked at Montrose and Western avenues on Chicago's northside, is a beautiful black Harley Davidson motorcycle with white wall tires. The rider was having a delicious bite to eat at Jeri's Grill, wich is one of My personal favorite Chicagoland diners.

The weather was pretty mild during November of 2006 in the city of Chicago, and this was a great day to take the chopper out for a spin.

Southbound CSX Transportation unit auto rack train. Mc.Cook Junction. Mc.Cook Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo on location in suburban Mc.Cook Illinois USA, in early May of 2007. A southbound CSX Unit auto rack train is passing over the BNSF Crosstracks at Mc.Cook Junction enroute to Blue Island Illinois. The two CSX diesel roadswitchers, are painted in a now weathered and dusty looking "Dark Future" color scheme.
The train is proceeding south on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad mainline.

Switching at twilight during Chicago's Febuary 2007 deep freeze. Crawford Yard. Chicago Illinois USA.

I was outside taking this evening photo, at 8 degrees above zero with a bitter windchill out of the west. Night was falling during this early darkness time of the year, as a former Grand trunk western EMD roadswitcher, is seen spotting cars at an industry by Canadian National's Crawford Yard. Crawford Yard is a former Illinois Central facility on the old Iowa Division Mainline. In the background giving off dramatic plumes of coal smoke, is the Commonwealth Edison Crawford power generating station on south Pulaski Road.
Chicago was in the midst of a notorious cold spell with daytime temperatures just barely above Zero, and night time temperature readings of ten below zero farenheight. It was a "Nasty"night.

Steam train approaching. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. June 1991.

There is nothing like a sunny day in midwest narrow guage country. Seen here rolling past a very scenic and wooded section of property, is a two car passenger train being pulled by a meter guage 0-4-0 T built in Czechloslovakia during 1940. The switch track to the left is the enginehouse lead. This locomotive has 2 whistles.
There is the original "High Pitched" European peanut whistle, and there is a "Loud" five chime American whistle that is used the most.

Northbound Canadian Pacific intermodal transfer with a caboose. Chicago Illinois USA. July 2006.

I took this photo after work one day, in July of 2006. Seen here, is a northbound Canadian Pacific Railroad intermodal transfer train. This train was traveling northbound over the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage to Craigin Junction. Cabooses are rare sight these days, but the CP Rail is still using them on some transfer trains and switching locals.

Steam locomotive cab interior. Chicago Gravel Company 0-6-0 # 18. On display in Bensenville Illinois USA. July 2006.

This is a "Rare" photograph I had the opportunity to take.
I was on temporary assignment last July and part of August, after one of My company's sales reps had left.
Seen here on display in Veterans Park, is an old 1922 ALCO
(American Locomotive Company) 0-6-0 steam switcher.
The locomotive was originally the Studebaker Automobile Factory switcher in South Bend Indiana. When the people at Studebaker no longer needed it, it was sold to the Chicago Gravel Company in South Elgin Illinois. After Chicago Gravel Company retired it from service, it was cosmetically restored and donated to the town of Bensenville Illinois in 1961.

Normally, the engine is behind a tall chain link fence. The day I took this photo, several park workers were cutting the grass around this display and doing various landscaping jobs. I asked
the supervisor very nicely if I could get some photos on board behind the fence. To My surprise He said "Sure! Just be carefull while You are doing that." I replied "Thank You sir".

This is the view from the Firemans seat, looking toward the Engineers controls and seat.

Happy ice cream shop memorys. Margie's Candies. 1960 north Western Avenue. Chicago Illinois USA. August 2006.

Hi everyone!

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.

I took this photo at work last year, at

one of My customers establishments.

This is Margie's Candies, located at

1960 north Western Avenue. This place

is on the southwesr corner of Armitage

and Western Avenues on Chicago's

northside. This in booth jukebox, is

a happy relic from a past era in Chicago.

Distant CSX intermodal train passing through Alsip Illinois USA. May 2007.

I took this photo from the open drivers side window of My car. I was heading east on 123rd Street in south suburban Alsip Illinois, when I caught this northbound CSX Transportation intermodal train at the Kostner Avenue railroad crossing. This train was speeding northbound on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. I had spent many hours railfanning this location in the late 1980's. It was good to be back there again.