tb_circustrain_111996_01
It's an overcast, grey November day in Chicago and the sun is beginning to set. This view looks southeast down Kingsbury, just south of North Avenue. In the distant background is the white Montgomery Ward headquarters tower. Just a little more than five years earlier trains used to run past Montgomery Ward on the way to the southern end of the line at Grand Avenue. Already the area is in the process of gentrification as witnessed by the modern office building on the right (west).
tb_circustrain_111996_01
It's an overcast, grey November day in Chicago and the sun is
beginning to set. This view looks southeast down Kingsbury, just
south of North Avenue. In the distant background is the white
Montgomery Ward headquarters tower. Just a little more than five
years earlier trains used to run past Montgomery Ward on the way to
the southern end of the line at Grand Avenue. Already the area is
in the process of gentrification as witnessed by the modern office
building on the right (west).
tb_circustrain_111996_02
Looking north this time on Kingsbury, a truck is unloading across the former CP Rail main track and a spur track at Carbit Paints, a former Milwaukee Road rail customer. The circus train is just ahead.
tb_circustrain_111996_02
Looking north this time on Kingsbury, a truck is unloading across the former CP Rail main track and a spur track at Carbit Paints, a former Milwaukee Road rail customer. The circus train is just ahead.
tb_circustrain_111996_03
The last trailer is unloaded, and the crew picks up the ramp on the end of the flatcar. Note the Ringling Bros. logo on the trailer. The ramp is also cut out to accomodate the rails.
tb_circustrain_111996_03
The last trailer is unloaded, and the crew picks up the ramp on the end of the flatcar. Note the Ringling Bros. logo on the trailer. The ramp is also cut out to accomodate the rails.
tb_circustrain_111996_05
Another view of the other, north end of the circus train. Note the spent fuses used to signify the stopping point for the locomotive crew. To the right is a former industrial spur that leads nowhere at this date. Farther back and to the right is the still active Midwest Zinc spur with a pair of boxcars spotted there. Midwest Zinc would be gone within a few years too, a victim of the changing neighborhood from industrial to retail and commercial.
tb_circustrain_111996_05
Another view of the other, north end of the circus train. Note the spent fuses used to signify the stopping point for the locomotive crew. To the right is a former industrial spur that leads nowhere at this date. Farther back and to the right is the still active Midwest Zinc spur with a pair of boxcars spotted there. Midwest Zinc would be gone within a few years too, a victim of the changing neighborhood from industrial to retail and commercial.
tb_circustrain_111996_07
At the far south end of Kingsbury, near where it bends toward Halsted, a Soo Line caboose stands ready for the switching maneuvers required to move the circus train back out after the shows are over and the trailers are back on the flatcars. It was used during the backup move down Kingsbury from the CP Rail's Bloomingdale line.
tb_circustrain_111996_07
At the far south end of Kingsbury, near where it bends toward
Halsted, a Soo Line caboose stands ready for the switching
maneuvers required to move the circus train back out after the
shows are over and the trailers are back on the flatcars. It was
used during the backup move down Kingsbury from the CP Rail's
Bloomingdale line.