Awesome Steven. Brings back lots of memories. I grew up near Cermak and Damen and used to ride my Schwinn Continental II ten speed to the bridge. My older brother was the bridge operator for a time when he worked for Conrail. What a variety of paint schemes and equipment passed near the bridge. As I watch Chicago PD, my wife gets annoyed as I point out the bridge whenever it’s in a shot. Good times. Ken Koren Rockville, IN
Don't be so hard on yourself with your photos. As a photographer and looking through a photographers eye, the overwhelming majority of your photos are great. In the photography world we say there are photos, and snap shots. Yours are photos. Not too mention you catching not only trains, but the skyline in the background is also very interesting. Seeing what is still standing, what is gone, and what is renovated is also very interesting. One photo I really love (again looking at it as a photographer) is at 7:11. With just the slightest amount of editing (pretty much cropping out the L on the right) that is a great photo. The one tower of the bridge visible, and the more dreary landscape makes for an interesting perspective. Your videos are amazing, and your photos of the trains are very good. I was only as kid in the 80's, but I remember parts of the area as we used to go to Lawrence's Fish and Shrimp sometimes.
Amazing amount of changes over the decades. One of the most notable, aside from the loss of rail infrastructure, is that the crossing is cleaner and greener than it has ever been.
Ditto what @austinlawler3739 said. Don't be so hard on yourself regarding your photos. I grew up in Chicago around the same time you did. Like you, I couldn't get enough of trains. UNLIKE you I never had the presence of mind to photograph them, so thank you, thank you for posting these.
Another well done video. I was only listening until I heard American Orient Express. I have that train in HO. I didn't know that it was pulled by Amtrak in its beginning. Thanks for posting.
A part of the city skyline that's held its own for 100 years plus. Ive seen some of those elevated interlocking photos plus it was so labor intensive a maintainer was there most of the time. The BN transfer was a real throwback with 2 NW2s. My reverse favorite was a single tired CR GP7 coming up to Union Ave with 75+ TTX piggyback cars for Cicero. These are the areas that become very hard to explain to new fans and can even test our memories. Looking forward to the next installment .
Fantastic pics, info, and narration! And it answered a specific question I'd had a very long time. I'd seen pics of PRR commuter train outta Chicago Union, but hadn't known that Valpo was their terminus. Now I know. Thanks for sharing and the welcome wishes at beginning of presentation to this beautiful planet;-)
Hey Steve, Love your videos. It may sound cheesy, but I watch your videos and listen to your voice and all the stress I may be feeling melts away. More videos please!
Your videos are wonderful! You and I are about the same age. I grew up right along the C&NW tripe tracks. I also can remember the CGW still running freight before the C&NW bought and stripped it. I wasn’t as adventurous as you, but I did take the train and the L into the city a few time. Mostly the Red line, but a couple of trips on the Green line.
Another great video, you sure got around to grab a bunch of great photos! I'll be visiting Chicago this summer (I'm in Upstate NY) to take photos/measurements of the Metra station at Morton Grove so I can create a scratch built HO scale replica before it apparently will get renovated later this year/early next year. Watching your videos is definitely helping with the inspiration for capturing the details of Chicago area railroading in my modeling efforts. Great stuff!
I have been running for High school cross country camp, and today I ran down to Tom Ping Park, where CN’s line cuts right through it. Now that I got myself to research this area and figure out what everything is, this video makes so much more sense.
Always love these historical look backs. Heading back out to Chicagoland in a few weeks with friends from back in that era to see the Illinois Railway Museum and some railfanning. This might be a great location.
Hey Steve, great video. But, hopefully you can answer a question. I'm a couple years older than you, this and Pullman Jct. were two of my favorite spots. I just can't remember where I would park, the few times I took photos here. I remember there was a fish store on the other side of the bridge. But, I can't imagine I walked across the bridge. Even though I probably could have, since back then, we pretty much could go/do anywhere/anything as long as we didn't get hit by a train. LoL Anyways, again, nice video!
WOW ! Thanks for the memories at South Branch. My friend's brother, Tim Koren used to work the bridge for Conrail in the late 70s and early 80s. Question: In your railfan travels did you ever encounter Mike Abalos?
Was flipping through a trains magazine and noticed some pictures that had your style, and what do you know, really nice write up and picture collection. Congrats
love it, if possible could you make a video on passenger trains and routes that no longer are in operation, i know their was an agenda to stop travel by train.
Another great video full of amazing pictures and great commentary! Would you happen to have an online gallery where we can view these pictures? The photo at 3:51 with the IC SD40A leading intrigues me the most since I own a pair of its numberboards during its days owned by Helm Leasing (renumbered to 5020).
@@stevenjbrown1697 Holy crap! I've heard of things flying off cars into the street, but never a whole fender, lol. And the Chicago winters/salt played havoc with virtually all cars from the '70s. Hello, Rusty Jones! (although that or Ziebart seemed to barely help, if at all). It's really amazing how for the last 30 years or more you never see that horrible cancer-rust at the bottoms of the doors and over the wheel wells. Manufacturers finally got good.
