My hometown, my Mom & Dad worked for the Rock Island RR. He was a diesel locomotive mechanic. Tracks everywhere, sometimes we'd get penned in the city lol I always had to leave earlier for work in case a freight was coming through.
This was shot around the time that Metra had finished rehabbing F40s 100-149. The program started in late 2007, with the first locomotive returning to service in the summer of 2009 and was finished by 2012.
I had the privileged of viewing the inner workings of Lake St. Tower many years ago. It was an incredible feat of design and keeping it working for nearly 100 years if not more!
I had no idea Lake St. Tower was demolished! OMG! A piece of history now gone forever! I retired from the CNW/UP in December 2013 and did not know this happened.
These trains use to go to the CSX TRACKS along the Eisenhower Expressway and the CTA BLUE LINE but no longer do so. I think these Freights probably now use the CP MILWAUKEE DISTRICT WEST LINE A and then go to the Belt Railway Of Chicago. Some may now go to the former IC IOWA DIVISION now Canadian National Railroad. The CSX TRACKS ALONG THE EISENHOWER EXPRESSWAY are very little used now. One track was torn up and only one online customer the FARARA PAN CANDY COMPANY which sees just twice a week activity. Cars of corn syrup and sugar get delivered and another day the empties get picked up.
huh, thats neat. whenever i see them in the shop I have to fight the urge to climb up to the roof. they still have the steps. but there is no work for me to do on the roof, and i would be in full view of the managers.
