UP still has a railyard west of town.
 |
| James Powell posted Would anyone have a nice side view/diagram for the Pioneer? Brian Keith Landis Rockford.Illinois first train Raymond Storey shared Dennis DeBruler This is the first time I have been as interested in a locomotive as I was of the roundhouse. The Pioneer was the first locomotive for the first railroad out of Chicago --- Galena & Chicago Union. The G&CU became the west route of the C&NW. Matt Covarrubias Yes! Hallowed ground... why you may ask? Because this is also the same place where The Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 was displayed in West Chicago IL. July 2019 Chicago & North Western Historical Society posted Going way back, we have a shot of the Pioneer at the West Chicago roundhouse. The image likely dates from the 1870's according to our Pioneer expert. Brian Keith Landis: The Pioneer locomotive pulled the first train into Rockford,Illinois in 1852. Steve Cavaliere: Same one that is on display in Chicago Historical Museum? Tom Wilson: Steve Cavaliere yup. Raymond Storey shared |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on Matt's comment on Raymond's post The Big Boy info allowed me to find it on a 1939 aerial photo. It is in the lower-right corner of this photo excerpt. https://www.google.com/.../@41.8806003,-88.../data=!3m1!1e3 [1939 Aerial Photo from ILHAP] Matt Covarrubias Dennis DeBruler Oh Righty! Good Stuff I believe the Roundhouse burnt down in the late 1950’s. Also interesting to note is the current Police station was the former dispatching Center for the Chicago & North Western |
 |
| Andy Zukowski posted Round House & Railroad Yards in West Chicago, Illinois. |
 |
| Jim Arvites posted View of a westbound Chicago & North Western Railway train at West Chicago, Illinois on November 2, 1929. (C&NW Historical Society Archives) |
 |
| Malcolm Kramp commented on James' post |
Due to the completion of the transcontinental rail line and increased train traffic, the Chicago & North Western Railroad built an enlarged engine house and turntable here in 1869. The roundhouse, a brick and wooden frame semicircular building, housed steam locomotives. Locomotives were placed on a revolving 70-foot long steel turntable and backed into one of the 13 stalls of the roundhouse. Here their boilers were kept fired up with steam; they were cleaned and oiled or dismantled for repairs.Matt Covarrubias shared
The roundhouse and turntable were part of a large complex of buildings assembled for the repair and refueling of trains in West Chicago. In 1953 the roundhouse suffered a devastating fire while the local volunteer fire department was taking part in a drill with other area departments at the old Sash and Door factory. Although the out of town units helped fight the fire, the delay getting to the roundhouse fire from the practice fire slowed down their efforts. Repairs to the structure were not made mainly because of the phasing out of steam-powered engines, as the railroad increases its diesel engine roster.
The roundhouse complex was located in the present site of the West Chicago Police Department. When the Union Pacific’s Big Boy came to town in July 2019, it sat on one of the former roundhouse siding tracks.
Many men worked in the roundhouse over its 84 year history. It was a dirty job. A model of the roundhouse is on display in the City Museum’s CB&Q Depot located behind the museum on Turner Court. It is open to the public on Saturdays June-August.
Dennis DeBruler shared
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| 3 |
 |
| 4 |
 |
| 5 |
 |
| 6 |
 |
| 7 |
 |
| 8 |
 |
| 9 |
 |
| 10 |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on his share Parker and Neltnor on the west and east, Main and Conde on the north and south. https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/.../0bws01055.jpg |
No comments:
Post a Comment