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This picture looks west at the counterweight used on the C&NW's Kinzie Street bridge over the Chicago River. Note the 'Why Drive' ad with the picture of a 1960s auto painted by the C&NW on the counterweight. This sign would've been visible to potential rail commuters around the Merchandise Mart before the Apparel Center was built, spoiling this view. Today (2003) this sign has all but faded away.
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This picture looks west at the counterweight used on the C&NW's
Kinzie Street bridge over the Chicago River. Note the 'Why Drive'
ad with the picture of a 1960s auto painted by the C&NW on the
counterweight. This sign would've been visible to potential rail
commuters around the Merchandise Mart before the Apparel Center was
built, spoiling this view. Today (2003) this sign has all but faded
away.
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Here's a view of the structures used by the bridge tender on the C&NW's bascule bridge over the river.
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Here's a view of the structures used by the bridge tender on the
C&NW's bascule bridge over the river.
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Looking east down Carroll Avenue along the C&NW tracks, we can see the Clark St. bridge and just past it, the twin towers of Marina City and the looming, black IBM building. The Quaker Oats Tower hasn't been built yet. In a few years it would cover Carroll Avenue and create another tunnel for the North Western trains just past Clark St.
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Looking east down Carroll Avenue along the C&NW tracks, we can
see the Clark St. bridge and just past it, the twin towers of
Marina City and the looming, black IBM building. The Quaker Oats
Tower hasn't been built yet. In a few years it would cover Carroll
Avenue and create another tunnel for the North Western trains just
past Clark St.
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This view looks west down Carroll Ave. and the C&NW tracks towards the Merchandise Mart. The Clark St. bridge is just ahead. Work appears to be underway to the left on the new Quaker Oats headquarters building which will cover up the location soon. Note the old spur on the left with the ties used as a bumping post. These multiple tracks would be reduced to one, new section poured in concrete once the Quaker Oats building was built.
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This view looks west down Carroll Ave. and the C&NW tracks
towards the Merchandise Mart. The Clark St. bridge is just ahead.
Work appears to be underway to the left on the new Quaker Oats
headquarters building which will cover up the location soon. Note
the old spur on the left with the ties used as a bumping post.
These multiple tracks would be reduced to one, new section poured
in concrete once the Quaker Oats building was built.
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A closer look at the tracks just west of Clark St. Traffic court is on the right. Note the loading dock and spur track to the left (north), and how this spur and another one that veers off from the main track appear to criss-cross each other. Must have made for some interesting switching when more industries were in the area.
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A closer look at the tracks just west of Clark St. Traffic court is on the right. Note the loading dock and spur track to the left (north), and how this spur and another one that veers off from the main track appear to criss-cross each other. Must have made for some interesting switching when more industries were in the area.
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Looking west at the Merchandise Mart and Franklin St. Note the original two tracks are still in place, though only the left side set is still in service for trains of newsprint for the Sun-Times. To the upper left is the Helene Curtis headquarters building. The other sides of the parking garage and the Helene Curtis face the Chicago River.
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Looking west at the Merchandise Mart and Franklin St. Note the original two tracks are still in place, though only the left side set is still in service for trains of newsprint for the Sun-Times. To the upper left is the Helene Curtis headquarters building. The other sides of the parking garage and the Helene Curtis face the Chicago River.
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Similar view as the previous picture, but closer to Franklin St. Note the L train paused at the Merchandise Mart station above the C&NW tracks. At this point the C&NW's tracks were apparently resting on a roadbed of mud-sometimes covering the tracks.
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Similar view as the previous picture, but closer to Franklin St.
Note the L train paused at the Merchandise Mart station above the
C&NW tracks. At this point the C&NW's tracks were
apparently resting on a roadbed of mud-sometimes covering the
tracks.
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The C&NW tracks disappear into the gloom of the tunnel underneath the Merchandise Mart and the Apparel Center. Puddles over the tracks show the state of the roadbed, circa 1984. Yet the crews were able to get through to the Sun-Times despite the terrible condition of the tracks.
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The C&NW tracks disappear into the gloom of the tunnel
underneath the Merchandise Mart and the Apparel Center. Puddles
over the tracks show the state of the roadbed, circa 1984. Yet the
crews were able to get through to the Sun-Times despite the
terrible condition of the tracks.