Messages

781

General Discussion / Kingsbury, Goose Island Connection to Hobbie St.

« on: April 11, 2005, 06:09:49 PM »

RP:

Maps are available on the website at:

http://www.chicagoswitching.com/chicagoswitching/v3/articles/article.asp?menu=&locationid=12&locationname=Research&articleid=67

Another good place to start is with the April 1975 issue of Model Railroader magazine which includes detailed track diagrams of the southern end of the line.  Another source of detailed maps of the former C&E line of the Milwaukee Road would be The Milwaukee Railroader magazine\'s Third Quarter 1995 issue.

I\'ve found that hobby shops often sell backissues of these magazines or you can put an ad in a current issue of The Milwaukee Railroader to try to purchase this issue.

782

General Discussion / CNW Facilities

« on: March 12, 2005, 10:47:13 PM »

The railroad lines on North Branch on Goose Island belonged to the Milwaukee Road originally.  Current day operations on Goose Island are conducted by Milwaukee Road successor CP Rail on Cherry St. to Big Bay Lumber though out-of-service tracks continue south onto North Branch.  Two Milwaukee Road spurs used to cross North Branch to service three industries north of Division St.

The C&NW operations were all on the west side of the Chicago River and across from Goose Island in this area.  The C&NW had extensive operations around Chicago and Halsted as does successor UP.

Various magazines have featured track plans of the area.  You might try contacting the Chicago & North Western Historical Society for backissues.  The Chicago Historical Society and the Chicago Public Library have detailed Sanborn Insurance valuation maps which show rail lines from the early part of the 20th century also.

783

General Discussion / passenger service

« on: March 12, 2005, 10:39:59 PM »

Frank:

Thanks for your message.  Your recollections of growing up around the Lakewood branch or those of your father would be very valuable.  Do you have any vintage photographs you would like to share?

To answer your question the Milwaukee Road did indeed run scheduled passenger train service from downtown Chicago to Evanston.  The real name for the Lakewood branch used by the railroad was the Chicago & Evanston or C&E.  

Around 1917 the Milwaukee Road discontinued passenger service over this line.  CTA predecessor the Chicago Rapid Transit took over passenger and freight service from the Milwaukee Road from Montrose Avenue north into Evanston.   The Milwaukee Road continued to operate freight service from Montrose Avenue south into downtown Chicago along the C&E.  

Stations were located at Graceland Cemetary, Addison, Belmont, Barry, and Fullerton among others.  The station at Lakewood and Barry survived until the mid-1980s as a private residence.

Tom

784

General Discussion / What do I do with many C M St P & P RR Blueprints?

« on: February 02, 2005, 06:13:54 PM »

Another idea is to donate or sell them to the Milwaukee Road Historical Association which maintains the archives for the Milwaukee Road.  You can contact them at www.mhra.com.  They could use the materials in future article potentially.

785

General Discussion / George St/Lincoln Ave/Lakewood Ave

« on: January 14, 2005, 03:45:44 PM »

Mel:

Thanks for your comments.  Any anecdotes that you can recall that involve train operation around Lakewood/Lincoln/George would be appreciate by all of the visitors to the site.

Tom

786

General Discussion / Chicago & Pacific/MILW/CP Rail Bloomingdale Line

« on: January 14, 2005, 03:41:47 PM »

CP Rail uses the UP\'s North Avenue yard for storing their locomotive (typically an MP-15) following the severing of the Bloomingdale Line in 2001.  CP crews are shuttled in to run the CP trains on the former Milwaukee Road lines.  

All freight cars are interchanged from the UP.

787

General Discussion / South side

« on: December 26, 2004, 06:33:48 PM »

A good place to look for information about the South Side industrial rail lines is at the Shortlines of Chicago Historical Society website.  The SCHS covers a lot of these lines, including the old Illinois Northern which I believe is now a shortline.  

Here\'s their website...

http://www.dhke.com/schs/

I believe you are probably referring to the former Lumber District industrial lines around 18th St.  As of mid-2004 the lines were still in place east of Halsted St. but out of service.  The Bluebird Lounge is right at the corner of Halsted and 18th for reference.

West of Halsted is where the active track is still in service.

Tom