A little south/OT - Central Illinois Railway

[chuck]

I have driven by the Canalport facility the past two weekends and noticed the CB&Q inspired SW is gone.

Is it being serviced/stored somewhere else or is it not running?

Just curious,
Chuck

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[ray gerard]

she was up and running at 9am today pushing several gons full of scrap and a yellow hi-cube raillink box over the western ave bridge @ 26th st. on to the North/South main that parallels western, considering that the switchman had his pickup parked east of western up almost on the bridge if she\'s no longer being parked near the firewood lot at canalport/22nd(cermak) she might now be kept nearby up along western somewhere, the switchman ran to his pickup after the switcher cleared the cut past the switch that leads to the abandoned N.IL line that arches past the cook county jail

[chuck]

Thanks Ray.  I think I have not seen it at Canalport because they are actually running on Saturdays!! Saw them crossing Ashland early Saturday morning.

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[Frank C.]

The CIRY has abandoned the former Illinois Northern Trackage on the South Side. Their lease went up last month and they decided not to renew it. Their locomotive that they kept there, DRSX 1209, former BRC 523 was transferred to the Lumber District, (street trackage on Cermak). So now 3 of their 4 ex BRC SW\'s can be found at the compound.

[Frank C.]

To make room in the compound last week, locomotive 1208 was stripped of anything worth stealing and boarded up tight. Locomotive 1206 was used to tow 1209 and 1208 out of the compound, and shoved them across the street. 1208 was left on an old spur on the north side of cermak out in the open. I haven\'t seen anything, but I would think she is covered in graffiti now lol.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4397949289_20380c3ed4.jpg

[chuck]

Nice catch Frank.  Is anybody operating on the old Illinois Northern now?  I think there was still one industry online.

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[chuck]

1209 is in new \"Heritage\" paint. The railfan friendly line has been running the two together this week for us foamers!!



-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[ray gerard]

there\'s no substitute for seeing them in person,
i viewed them in the pen next to the firewood lot on weds.,
the blue unit is boarded-up on the former siegle\'s lumber siding
south of cermak

[cnwnorthline]

Hi,

On my annual trek to Chicago I shot this line today (pictures coming) and ran into another railfan.  He said that the crew told him the railroad is done as of next Friday and the tracks will be abandoned.  Can anyone confirm this?


-Matt

[chuck]

Sadly, the CIRY is done.  The parent company is selling all their equipment to pay off debt and that will end the operation.  BNSF is supposed to pick up operations after the 9th.

Very sad to see this super fan friendly company gone.

http://peoriachronicle.com/2010/07/13/looking-for-a-used-locomotive/

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[chuck]

STB Filing:

http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/ba7f93537688b8e5852573210004b318/919f337fafc0f21d8525776f00765c68?OpenDocument

Be sure to see the maps at the end!

-=Chuck=-
Mail: chuckjanda(at)hotmail.com
Home: http://www.chucksphotospot.com

[D. Kaniuk]

Central Illinois News
Today, 8/6/2010 is the last day for the Central Illinois Rwy operation along Cermack and Blue Island Ave.
On Monday, the Central Illinois will be running both units together over all tracks (all spurs). This is the transition day. The CIRY will be giving a tour to the BNSF crews. Hence, up and down every spur, this will start at 7:00am Monday (8/9).
The CIRY was usually done by 11:00, however, on Monday, they may be out all day. On Tuesday, the BNSF officially takes over all switching operations.  

[Jeff Wingstrom]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=334177&nseq=9

[TBurke]

Nice shot of the train inching its way between the factory walls.  What was the street address for this photograph?  It was interesting to note the use of short sections of rails to simulate curved rails.

[Jeff Wingstrom]

good question, re: street address. I\'ve been staring at the google maps overhead for 15 minutes trying to figure it out (bit of a sport for me  anyone?


edit: Looks like Loomis St. & W. 21st St.

map:  http://snurl.com/10rwjd

Interesting that the normally very comprehensive Google Maps people missed these bits of rail in the non-satellite view of this block.