1
General Discussion / Re: Time Capsule-Video of Chicago in 1969
« on: March 08, 2015, 07:02:49 PM »
I dig the flower in the dashboard, man. Peace.
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2
General Discussion / Chicago Swing Bridges
« on: October 07, 2013, 01:02:32 PM »
In case you haven't seen it:
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/railroads-and-chicago-swing-bridges/
be well,
bob roman
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/railroads-and-chicago-swing-bridges/
be well,
bob roman
3
New Site Updates / Site Down?
« on: February 10, 2013, 09:59:46 AM »
chicagoswitching.com seems to be down -- anyway, I get this error message when looking for http://chicagoswitching.com:
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try the following:
Make sure that the Web site address displayed in the address bar of your browser is spelled and formatted correctly.
If you reached this page by clicking a link, contact the Web site administrator to alert them that the link is incorrectly formatted.
Click the Back button to try another link.
HTTP Error 404 - File or directory not found.
Internet Information Services (IIS)
Technical Information (for support personnel)
Go to Microsoft Product Support Services and perform a title search for the words HTTP and 404.
Open IIS Help, which is accessible in IIS Manager (inetmgr), and search for topics titled Web Site Setup, Common Administrative Tasks, and About Custom Error Messages.
be well,
bob roman
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
Please try the following:
Make sure that the Web site address displayed in the address bar of your browser is spelled and formatted correctly.
If you reached this page by clicking a link, contact the Web site administrator to alert them that the link is incorrectly formatted.
Click the Back button to try another link.
HTTP Error 404 - File or directory not found.
Internet Information Services (IIS)
Technical Information (for support personnel)
Go to Microsoft Product Support Services and perform a title search for the words HTTP and 404.
Open IIS Help, which is accessible in IIS Manager (inetmgr), and search for topics titled Web Site Setup, Common Administrative Tasks, and About Custom Error Messages.
be well,
bob roman
4
General Discussion / Re: Bloomingdale line STB report
« on: December 30, 2012, 08:06:44 AM »
Don't know if folks noticed, but in the February, 2013, issue of "Trains Magazine," under "Abandonments & Acquisitions", there is this item:
"11/7: Soo Line to abandon 2.88 miles of track in Chicago. The former Milwaukee Road track connects the Goose Island area industrial trackage to the ex-Milwaukee Road main lines at Pacific Junction."
So I guess it's official.
be well,
bob roman
"11/7: Soo Line to abandon 2.88 miles of track in Chicago. The former Milwaukee Road track connects the Goose Island area industrial trackage to the ex-Milwaukee Road main lines at Pacific Junction."
So I guess it's official.
be well,
bob roman
5
General Discussion / Re: Busy engine today
« on: December 11, 2012, 08:02:55 AM »
Well, the bridge over North Avenue, then.
The yard is still pretty empty, though I did see the UP loco with a string of cars about even with Stanley's fruit & vegetable market on Monday around 4 PM.
be well,
bob roman
The yard is still pretty empty, though I did see the UP loco with a string of cars about even with Stanley's fruit & vegetable market on Monday around 4 PM.
be well,
bob roman
6
General Discussion / Re: Busy engine today
« on: December 08, 2012, 09:19:30 AM »
Only a guess: possibly something to do with rebuilding the North Avenue viaduct? But I've noticed, from the North Avenue bus, the emptiness too, lately, so if someone actually knows...
be well,
bob roman
be well,
bob roman
7
General Discussion / Re: great new chicago terminal video
« on: November 11, 2012, 08:41:59 AM »
Thanks, this is good! And nicely edited, too.
The gondola may have been used as a handle extension, though I don't think there are many places where that switch engine couldn't go. But I don't think it was empty. There are not many good shots except toward the end, but the truck springs look pretty well compressed.
It's been a while since I've caught a CTR train crossing North Avenue, but believe me, they really do lay on the horn. And for good reason if you've ever seen the traffic (auto, bike, and pedestrian) on that street. No one really wants to stop if they can help it. Likewise, I've seen them pulling outgoing loads onto Goose Island. The instance I recall was two loaded gondolas that they left behind on the run-around rather than shoving them all the way to the lumber yard as they did this time. I suspect it may have something to do with WHERE the outgoing load was picked up, as this video shows four gondolas in addition to the original Norfolk Southern car, with loads, coming into North Avenue yard.
Thanks again. Makes me want to go hang out by the tracks.
be well,
bob roman
The gondola may have been used as a handle extension, though I don't think there are many places where that switch engine couldn't go. But I don't think it was empty. There are not many good shots except toward the end, but the truck springs look pretty well compressed.
It's been a while since I've caught a CTR train crossing North Avenue, but believe me, they really do lay on the horn. And for good reason if you've ever seen the traffic (auto, bike, and pedestrian) on that street. No one really wants to stop if they can help it. Likewise, I've seen them pulling outgoing loads onto Goose Island. The instance I recall was two loaded gondolas that they left behind on the run-around rather than shoving them all the way to the lumber yard as they did this time. I suspect it may have something to do with WHERE the outgoing load was picked up, as this video shows four gondolas in addition to the original Norfolk Southern car, with loads, coming into North Avenue yard.
Thanks again. Makes me want to go hang out by the tracks.
be well,
bob roman
8
General Discussion / Re: Chicago & Pacific/MILW/CP Rail Bloomingdale Line
« on: August 24, 2012, 06:26:11 AM »
For those living in Chicago with a cable TV subscription, CAN-TV will be having a 2 hour program on Sunday, August 26, 11:30 AM, Channel 21. The brief description says:
"Terry Banich highlights the role of the Bloomingdale Line’s role in interstate commerce."
(not) much more information:
http://www.cantv.org/highlights/index.html#show5
As I don't have a TV, nevermind cable, I won't be watching. (If you're an AT&T U-verse subscriber, you may be able to find it, but AT&T consigns public access TV to obscurity.)
be well,
bob roman
"Terry Banich highlights the role of the Bloomingdale Line’s role in interstate commerce."
(not) much more information:
http://www.cantv.org/highlights/index.html#show5
As I don't have a TV, nevermind cable, I won't be watching. (If you're an AT&T U-verse subscriber, you may be able to find it, but AT&T consigns public access TV to obscurity.)
be well,
bob roman
9
General Discussion / Re: Chicago & Pacific/MILW/CP Rail Bloomingdale Line
« on: May 12, 2012, 09:59:17 AM »
Forgotten Chicago has a new article on the Bloomingdale Line and what remains of it:
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/the-bloomingdale-line/
be well,
bob roman
http://forgottenchicago.com/features/the-bloomingdale-line/
be well,
bob roman
10
General Discussion / Re: Another video posted: UP switches Morton Salt
« on: May 08, 2012, 03:45:10 PM »
Yeah, that is cool. I had always assumed that the UP would bring in empties to be filled by salt brought in by barge, but judging by the spring compression, it looks like they were bringing in loaded cars and taking away empties. Interesting. I watched some similar action there a few years ago during the summer but can't remember the loads vs empties. It is a bit of a climb back up to the yard, isn't it.
Note there are several recent Chicago Terminal videos by the same person. Haven't watched them yet as I should be working instead.
be well,
bob roman
Note there are several recent Chicago Terminal videos by the same person. Haven't watched them yet as I should be working instead.
be well,
bob roman
11
General Discussion / Re: Chicago Terminal List of Customer
« on: April 16, 2012, 08:05:03 AM »
Interesting that it hasn't been updated.
12
General Discussion / Re: Freight Traffic
« on: March 27, 2012, 05:55:20 AM »
I was on the North Avenue bus, eastbound, around 6:30 PM on Monday, March 26. The CTR switcher was leaving Goose Island, light, apparently after dropping one or more cars off at the lumber yard. The sight caused a bit of a stir on the bus. Haven't seen them working so late myself, not since the days when CP was providing service.
Quite a few box cars waiting to be picked up in the North Avenue yard, too. A ramshackle rum looking bunch, too, making me wonder about the quality of service the Tribune is getting. Steady just in time? Glut or famine? And if any of those cars leak in the rain....
be well,
bob roman
Quite a few box cars waiting to be picked up in the North Avenue yard, too. A ramshackle rum looking bunch, too, making me wonder about the quality of service the Tribune is getting. Steady just in time? Glut or famine? And if any of those cars leak in the rain....
be well,
bob roman
13
General Discussion / Is CTRR all done?
« on: May 04, 2011, 08:00:13 AM »
I was on the Armitage bus on Monday afternoon. I noticed maintenance of way equipment, and I guessed it may have been on the CTRR tracks, but of course it\'s hard to say from the ground. I did notice that there were plenty of gondolas at the steelmill.
14
General Discussion / Freight Traffic
« on: April 24, 2011, 07:49:28 AM »
Yeah, that would be nice and would cut down on the truck traffic, too. But a siding of one\'s own is a substantial investment. Possibly if the business asked nicely, they could get some TIF money for it, assuming it\'s in a TIF district.
Or CTR could lengthen the mid-island siding so that it could be used as a team track; it looks like there\'s space for it. But, in their shoes, I wouldn\'t do it unless I had a commitment for its use by some of the island businesses. I wonder if they have anyone working as a salesman / community liaison; small businesses are frequently short-staffed.
But another concern would be replacing Finkl with another rail customer. I\'m inclined to doubt that Finkl would sell to another metallurgical firm, but maybe some manner of warehouse/transshipping operation might work. But the surrounding community will have a say in the matter, so someone to wear that salesman / community liaison hat at least part-time would be real useful.
It\'ll be interesting to see how quickly Finkl makes the move. My guess is they\'ll be there for maybe a year.
be well,
bob roman
Or CTR could lengthen the mid-island siding so that it could be used as a team track; it looks like there\'s space for it. But, in their shoes, I wouldn\'t do it unless I had a commitment for its use by some of the island businesses. I wonder if they have anyone working as a salesman / community liaison; small businesses are frequently short-staffed.
But another concern would be replacing Finkl with another rail customer. I\'m inclined to doubt that Finkl would sell to another metallurgical firm, but maybe some manner of warehouse/transshipping operation might work. But the surrounding community will have a say in the matter, so someone to wear that salesman / community liaison hat at least part-time would be real useful.
It\'ll be interesting to see how quickly Finkl makes the move. My guess is they\'ll be there for maybe a year.
be well,
bob roman
15
General Discussion / A. Finkl & Sons Update
« on: April 14, 2011, 06:18:42 AM »
From Crain\'s Chicago Business
Steelmaker seeks $20-million city subsidy
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20110412/CRED03/110419970/steelmaker-seeks-20-million-city-subsidy
Steelmaker seeks $20-million city subsidy
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20110412/CRED03/110419970/steelmaker-seeks-20-million-city-subsidy