Random Railfan Prototype Photos For All

Hardcoaler Mar 26, 2015

  1. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Commuter train along the lakefront in Chicago this afternoon.
    51329D71-3A2D-422E-87E7-DD5C66AF3840.jpeg
     
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  2. Sepp K

    Sepp K TrainBoard Member

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    I'd like this twice if I could. Very nice!
     
  3. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Such a nice shot Russell! Thanks for posting. Having moved away from Chicagoland in 1980, I don't even recognize the buildings anymore. Kind of near Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain I'm guessing?

    Trivia: The '60s rock band The Buckinghams (Kind Of A Drag, Don't You Care, etc.) were from Chicago, so adopted the fountain's name.
     
  4. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Yes, it was taken from the bridge at E Balboa. This one is from my hotel window.
    CE7BF30C-79DE-435A-A683-B2EDFD734BE9.jpeg
     
  5. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Nice view. Not something to expect in Chicago!

    I see a couple of unusual pieces of equipment on the spur left of center... catenary maintenance?
     
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  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    What is that tower-like structure at far right? Is it part of a passenger station ?
     
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  7. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Yes, it is a stair and elevator to get from street level to the platforms below. This shot is from the bridge above the platform at the tower. Soldier Field can be seen in the distance. They said that you can see bears there sometimes. ;)
    500DAC5E-594D-40C0-BA40-1944DA63C35C.jpeg
     
  8. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I believe that is correct.
    image0.jpeg
     
  9. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks again for your pictures Russell!

    Here's a picture of the same area taken in April 1980 from the Railway Exchange Building where the Santa Fe was headquartered. I'd worked there during the previous summer and returned to see some friends before moving away.

    That's Buckingham Fountain just left of center and the Adler Planetarium in the distance to the right of center.

    1980-04 012 Chicago IL - for upload.jpg
     
  10. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    :whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle:
    My hotel is 2 or 3 blocks south of there. I believe it hosted the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.:whistle:
     
  11. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I don’t know how accurate this speedometer was but we were regularly hitting 85. Was fun on rough track. At one place in Kansas we went into emergency due to an air hose disconnect.
    EFA3C1A7-16DE-439C-BB18-02DC9DE35954.png
     
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  12. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    As much as I have always been into music and the rock scene, in those days, as Johnny Carson would say, "i did not know that."

    Anyway, all the pictures are fantastic. I don't see any catenary. Is there none, these days, or can I just not see it? I wonder how old those catenary towers/supports are.

    EDIT: I think I just saw some by enlarging the photo.

    Doug
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2021
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    There is indeed catenary. It just does not show very well in the pictures.
     
  14. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    I don't see these riding the rails much anymore but they are still out there.

    Pacer.JPG
     
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I wonder with the ongoing shipping and container issues, if some of these which might be due to retire will be "refurbished" and put back into service?
     
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  16. Philip H

    Philip H TrainBoard Member

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    I see them occasionally down here on the gulf coast
     
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  17. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    It's a shame that the RoadRailer concept didn't prove out over time. NS certainly tried its best with its Triple Crown network of RoadRailer trains. This is one of the original prototypes below, with the railroad axle hung between the widely spaced highway axles. Across the street, a BN trailer looks on. I took this at a railroad trade show in Atlanta, 04/11/1984.

    1984-04-11 ROADRAILER Atlanta GA - for upload.jpg
     
  18. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Wasn't that Central Station, the home of the IC? If so, I left out of there in 1970 on either the City of New Orleans or the Panama Limited, whichever had the sleepers. As soon as we were up on the elevated track, we accelerated to 100 mph and held it all the way to Kankakee. Ironically, we were stopped ~1/2 mile out of Kankakee by a failed red board. It was 45 minutes before it was cleared. Regardless, it was a wonderful trip on a proud railroad.
     
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  19. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Early C&NW piggyback

    [​IMG]

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  20. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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    Cool tractor!:cool:
     

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