Topics

16

General Discussion / Grayland spur back in use!

« on: November 25, 2009, 12:10:35 PM »

Coming in on Metra this morning to Downtown I noticed that the Grayland south spur that has stood empty for years and years had a tank car and an electric generator on a flatcar. Almost didn\'t see it but caught it out of the corner of my eye as we were pulling out of the station going into downtown. Could be the area factories are finally seeing the benfit of the team track siding that is available to them in the area. There is a spur on the north and south side lines by Grayland. The north line spur was used by a brick/cement supply company that use to be on Addison directly next to the spur.

I guess dead track can come back to life again. Would be nice to see some new customers for Chgo Terminal so there would be more to report again.

GM

17

General Discussion / Aetna Plywood

« on: August 07, 2009, 01:15:32 PM »

Riding my bike on Elston Ave. the other day I saw them removing the overhang/awning over the spur track where they use to unload by Aetna Plywood.

GM

18

General Discussion / Goose Island Bridge Closed

« on: June 22, 2009, 11:50:20 AM »

Drove by the bridge on North Ave and there was a big sign covering the brige opening to Goose Island saying bridge closed. Any idea if there is repair work going on or is this end of service altogether to Big Bay?

GM

19

General Discussion / Buena Yard links

« on: March 18, 2009, 05:09:08 PM »

Some interesting pictures

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/towers/images/lawrence01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/towers/lawrence.html&usg=__HDNxqlyyuzER6288hWS_5_Ms2R0=&h=496&w=900&sz=118&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=KHfn_-QTuxORiM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=146&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMilwaukee%2BRoad%2BYard%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26um%3D1

GM

20

General Discussion / Archived article Goose Island Yardsmentioned

« on: February 10, 2009, 01:48:01 PM »

A bit of history from a NY Times article, mentions Goose Island yards toward the end of the article,.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E07E4D91638E533A25757C0A9639C94679FD7CF



GM

21

General Discussion / Coal Hoppers by Finkl siding

« on: January 21, 2009, 02:36:17 PM »

I drove by Finkl over the weekend and saw 3 or 4 coal hoppers on the siding behind the buildings off of Cortland. Any idea why these cars would be there? I normally see the gondolas. Made me think of the old pictures where there were coal yards off of Kingsbury.

GM

22

General Discussion / Milw Rd Admin Bldg

« on: December 04, 2008, 06:21:16 PM »

Little historical note on the admin building at Fullerton and Southport.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ivyseniorliving.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/building-picture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ivyseniorliving.com/services-amenities/building-history/&usg=__oXvTKDtZtrsMKgJSCD65hwvWnhI=&h=312&w=257&sz=133&hl=en&start=667&um=1&tbnid=I1pNuOzaSFvLYM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMilwaukee%2BRoad%26start%3D660%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN





GM

23

General Discussion / Bloomingdale Line Picture from Forgotten Chgo

« on: November 19, 2008, 06:43:41 PM »

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-02/36134393.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/columnists/chi-080227forgotten-photogallery,0,962854.photogallery%3Findex%3Dchi-0227forside2_2c_5mon20080227061844&usg=__81juZgUOdwDiLI9RWn4Es88CQh0=&h=342&w=500&sz=57&hl=en&start=180&um=1&tbnid=ezlj-AdnVLtKHM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMilwaukee%2BRoad%2BShops%26start%3D160%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN




GM

24

General Discussion / Kinzie Street Bridge

« on: November 03, 2008, 04:15:59 PM »

http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1256522,CST-NWS-ride03.article

Kinzie Street Bridge that leads to Carrol Ave where Sun Times boxcars were once delivered may see new life according to the Sun Times article above only for a new reason. Plans are for a Metra connection from Michigan Ave.

GM

25

General Discussion / Target develops Wilson Yard

« on: September 26, 2008, 04:11:27 PM »

From Crains:

Target says Wilson Yard deal close
By: Thomas A. Corfman Sept. 26, 2008
(Crain’s) — Target Corp. says it is in final negotiations to anchor a $151-million mixed-use development on the Wilson Yard site in Uptown that has been plagued by delays.

And despite the turbulence in the market for construction financing, developer Peter Holsten is again close to arranging financing for the proposed project, sources say. The development, which would also include 178 units of affordable housing, would be on the site of a former CTA repair yard that runs along the west side of Broadway between Montrose and Wilson avenues.

Minneapolis-based Target rarely comments on any location until a deal is done, but on Wednesday a spokeswoman said: “We continue to be very interested in opening a Target store (at Wilson Yard), and are currently working to finalize our real estate transaction at this time.”

Earlier this year, Target expected an announcement in June. Now, the company expects an announcement in “a couple weeks,” she said. She declined further comment.

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uptown wilson yard - gardner denver - quarter earnings - target confirms talks - profit targetSponsored by  Mr. Holsten, president of Chicago-based Holsten Real Estate Development Corp., declined to comment. In April, he said he expected construction to start in June.


Was this part of the transfer yard area at one time with the CTA?



GM

26

General Discussion / Temple Steel Crains Article

« on: August 22, 2008, 10:44:38 AM »

Following article is from Crains concerning Temple Steel moving into Chicago from Libertyville with 350 jobs.. This will probably lead to rail service from the UP where it once existed from the CNW, although there are new buildings including Montesorri school that effect where the spur once came in.
 
Seems they would have been better served taking over the Finkl Steel complex which has the space and rail to serve their needs. When I first saw the title of the article I thought that was the plan, too bad it would have filled the gap left by Finkl nicely.


Steel company to move 350 jobs from suburbs to city
By: Alby Gallun Aug. 21, 2008
(Crain’s) — Tempel Steel Co. plans to shut down a factory in Libertyville and move more than 350 jobs there to a plant it is expanding on Chicago’s North Side.

Tempel, which makes steel laminations for electric motors and transformers, will receive as much $7 million in incentives from the city and state to enlarge its operations at 5500 N. Wolcott Ave., according to a news release from World Business Chicago, a local economic development group.

The Chicago-based company had considered moving the jobs to a plant in Mexico, but decided instead to add on to its Chicago factory, which currently employs about 450 people.

“Although we have an investment in manufacturing in Monterrey, Mexico, our decision to keep important manufacturing operations in Chicago reflects on the City’s ability to provide Tempel with the talent to fill nearly 800 premium manufacturing jobs in an expanded, advanced, centrally located facility, so we can best meet the needs of our customers around the world,” Vincent Buonanno, Tempel’s chairman and CEO, said in the release.

Comments
Let\'s see now, Tempel is going to squeeze a 177,000 sq. ft. plant…

Read more…
 
Anything that can be done to keep Manufacturing jobs not only in…

Read more…
 

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chicago - suburbs - steel plantsSponsored by  Tempel generates more than $500 million in annual revenue and employs about 2,000 people worldwide, with operations in Canada, Mexico, India and China. The company expects to complete the expansion of its Chicago plant by next July.

Tempel is still working out the details of its incentive package with the city and state, but the company is eligible for the Enterprise Zone Program, Class 6b Real Estate Tax incentives and New Market and EDGE tax credits, according to the release.

As part of the move, Tempel will close its 177,000-square-foot factory at 2200 Tempel Drive in Libertyville.



GM

27

General Discussion / Aetna Plywood Spur

« on: July 14, 2008, 12:11:35 PM »

Went by what was Aetna Plywood on Elston on my bike this morning and two trucks were alongside the track and it looked like they were ripping up the track from the spur.

GM

28

General Discussion / Tom can you look at this picture

« on: May 09, 2008, 12:59:50 PM »

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/il/il0800/il0822/photos/318238pu.tif

If you click on the high resolution picture and then zoom (click on the picture) you can move your cursor throughout the picture.

Could you give me an idea of what company names the various buildings were on the picture looking south? For example as you come across the bridge and to the right I believe that was the Steel Co. complex, name which escapes me.

Also the building that is where the yard ends I also thought was part of that steel company (Excelsior?) with the other long building behind it across Division St. being National Tea?

Then there is the building with the trucks, on the right side of the yard which looks like a freight house where trucks pick up what is dropped off from the boxcars, would you know the name of it?

The building on the left side of the yard along the river also looks like a freight house with trucks at the dock. Maybe just a Milw Rd freight house. You can see the team tracks if you follow the left side down as the tracks go across Hooker St. which also served a coal supply area from other pictures I have seen.There is a ramp on the street between Hooker and Cherry St that took you up to the Ogden Ave overpass.

This other web link from the Chicago Historical Society gives you an idea from the other direction looking north. The picture allows you to zoom and pan throughout the picture also and you can even get a glimpse of the Kingsbury Line.

With these links and the Historical Aviation Photo link you can get a good idea of how things have really changed over the last 40 years.

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/300045.html

GM

29

General Discussion / Unexpected Good day Railfanning

« on: April 16, 2008, 12:09:11 AM »

Driving my son to DePaul for classes ran in to Chgo Terminal by Finkl at Cortland about 1PM. Traffic was backed up while the box car and centerbeam were blocking Cortland before heading down to Goose Island. Must have dropped some Gondolas off by Finkl first then backed down to Cherry St. Nice to see some Chgo Northside operations for once especially with all the negatives lately.

Then heading home on the Metra my train was late (Milw North line) because of engine problems. This was a first the announcer came across saying two train routes were coming in on Track 11 together. I thought it was a mistake. But the Nort Central line train which had engine problems was cut in the North line with the North Central engine in the middle of the train.

Quite a sight. THey had the crowd for the North Central waiting toward the concourse on track 11 and the North line people down by the Madison entrance. They had a replacement engine stationed just outside the station waiting to replace the bad engine. We had to get all passengers in first then they backed the train up to get slack and to cut off the North Central train. THen I imagine they switched engines after we left. If you Model Railroad anything is possible for an operating session scenario!

Then when we got by the Bloomingdale line and a candy red CP freight engine was waiting on the wye to go work Newleywed Foods by the Healy station. There were about 11 hoppers that were visible.

All in all a quite unexpected rail fan day!





GM

30

General Discussion / Hannah Engineering Building

« on: April 14, 2008, 10:49:22 PM »

Anyone have an idea what is going on with the Hannah Engineering building? Scaffolding is up and the windows are out. THey are either renovating for a new customer, in that case hopefully one that can use rail service or they are in the process of setting up for demolition of the building.

Hopefully renovation and not demolotion. It would be nice if Aetna and Hannah got new life again with rail service. Need some new on line customers to keep the PDA zoning useful for the City in that area. Hopefully, someone will move into Finkl when they relocate.

GM