The Willow Brook Ballroom on Illinois Rt # 171. Willow Springs Illinois. Early September 1988.

The Willow Brook Ballroom on Illinois Rt # 171. Willow Springs Illinois. Early September 1988., 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 photograph, during a weekend local cross country bicycle ride, way back in early September of 1988. ( I was in top physical shape back then. no car yet.)

Seen here, is a portable roadside lighted marquee sign, at the Willow Brook Ballroom, located in southwest suburban Willow Springs Illinois.

The Wilow Brook was featuring several 1960's era rock and roll oldies music concerts on Friday nights, featuring local Chicago area bands that made it big back then like "The Buckinghams", "The Shadows of night", and "The new coloney six".

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Former Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad EMD road switchers idling at the Grand Trunk Western RR Elsdon Yard. ( Gone.) Chicago Illinois. June 1984.

Former Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad EMD road switchers idling at the Grand Trunk Western RR Elsdon Yard. ( Gone.) Chicago Illinois. June 1984., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Athearn Genesis 4-8-2 MT-4

Classic American freight train cars of the 20th Century.

Classic American freight train cars of the 20th Century., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph last week, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

One of the main things that attracted me to becoming a railfan early on, were the many varieties of equipment and unique color schemes once common on American railroads.

Most of the models viewed here, are steam era prototypes, but actually fit quiete well if one models the 1960's and early 1970's era like myself, or perhaps the 1950's and earlier.

Variety keeps it interesting during any given operating session at the club. Auto racks, Intermodal container cars and Hi cube box cars, are often coupled together with 40 foot ice cooled refeers and wooden box cars. Cabooses are alive and well here on club freight trains most anytime.

Thanks.
Eddie k.

Eddie K at age 26. Chicago Illinois. October 1988.

Eddie K at age 26. Chicago Illinois. October 1988., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Hi once again everyone.

Believe it or not, this is me at age 26 way back in 1988, enjoying some music practice time in the living room. Eddie's Railfan Page was still several years away in the future, but I had a lot going on for myself back when I was taking those 35mm photographs, which would become the base of my blogsite eventually.

I havn't had the opportunity to practice guitar much lately, and I am afraid that I am getting a little rusty, and I may possibly consider going back for some lessons eventually.

Work pretty much eats up most of my time, but I willl still pick up my six string occasionally and play something.

have a nice weekend everyone!

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Blue Mountain & Reading Pottsville Special 1991 with Reading Company 2102

Fallen autum leaves in a local alley. Elmwood Park Illinois. Late October 2012.

Fallen autum leaves in a local alley. Elmwood Park Illinois. Late October 2012., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

Illinois department Of Transportation International dump truck on snowplow duty. Glenview Illinois USA. December 2010.

Illinois department Of Transportation International dump truck on snowplow duty. Glenview Illinois USA. December 2010., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph in north suburban Glenview Illinois, one day in December of 2010.

An International snowplow equipped dump truck from the Illinois Department of Transportation, is viewed turning north on to Illinois Rt # 43 / Waukegan Road from Illinois Rt # 58 / Golf Road in the town of Glenview in an overcast winter setting.

Winter is coming soon everyone. Please drive safely and alow for slippery road conditions.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Chicago & NorthWestern freight on an urban viaduct.

I photographed this digital live sound video last week Wednsday night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Seen here crossing a yet to be scenicked and detailed future urban viaduct scene on the club layout, is my Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad freight train, temporarilly minus a caboose.

The Commonwealth Edison Comapny's Crawford Generating Station. Chicago Illinois. Early September 1988.

The Commonwealth Edison Comapny's Crawford Generating Station. Chicago Illinois. Early September 1988., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph while riding my bicycle through my old neighborhood one Sunday, back in early September of 1988.

Seen here from a private industrial road that served a local waste transfer station and other industries, is a rear view of the Commonwealth Edison Company's Crawford Generating Station in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood.

This coal fired power plant which had served the residents of Chicago's Little Village and Brighton Park neighborhoods wel for many years, was closed in 2012 by Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Current plans are to demolish the plant building, and to redevelope the site for light industry and include a city park alongthe north bank of the adjacent Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Spike Jones featuring Frenz on Drums: Wyatt Earp

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

In recent postings of Eddie's Railfan Page, I mentioned that I occasionally enjoy hearing a good silly novelty song or two for laughs. I also mentioned that I used to listen to the Doctor De Mento Show on Sunday nights at W.L.U.P Radio in Chicago FM 98  (The Loop.)

This was one of those old time novelty records about an American legend from the old west during the late 1800's, Lawman Wyatt Earp.

If you listen closely...this kind of sounds like some sort of an early "Rap Song" that was forgotten about. Some people say that "Rap" music hit the charts in 1980 with songs like Blondie's "Rapture", or The Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". Personally...I thought that "Rap" songs hit the charts in 1975 with Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" or C.W Mc Call's truck driving hit song "Convoy".

Whatever the argument may be amongst hip hop fans...I personally feel that this must have been one of the earliest attempts at the rap song concept, as the recording artist Spike Jones had passed away in 1965.

Unique, rhyming and silly to say the least. A folk song rap? Hmmm.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. July 1988.

The Illinois Railway Museum. Union Illinois. July 1988., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph during a July 1988 visit to the Illinois Railway Museum, which is located in the town of Union Illinois. www.irm.org

Heading toward the partly cloudy late afternoon sky, preserved Chicago, North Shore And Milwaukee electric interurban coach # 160 heads west on the museum mainline, with the semaphore signal arm raised for a clear track ahead.

Eastbound Norfolk Southern Railroad freight train. Elmwood Park Illinois. Late October 2012.

Eastbound Norfolk Southern Railroad freight train. Elmwood Park Illinois. Late October 2012., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph one Sunday evening last month.

An eastbound Norfolk Southern Railroad transfer train, is viewed passing through the Elmwood Park Metra commuter rail station around sunset.

Chicago's Midway Airport. Chicago Illinois. Early November 2007.

Chicago's Midway Airport. Chicago Illinois. Early November 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

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

I was doing a little morning line side railfanning on the nearby Belt Railway of Chicago, when I heard the sound of this approaching photo opportunity between freight trains.

Looking west from the West 55th Street railroad crossing east of South Cicero Avenue, we see a commercial jet airplane coming in for a landing at Chicago's Midway Airport on the southwest side of the city.

Opened in 1926, this airport was originally known as Chicago Municipal Airport. In 1949, this facility was renamed Midway Airport, after the 1942 Allied victory battle at Midway Island against Japan during World War 2.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Central Illinois Railroad # 1206 coupled to the west end of the photo freight train. Chicago Illinois. Friday, October 31st, 2008.

Central Illinois Railroad # 1206 coupled to the west end of the photo freight train. Chicago Illinois. Friday, October 31st, 2008., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph back in late October of 2008.

A local Chicago industrial shortline railroad known as the Central Illinois Railroad, was hosting a special open house event on their railroad for photographers on this day, which allowed for many great behind the scenes photo opportunities of a working railroad.

The start of the show, was recently repainted Central Illinois Railroad EMD SW 1200 yard switcher locomotive # 1206, which was painted in to the 1950's era colors of the former pre 1970 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. This scene was photographed near the South Wood Street railroad crossing near South Blue Island Avenue, in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on the very near southwest side of the city.

The Central Illinois Railroad, was leasingthis industrial branchline from the BNSF Railway at the time of this photograph. Prior to 1970, the former C,B & Q had switched the industries on this line, using EMD yard switchers wearing the same color scheme as locomotive # 1206 shown here.

Westbound Metra crossing North Harlem Avenue. Chicago Illinois. October 2008.

Westbound Metra crossing North Harlem Avenue. Chicago Illinois. October 2008., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph back in October of 2008.

A Metra commuter train heading west / northwest, crosses North Harlem Avenue on the northwest side of Chicago a few miles east of Park Ridge Illinois.

Northbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern transfer train at Hawthorne Junction. Chicago / Cicero Illinois. January 2007.

Northbound Iowa, Chicago & Eastern transfer train at Hawthorne Junction. Chicago / Cicero Illinois. January 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I photographed this Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad northbound transfer train, on a bitterly cold but suny winter morning back in January of 2007.

This train has just departed from the Belt Railway of Chicago Clearing Yard facility in Bedford Park Illinois, and is now passing through Hawthorne Junction at the Chicago city limits border adjacent to west suburban Cicero Illinois.

Great Central Railway - Autumn Steam Gala 2011

I spotted this Brittish railfan video featuring several preserved examples of U.K steam locomotives on You Tube.

This video is going out to all the fans of Brittish steam locomotives here at Eddie's Railfan Page.

Seen here, is a video that was photographed on an English tourist railroad known as the Great Central Railway. Several unique coal fired steam locomotives from Great Britain's historic past, are viewed hauling vintage passenger and freight consists during the 2011 Autum steam gala on the Great Central Railway.

To my fellow Brittish railfans across the big pond, "Greetings from Chicago kind lads.

Thanks.
Eddie K.

Southbound Canadian National transfer train. La Grange Park Illinois. November 2007.

Southbound Canadian National transfer train. La Grange Park Illinois. November 2007., a photo by Eddie from Chicago on Flickr.

I took this photograph during a cold and very rainy morning back in November of 2007.

A southbound Canadian National Railroad transfer train, has just recieved clearance and is now proceeding southbound over the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad at La Grange Park Illinois. This train was photographed just north of the West 31st Street railroad crossing.

Penn Central 86 foot Hi Cube box car. Meadows New Jersey. July 1976.

 

I found this historic mid 1970's era color photograph from the former Penn Central Railroad at my link page Fallen Flags.Org, located to the right of your computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org

 

86 foot double door Hi Cube box cars, are a very unique and specialized box car found on North American freight trains, that are used mainly for the transport of large automobile and truck parts.

 

Photographer William Brandon photographed this former Penn Central model in jade green paint way back in July of 1976, shortly after succesor railroad Conrail began operations that year.