Chicago Switching Forum

Chicago Switching => General Discussion => Topic started by: raisin on May 27, 2023, 11:50:59 PM

Title: customer spreadsheet
Post by: raisin on May 27, 2023, 11:50:59 PM

Hi all,

Years ago, I have a vague recollection of someone posting a spreadsheet here that listed all the known rail customers (most long gone) along the rail lines that this website is devoted to. Does anyone know where I could find that sheet?

I'm particularly interested in the Lakewood Line as I've just recently moved to a place just a block or so away from the old line. Thanks!

Title: Re: customer spreadsheet
Post by: TBurke on June 01, 2023, 04:47:10 PM

I posted quite a few scanned track diagrams with listings of customers over the years on the former Milwaukee Road and some C&NW lines in this Flickr album-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/albums/72157715114878692

Title: Re: customer spreadsheet
Post by: raisin on June 03, 2023, 09:51:07 AM

Quote from: TBurke on June 01, 2023, 04:47:10 PM

I posted quite a few scanned track diagrams with listings of customers over the years on the former Milwaukee Road and some C&NW lines in this Flickr album-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/albums/72157715114878692

Thanks, Tom, I'll check it out. What I'm most interested in is the Corner of Belden and Lakewood and what the buildings there may have been for (and if they used rail service).

Title: Re: customer spreadsheet
Post by: TBurke on June 04, 2023, 04:30:34 PM

I had to dig up an old post but I found what you are looking for. Here is a spreadsheet I put together of all time C&NW and UP customers on the Harvard Subdivision.

https://sites.google.com/view/chicago-north-westernunion-pac?usp=sharing

Title: Re: customer spreadsheet
Post by: TBurke on June 04, 2023, 04:43:01 PM

Along the Milwaukee Road C&E Line between Belden and Webster on the east side was Richardson Chemical. North of Belden were coal dealers.

Richardson Chemical lasted at least as long as 1979 as a rail served customer. It was gone by 1985 when I started photographing the line.

Here's a view of the plant being demolished to make way for townhomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/20606052648/in/photolist-xoTpxN-xEExk5-LiHihj-YvHRsN-xG7WPa

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/20784606302/in/photolist-xoTpxN-xEExk5-LiHihj-YvHRsN-xG7WPa

South of Webster and north of Clybourn you had a Lakin tire facility and a liquor distributor on the east side. On the west side was the Birk Brothers Brewery.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/29080135950/in/photolist-xoTpxN-xEExk5-LiHihj-YvHRsN-xG7WPa

Title: Re: customer spreadsheet
Post by: raisin on June 04, 2023, 10:32:52 PM

Wow, that area looks a little different these days. Thanks for posting!