Messages

1

General Discussion / New All-Time List of C&NW/UP NW Line Industries

« on: June 29, 2009, 03:45:26 PM »

Tom,

There was a lumber yard in Mt. Prospect with a spur off the south track. The spur hasn\'t been used at least since I\'ve been commuting on the NW line since 2000. The lumber yard went out of business in the last year and half two years or so. The spur was removed maybe in the last 6-8 months. The site now appears to house construction equipment and trucks, large sewer pipes, etc.

2

General Discussion / Activity on Lakewood line

« on: May 15, 2009, 02:25:58 PM »

I travel on Metra by the North Avenue yard every day. I have not seen the CTR engine moved in weeks. Occasionally it is running though. They must start it occasionaly to keep it in good operating condition.

As best as I can tell there also seems to be only one UP Geep working the North Avenue yard these days. A couple years ago there were three at times.

3

General Discussion / track removal Fulton Market area

« on: May 15, 2009, 02:14:02 PM »

Someone who lives in the vicinity of the ADM plant may want to photo document the rail switching activity there. You never know how much longer the plant will be there. The plant appears old and not all that well maintained.

4

Modeling / North side layout in HO (warning--photo intensive)

« on: April 16, 2009, 05:19:14 PM »

Very nice modeling. Gotta love CNW!! Any updated pictures? I\'m not registered with modeltrainsweathered so I couldn\'t access the previous link.

5

General Discussion / Freight Traffic

« on: April 16, 2009, 04:56:01 PM »

I was on the Metra Milwaukee North line today and I noticed two centerbeam lumber cars being unloaded at Mayfair Lumber. Up until today I hadn\'t noticed any rail activity there in months.

6

General Discussion / Recession update?

« on: April 03, 2009, 10:54:06 AM »

The Chicago Terminal switcher has been parked with a long cut of gondolas on the track that connects with the Bloomingdale lead to the bridge over the river right near Sipi Metals.The switcher and gondolas have been parked there and haven\'t moved for at least two days. The switcher has two gondolas on the front end and maybe 6 or so on the back end. There is also a gondola parked in the Sipi Metals spur behind the locked fence. I wonder if this has to do with the closure of the Finkl plant and they are bringing all the gondolas in to clear the plant out. Anybody have any ideas?

7

General Discussion / Freight Traffic

« on: March 30, 2009, 11:23:02 AM »

On my inbound commute this morning I saw an empty gondola at the Sipi Metals spur.

8

General Discussion / Clybourn Avenue question

« on: March 24, 2009, 10:23:32 AM »

I\'m pretty sure I was on Clybourn. I could see the street trackage that I assume was the Lakewood line you indicated that was used to service Peerless. I\'ll try to get by there soon to establish the location better in my mind and maybe take some pictures. I could easily see a parked gondola behind a fence from the street from my passing cab. I was suprised to see it. I\'ll report back after I get over to that area again. Thanks for the reply.

9

General Discussion / Clybourn Avenue question

« on: March 19, 2009, 11:43:17 AM »

I looked at a map on the Chicago Terminal web site and I saw that the spur track I saw comes off of Lakewood Ave. street trackage. Would the company with the gondola be Finkl?

10

General Discussion / Clybourn Avenue question

« on: March 18, 2009, 10:03:58 AM »

Thanks. I thought the Bloomingdale line was either abandoned or is awaiting abandonment. My understanding is that Sipi Metals is right next to the CNW/Metra mainline just north of North Avenue Yard near where the Bloomingdale diamond was. The diamond has been removed. This spur I saw crossed Clybourn about 2 blocks north of the location where the Goose Island Brewery is. I was in a cab so I only got a quick glance. There was also some street trackage to the east of Clybourn. It looked fairly new to me but as I said I only got a quick glance. I might have to drive there myself to verify the exact location and maybe take some pictures as well.

11

General Discussion / Clybourn Avenue question

« on: March 17, 2009, 01:03:36 PM »

Hi,

I\'m new to this forum. This is a great site with a wealth of fascinating information. I was travelling by taxi last night (3/16/09)around 6pm heading north/northwest? on Clyboun Avenue. Maybe a block or two north of the Goose Island Brewery there is a spur track that crosses Clybourn from some street trackage.The track terminates at an industry on the west side of Clybourn behind a chain link fence and there was a gondola parked at the insustry. I haven\'t been down Clybourn in a while but I had never noticed this track before. Does anybody know what the insustry is and how does the track that leads there connect to North Avenue yard? Is this industry switched by the Chicago Terminal RR? I didn\'t realize there was any intact trackage north of North Avenue. Quite honestly all the angled streets in that area can be confusing.