Chicago Switching > Modeling
Modeling the CNW Navy Pier Line
Chris:
Greetings. I\'m new to the forum but have been visiting this site often. Some basics before I state my question:
1. I\'m modeling the CNW Geneva Subdivision, Chicago to Proviso Yard (approx 12 miles) in HO scale.
2. The Low Line is included from Noble St, across the river, out to industries along E. North Water St.
3. My era is 1980 for equipment reasons, but am applying modeler\'s license to include industries prevalent in the late 60\'s early 70\'s, to wit:
3.1 Merchandise Mart, 4-5 spots for boxcar traffic
3.2 Warehouse east of MM, 1 spot
3.3 Sun Times plant, 2 spots for CN/CV newsprint boxcars
3.4 Tribune plant, 2 spots for CN/CV newsprint boxcars
3.5 Sucrest Sugar, 3 spots (need advice)
3.6 Riverfront warehouse, 1 spot
3.7 American Container Corp, 1-2 spots
3.8 Curtiss Candy or some generic industrial substitution
4. Space for the above fits within an alcove of the basement, approx 6\' x 10\'
5. No room for Navy Pier, North Pier Terminal, or Water Treatment plant, although a connection is simulated with dummy trackage
Questions:
Was the sugar plant called \"Sucrest\" and what specifically was done there. 1950\'s era Sanborn maps label the building as a \"molasses plant\". I\'ve seen photographs showing what appear to be barges of sugarcane in Ogden Slip. Can anyone please clarify the type of operation there. I\'ve seen photos of tank cars being switched. This would support theory of molasses plant ... ?
Would there be only 1 daily job switching this district or could there be multiple tricks given business need?
Would GP7/9 be typical power or SW / MP15 be more appropriate.
Sorry for being long winded but I think I\'ve hit a goldmine of information with you guys and I wanted to pick a few brains.
Thanks in advance. I live in the Chicagoland northern suburbs and if anyone wants to visit my 1200 sq ft rr in progress please contact me off list.
Chris
Northwesterner:
I worked in the area inthe late 70\'s. The plant was definitely called Sucrest and I recall there was a large tank there filled with ? (sorry..). The Kraft Foods building on Peshtigo Court between Grand Ave. and Illinois Street was strictly offices in the 70\'s, but had been a manufacturing facility in the late 50\'s/60\'s. There were tracks just south of Grand Avenue near where McClurg Court now goes through to N. Water. This could be used instead of Curtiss.
I recall seeing C&NW switching newsprint cars out of the Tribune onto the tracks at North Pier. I think they were using SW\'s. Somewhere i have photos of the cops towing cars off the tracks.
Hope this helps.
KAW >
TBurke:
Good luck with the new HO model. It sounds very interesting.
Don\'t forget the water filtration plant at the very end of the line which received tank cars of chlorine! Could make for some interesting waterfront railroading. Plus Ogden Slip went a lot farther east prior to its being partly filled in during the 1980s. Doug Kaniuk has some photos of operations on the far eastern end of the Navy Pier/Low Line on this website in the Navy Pier section from the late 1960s that could be helpful.
tom mann:
Chris,
I thought of building an n scale version of the Navy Pier line in an 18\" x 8\' area. Scratchbuilding all the tall buildings scared me away:)
In the 60\'s-70\'s timeframe, SW8 #801 was the frequent power on the Pier Line.
Would you mind providing a copy of the Sanborn Maps?
------------
Thomas Mann
http://www.chicagoswitching.com
Chris:
Tom,
I sent the files separately to your email address along with a photo of my construction in progress. Glad to have \"met\" you.
Chris Czyzewski
Grayslake
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