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Messages - Ethan

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1
General Discussion / Re: New 2021 UP Tribune Job Video
« on: April 05, 2021, 01:10:22 PM »
Thanks for this - much enjoyed it! If I were modeling this, this video would be super helpful. Now living in western Massachusetts, I of course miss Chicago. I used to ride by the Tribune spot a lot on the Halsted bus occasionally to/from Whitney Young and later UIC, sometimes stopping at Greektown Gyros for lunch.


2
New Site Updates / Splash page has error.
« on: March 14, 2021, 12:55:32 PM »
FYI - when going to chicagoswitching.com, the following appears. Going directly to http://www.chicagoswitching.com/forum/index.php works fine.


Zenphoto has detected a change in your installation.

    Zenphoto 1.4.14[f5b47da52f] has been copied over an unknown release.

The change detected is critical. You must run setup for your site to function.

3
General Discussion / Re: Youtube videos UP switching Tribune Freedom Center
« on: March 08, 2021, 12:11:32 PM »
Cool to see all those newsprint boxcars. My other modeling interest in the Central Vermont circa 1980 and they had tons of those 50' newsprint boxcars running north and south through New England, perhaps picking up newsprint destined to the Tribune!

Best,
Ethan

4
General Discussion / Re: Online Collection of Milwaukee Road Track Diagrams of C&E, Deering, Etc. Lines
« on: March 02, 2021, 11:26:33 AM »
Thanks - this is great!

I don't recall the business just north of Belmont served by the track coming off between Melrose and School. That is, I don't recall ever seeing freight cars here in the 1970s. That said I turned 9 in 1980, so not sure I'd really remember. I do have memories of Milwaukee Road switchers crossing Melrose.

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Modeling / Re: Lakeview Racine Fuel/Oil info?
« on: February 24, 2021, 03:00:03 PM »
Tom,

Many thanks - I just received this book and yes indeed there is a decent aerial on page 33! Thanks so much. This was long gone before my time, but the grain elevator towers (?) just north of Melrose are intriguing.

Funny enough I think I've bookmarked nearly all of John Smatlak's photos on Flickr related to the C&E. Great resource for modeling. I've even pinged Tangent about some of the unique tank cars seen delivering corn syrup in the late 70s, early 80s era.

Again, many thanks for this pointers! And I really look forward to your third module whenever it comes into being. I'm slowly working on my Athearn Genesis MP15AC and hope to post photos when complete (mostly redoing decoder/sound/lighting and perhaps some details).

Ethan

6
Modeling / HO scale modeling notes - Griswold crossing signals, MILW Thrall caboose
« on: February 01, 2021, 03:17:33 PM »
I'm in a "deep" research phase right now, in part seeking out suitable models. A couple things of note that I've come across lately:

Griswold crossing signals


Milwaukee Road Thrall cabooses

I have no stake in any of the companies above, but was happy to find these very specific models.

Next up: finding suitable 1970s era CCLX corn syrup tank cars. No easy feat - so far Tangent seems to have something close, but not exact.

Best,
Ethan


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Modeling / Re: Lakeview Racine Fuel/Oil info?
« on: February 01, 2021, 02:24:31 PM »
Thanks Chuck, great suggestion.

I had looked at the options and unfortunately the granularity of the photos ain't great, which is of course not too surprising. It is better than nothing, but most detail is had to discern.

Best,
Ethan

8
General Discussion / Possible newly discovered photo of Wrigley Field area
« on: February 01, 2021, 02:22:57 PM »
In doing some searches, I came across this article with a nice 1950s era photo looking north across Clark towards Wrigley Field. I searched the forums here and did not see a reference to it, so hopefully something new:

https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/11/25/18109222/wrigley-field-historical-sleuthing-1950s-mystery

Regards,
Ethan

9
Modeling / Lakeview Racine Fuel/Oil info?
« on: January 21, 2021, 10:33:52 PM »
I've gone through pretty much everything I can find on here and elsewhere and find very little info on Racine Fuel/Oil that existed into the 1970s (at least?) at Roscoe and Racine. Once served of course by the Milwaukee Road.

I lived in the area but have 0 memories of this, likely because it was not at all interesting to me back then. Growing up, we rode our bikes all over Lakeview in the 70s and 80s.

Does anybody have any kind of info on this? Photos especially, but even aerial views would be great. ArcGIS, for $100/year, has the possibility of some aerial views from the 70s, but that's a steep price. Even marketing material or similar would be interesting. Best I've found are some Racine Fuel ad listings in the 50s in Chicago Police Association publications.

Thanks,
Ethan

10
General Discussion / Re: Introduce Yourself!
« on: January 13, 2021, 01:11:48 PM »
Hi,

I realize I may be the first new member to post here in some time. I have known about Chicago Switching for a while, along with several other resources out there. I grew up in Chicago in the 70s to mid 90s on the 1300 block of Melrose, about 1 block from the C&E / Lakewood branch crossing Melrose. I have vague early memories of the Milwaukee Road power occasionally being seen crossing Melrose.

My brother, neighbor and I batted around a Chicago style 16" softball right next t the tracks crossing Melrose, and would often have to fetch the ball off of a factory roof. One time I took some needle nose plyers and opened up the equipment cabinet for the crossing signals on Belmont, long after trains stopped coming around. A cop car pulled over, scared the crap out of me and my brother, told us to go home and took my plyers. In retrospect, that was appropriate. But exploring that cabinet was fun.

I live in western Massachusetts now and have a strong interest in the Central Vermont circa 1980 (similar to C&NW colors), but I am also working on Freemo modules to represent the C&E crossing Belmont and Melrose, with the siding to Reed. Right now working on a Athearn Genesis MILW MP15AC redoing the decoder and adding a ton of micro LED lighting. Looking forward also to Rapido's MILW SW1200s, of which I have ordered one.

Glad to be here and hoping to contribute.

Regards,
Ethan

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