Ops Question

[David Murray]

Hi Guys

I\'m designing a model RR plan depicting Northside switching operations. Time period is recent past, CP ops with Peerless, Finkl, General, Big Bay and possibly Aetna as active on-line customers. I wondered when serving Peerless and Finkl did the crew run the loco around the train at some point to enable it to haul rather than push) the cars up to Finkl and the Lakewood branch?

I\'m designing in HO for a space roughly 8ft x 11ft and although compromise is inevitable I\'m keen to achieve a plan that captures the true operational character of the line.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

David Murray
Rugby
United Kingdom

[chuck]

I don\'t think there were any runarounds on the Lakewood branch in the recent past.  Finkl gons were pushed and Peerles deliverys were pulled.  They used the runaround on Goose Island.

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda@hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[Ian]

There is indeed one runaround track....it is just north of the Lakeshore Athletic Club in the middle of yuppie-ville....between Altgeld and Wrightwood streets.....its in the middle of some condominuim/housing parking lot.....They used it every time they brought an empty down from Peerless...at least every time that I saw them....

[cnwnorthline]

Hi,

The one time I was able to track them they didn\'t use it.

-Matt

[David Murray]

Thank you for your help guys. My plan includes both runarounds as you identified: Wrightwood and Goose Island.

Chuck, I found your photo essays particularly useful in getting my head around things.

Can anyone tell me where on the Lakewood branch the strip mall is?

Thanks in advance.

David Murray
Rugby
United Kingdom

[Ian]

The only place that I think you can be referring to is the mall/Tresure Island Grocery Stroe parking lot just north of where the line crosses Clybourn Ave....the mall runs from Clybourn Ave to Webster Ave......at the north end (Webster Ave.) there is a chain that the crew would come and untach from its post to continue their northward trek.....nothign really big just a small chain....

-Ian

[SlowFreight]

http://www.chicagoswitching.com/v4/articles/article.asp?menu=0&locationid=4&locationname=Bloomingdale&articleid=88

Ignore the caption on the 2nd photo--it\'s quite erroneous (not General Metals, and they received cars FOR SCRAPPING, not of scrap) but it never got updated.  The 6th photo down shows the train in Treasure Island\'s parking lot.  Almost immediately after the C&E spur splits off from the Deering line, the track heads through Treasure Island.  Check Microsoft Live for great 4-angle overhead shots.

[TBurke]

David:

This link will take you to a series of photos I took showing a CP Rail MP-15 crossing Clybourn Avenue and the parking lot at the shopping center.

http://www.chicagoswitching.com/v4/articles/article.asp?menu=0&locationid=1&locationname=Lakewood&articleid=57

I sent Tom Mann a batch of photos of Aetna Plywood being switched out by CP Rail a number of years ago.  Hopefully they will be posted soon.

Tom