tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577633936396294153.post4699598212699969578..comments2024-03-29T05:00:50.812-05:00Comments on Industrial History: Milwaukee's Bensenville YardDennis DeBrulerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13992361354510209661noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577633936396294153.post-89174075083821545052022-07-02T00:35:53.876-05:002022-07-02T00:35:53.876-05:00My father worked for the Milwaukee from around 197...My father worked for the Milwaukee from around 1970 until it became part of Soo Line (a later subsidiary of Canadian Pacific). He continued to work at CP until about 2005. Was part of the RR Police dept that would "sometimes stop you when you drove on the property", so no hard feelings I hope. If my father ever caught me doing anything sketchy around railroad property I would have been beaten for sure. He had seen a lot of things in his job (some horrors he even told me about when I was barely a teenager with unforgettable details). So of course he told me to never, ever screw around where trains are running. He started out in Iowa (had to move to Ottumwa FROM Chicago for the job). He was a Lieutenant there (but I imagine started out as special agent?). His job moved him back to Chicago 10 years later, in 1980. He served as a Captain for many years, then eventually was promoted to Chief of Police, working mostly out of the office there at the Bensenville yard when he wasn't travelling. He was in charge of the police dept (a.k.a. security and special services) for numerous states surrounding the Illinois area so hence the frequent travelling. I made the trip up to his office a few times with him (or to pick him up there). I don't know if that office is still there in the yards or has been since re-purposed for something else. I do wish I could see it again if it is still there. Pretty mundane office, what you would expect of a 1970's / 80's railroad detective's office. Ashtrays, file cabinets, a locker for shotguns, and alot of wood paneling. With a noticeable layer of diesel soot on the outside the building if memory serves. I don't think I have been up there IN the yards since before the huge walk-off rail strike in 1994.David B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7577633936396294153.post-45860284680597612132021-02-04T14:39:13.766-06:002021-02-04T14:39:13.766-06:00my father worked for the milwaukee from 1940 until...my father worked for the milwaukee from 1940 until 1985 ,with 4 years off for WW 2. i remember riding the turntable as a child. when i was 12 or 13 i bought an old car for $25.00 . i would drive on railroad property from bensenville to franklin park. some times i would be stopped by the railroad police ,or as they were known the ,gum shoes. all i had to do is mention my dads name and i was on my way.many years later i was at the r.r. crossing at york road when a diesel train was hauling all of the old steam locos out of the yard huge freight ,passenger,and small yard engines . some were sitting on flat cars, about 50 of them.i later learned they were being scraped, it was a sad day.my dad was an electrican, and he loved the milwaukee road ,his name was george bonnerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13277480902942597072noreply@blogger.com