Hump yard switching activity at the BNSF Railway Corwith Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. January 2007.

I took this photo on a brightly sunlit and bitterly cold January day in 2007. Seen here at the intersection of West 47th Street and South Archer Avenue in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, are three BNSF Railway locomotives backing a cut of intermodal container cars down the south hump at Chicago's Corwith Yard. The badly deteriorated concrete underpass bridge has sections of concrete missing from many years of trucks hitting or getting stuck under it. Although the streets were lowered under it during the early 1990's, this bridge is begining to look like a serious safety issue for pedestrians and motorist alike. It may be time for a new bridge at this very busy intersection on Chicago's southwest side. It is important soon.

Westbound Norfolk Southern transfer train. The Metra Grand / Cicero commuter rail station. Chicago Illinois USA. July 2007.

A westbound Norfolk Southern Railroad transfer freight train has just recieved clearance, and is proceeding westbound off of the Belt Railway of Chicago interchange connection to the CP Rail at nearby Cragin Junction. This was photographed on a hot and brtightly sunlit Chicago summer day.

Your Host and Photographer at age 16 in Holland Michigan. May 1978.

Hello everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.
Here I am, Your host and photographer in Holland Michigan back in May of 1978. Me and two of My family members went on a one day motorbus tour to the Holland Tulip festival, wich is an annual event held in the Spring of the year.

Holland Michigan is a lovely place to visit in the State of Michigan in the area near Grand Rapids.
Here You can find many Dutch, Netherlands culturally themed attractions such as Windmill Island and the Dutch Village, as well as a number of museums and factory outlet shopping centers.

Canadian Pacific switching local at work. Bensenville Illinois USA. Early September 2007.

I took this photo one early afternoon, in September of 2007. Seen here working on an industrial feeder branchline in Bensenville Illinois, is a Canadian Pacific Railroad switching local being handled by a former Soo Line EMD Roadswitcher in pre 1990 Soo Line markings.
This view is looking west from Wolf Road just south of West Green Street in an industrial park.

The Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Manitou Springs Colorado USA. July 1981.

I took this photo on a family vacation in the year of 1981, to the states of Colorado and New Mexico. We are at the station platform looking toward the equipment yard and shops, at the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

This is a serious mountain climbing railroad with very steep gradients and high altitudes in the Rocky Mountains. The red self propelled diesel hydraulic coaches, were purpose built in Switzerland for the Manitou and Pikes Peak line.
The center rail is actually a rack for the geard pinnion axels to grad onto. Cog railways are common in the Swiss Alps, and the technology was imported to operate this railroad to the summit of Pikes Peak. The train climbs an altitude so high, that it actually goes above the tree line.

Snowstorms are sometimes encountered enroute, and wild animals such as mountain goats and longhorned sheep can be viewed from the train in their natural habitat.

Burlington Northern Railroad industrial switching local. Chicago Illinois USA. November 1983.

I took this photo on a cloudy and cold November morning in the year of 1983. The scene was photographed on South Paulina Street near Blue Island Avenue just outside of Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. This industrial park setting, for many years was referred to as The Lumberyard District due to the many lumber and building supply companys that dominated this area. The Burlington Northern and the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads had merged in 1995, and eventually sold this line to shortline operator DRS Rail Services.

Eastbound Metra rush hour commuter local. Elmwood Park Illinois USA. Early September 2007.

I took this photo one evening after work around sunset. An eastbound Metra rush hour commuter local enroute to Chicago Union Station, is seen crossing Grand Avenue, and slowing for the stop at the Elmwood Park Metra commuter rail station in Chicago's near northwest suburbs.

The Metra Medinah Road station. Roselle Illinois USA. Early September 2007.

I took this photo one morning, in early September of 2007. Located just east of the large Metra station in Roselle Illinois, is this quaint little depot on Medinah Road. Located just north of Irving Park Road / U.S # 19 on the east side of Medinah Road, This depot serves commuters on the Canadian Pacific ex Milwaukee Road line to Elgin Illinois.

An important warning sign. The Metra River Forest Illinois commuter rail station. Early September 2007.

I took this photo looking west from the outer platform, at the Metra commuter rail station in River Forest Illinois. The River Forest commuter station, is up on an elevated concrete grade separated right of way. Immediately west of the station, is an underpass viaduct over Thatcher Avenue. This is on the very busy Union Pacific west line to Elburn Illinois. Safety is for everyone, and railfans as well as curious explorers, are advised to keep off of the railroad bridge.
Stay safe, stay on the platform.

The Santa Fe / Illinois Northern branchline switching local. Chicago Illinois USA. March 1986.

One of My favorite trains I grew up with in My old neighborhood in Chicago, was the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads industrial switching local that operated on the near southwest side in the Little Village neighborhood. The Santa Fe operated this approximately 6 mile industrial branchline that originated at the north end of Corwith Yard, and would interchange with the Burlington Northern at Blue Island and western Avenues. This branchline with light rails and an occasional piece or two of kinked track sections, operated Monday to Friday. The morning train would arrive at approximately 10:00 AM, and return to Corwith Yard around 2:30 or 3 PM. For awhile, there was an occasional early night time switching local on this line as well. This locomotive is seen at approximately West 28th Street just east of South Kedzie Avenue, and is tied up while the crew takes a much needed lunch break at the nearby Wendy's Hamburgers fast food restaurant on South Kedzie Avenue.

Smokey goes for a ride. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. September 1993.

I took this photo at the September 1993 Labor Day Steam Show weekend, at the Hesston steam Museum. Seen here aboard one of the museum's miniature 14" Inch guage railroad coaches, is the museum mascott "Smokey". Smokey was a male black labrador retriever dog, who lived at the Hesston Steam Museum from 1980 to 1995. He was a delightfull and very friendly dog who loved to greet the patrons, ride the trains, and mug for attention every chance He got. Smokey loved Children, and no visit to the museum was complete without talking to, and petting Him.

Smokey loved the museum grounds, and today is burried on the property with a Tombstone near the base of the museum's American flag pole.
Smokey was My friend, and I have happy memories of Him riding aboard the museum trains.

South Wye Junction near Chicago Union Station. November 1983.

I took this photo just south of Chicago Union Station, in November of 1983. This is a behind the scenes look at Chicago's very busy Amtrak terminal and switching operations. South Wye Junction is located near where the old Union Street interlocking tower was located. Here, Amtrak trains are taken to the coachyard, serviced, and turned around in preparation for another upcoming departure from Chicago Union Station.

The Ringling Brother's and Barnum & Bailey circus train. Chicago Illinois USA. November 2006.

I took this photo last year, near the Metra Hanson Park commuter rail flagstop depot. Seen here near Central and Grand Avenues on Chicago's northside, are the traveling accomodations for the performers and support crews of the Ringling Brother's and Barnum & Bailey Circus. This particular traveling circus, visits Chicago every year in October and November.

Westbound Metra commuter train passing the Union Pacific M-19A Diesel Shop. Chicago Illinois USA. November 2006.

I took this photo after work around sunset, back in November of 2006. A speeding westbound Metra commuter train enroute to Elburn Illinois, is seen passing the Union Pacific M-19A Diesel Shop at 400 North Pulaski Road on the Union Pacific's former Chicago & NorthWestern West Line. This is a very active Chicagoland main line.

Your host and photographer at work in Chicago. November 2006.

Hi everyone!
Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page.
This photo was taken of Me at work, in
November of 2006. I am employed as
an outside sales representative, for a local
Chicago soft drink bottling company.
My car is My office.

All work aside, lets go on location and have
some fun with some of My collection of
local Chicago area railfan photographs.
All -A-boooaaard!

A 7 and 1/2" guage live steam Pennsylvania Railroad K-4 class 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotive. The Hesston Steam Museum. Hesston Indiana USA. Oct 1998.

I visited the Hesston Steam Museum in northwest Indiana, on a lovely and colorfull Autum day, in October of the year 1998.
Seen here between runs on the miniature 7 and 1/2" inch track guuage live steam railroad, is a working live steam model of a Pennsyvania Railroad K-4 class Pacific type passenger service locomotive. This locomotive, just like it's full sized prototypes were from the 1920's to the end of steam on the PRR in 1957, is fast and very powerfull. The PRR K-4 were finely crafted machines. Two of the prototypes are preserved.

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

The traffic is light on West Grand Avenue, as a northbound Canadian National Railroad heavy transfer train, crosses over the soon to be completed Grand Avenue Underpass in northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois. The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad line with it's numerous transfer and run through trains, had caused numerous traffic jams on Grand Avenue for many years. On Labor Day Weekend of 2007, the bridge had it's official Dedication Ceremony.

Westbound Canadian National freight train waiting on a hold order. Crawford Yard. Chicago Illinois USA. June 2007.

A two unit set of former Ilinois Central EMD roadswitchers and freight train, are seen waiting for clearance to depart the Canadian National's former Illinois Central Crawford Yard at the Chicago city limits near Cicero Illinois. The nearby crosstracks at Hawthorne Junction just behind Me, were busy with several north and south transfer trains on the Belt Railway of Chicago trackage. It was a busy time at the junction that day in early June of 2007.

Westbound Burlington Northern commuter local. Hindsdale Illinois USA. Late October 1989.

I took this photo one Sunday afternoon, in late October of the year 1989. A westbound Burlington Northern / Metra commuter local to Aurora Illinois, is seen stopped for passengers at the Hindsdale Illinois commuter rail station. It
was a lovely day to be out riding My bicycle, and
this and many other railfan photographs were taken on this lovely late autum Chicagoland day.

Eastbound CTA Grren line train at sunset. Chicago Illinois USA. November 2006.

An eastbound Chicago Transit Authority green line train to Chicago, is seen crossing over the Belt Railway of Chicago tracks just west of North Kilbourn Avenue. Another work day is coming to an end, as the last traces of sunshine disappear over the western horizon.