UP/C&NW Rockwell Junction (Wye)

(Satellite)

(Update: the west end of the wye is controlled by Kedzie Tower.)

John Morris posted
[There is much more info on this posting below. To summarize that information, this is looking south at a compass northbound (timecard westbound) train that has taken the west leg of the Rockwell Junction Wye.]

On a contemporary satellite image it is easy to see the two legs of the wye because all of the other tracks have been removed.

Satellite

For decades Pennsy's Panhandle had tracks next to the east leg. Multiple sources think the tracks that used to be inside the wye were a yard for the Panhandle. Other sources think the tracks were C&NW's South Yard. The tracks that still exist above the mainline were the North Yard. My conclusion is that the west track on the east leg was owned by C&NW and that the land now used by Sims Metal Management was C&NW's South Yard. In fact, Bob Lalich identifies the yard as a C&NW freight yard.

In fact, this C&NW freight yard was the interchange with Pennsy. [Position-Light, Part 1, source]

Metra via Position-Litght, Part 2 and a Tower A2 Album
[This confirms the yard and the west track of the east leg was C&NW.]

I include the CTA's Green Line at the bottom because that is the truss bridge in John's photo.

1929 Chicago Loop Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

This photo copied from the C&NW Passenger Yards notes

WW2 Radio post, #28

Timothy Pitzen David Daruszka, if I remember correctly, the yard to the right, or south, of the C&NW main was the Pennsy coach yard. Also, the haze may be exaggerated by the old style film which was more sensitive to blue wavelengths which tends to accentuate haze.
Dennis DeBruler I always wondered where the Panhandle yards were.
David Daruszka The Sanborn maps show Panhandle freight yards as being in the area between the Rockwell Jct. wye. There were also yards closer to downtown adjacent to the Milwaukee Road tracks. The Panhandle had a freight house at Sangamon Street.
Bob Lalich The yard south of the CNW main tracks was a CNW freight yard.

Another aerial photo that includes the junction.

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David Daruszka C&NW California Ave. Coach Yard. Milwaukee Road tracks and yard to the left. C&NW's Rockwell Branch is above the Coach Yard.
Harvey Kahler Both Rockwell and Panhandle (PCCC&StL) head off top right (south).
David Daruszka This was also the route, for a brief time, for the B&O passenger trains when they left Grand Central and moved to the C&NW's Madison Street Terminal.

I include the information on the post in a raw form because it is an example of a positive use of social media. As someone said, the bee hive is smarter than any bee. Note that not only was the location of the photo determined, but the train itself and the now removed Pennsy Panhandle tracks were discussed. Below the Facebook screenshots are higher resolution copies of the images.

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