Scajaquada Expressway and Gasometer in Buffalo, NY

(3D Satellite)

Deborah Brown posted two photos with the comment: "A 1960s aerial view of construction of the Scajaquada Expressway. Scajaquada Creek is barely visible under the ice and the newly constructed viaduct. On the south side of the creek along Bradley St., the large gasometer of The People's Gas & Coke Company Towers over everything. Last photo same area now."

Sean Sweeney: Worst travesty in terms of Buffalo transportation projects in my opinion. Right thru an Olmsted park.

Jim Myers shared

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3D Satellite

Is this the Olmsted Park that Sean referred to? Out of frame to the right is just a golf course and a cemetery.

Satellite

Hot Tapping a Pipeline

Hot tapping allows a pipeline to be patched while it is still in service.

The video made a lot more sense once I saw this overview of how they divert the flow around the segment to be patched.

3:12 video

Heating (and cooling) Plants

While my daughter was driving me around town so that I could take pictures, I saw four big smokestacks as we were going south on Ashland Avenue. And now that I'm looking at a closeup, I see some more smokestacks in the left background.

20171122 8133c

3D Satellite

It was obviously built as a heating plant for the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System because you can see various pipes going over Taylor Street and into the building. Judging from all of the coolers mounted on the roof, it is also a cooling plant for the building. I wonder if the CTA line used to supply coal cars. I'm sure it has been converted to natural gas by now. I assume there are underground pipes so that it can serve other buildings in the University of Illinois Campus because the plant is so big. The UIC does have a lot of buildings in this area.

Cook County Hospital appears to have its own heating and cooling plant. And this one is probably for the Rush Hospital Medical Complex.

The ultimate cooling plants in the Chicago area are the Chicago District Cooling plants --- they make ice at night and pump cold water to customer's buildings during the day.

Indianapolis and Toronto also distribute chilled water to downtown buildings.

Hohman Avenue Bridges over Grand Calumet River and a Gasometer in Hammond, IN

(Satellite) 

It is hard to believe that this river was once navigable. But at one time, all of the bridges across it were movable. This bridge was originally a swing bridge.

Rod Sellers posted, cropped
This is a bit of a change of pace. This photo is described as "92nd Street Bridge (?), Trolley Car (South Chicago/Hammond), Black and White, Blank, c. 1905." but I do not think this is accurate. Any thoughts?

Bob Lalich commented on Rod's post
I am nearly certain that the bridge in this photo was Hohman Ave over the Grand Calumet River in Hammond. Paxton Lumber was south of the river on the west side of Hohman Ave, as seen in this 1915 Sanborn map.

Swing bridges were considered a navigation hazard because of the pier in the middle of the river so it was replaced by a bascule bridge in 1910.

Bob Lalich commented on Rod's post
The streetcar line that ran on Hohman Ave was the Hammond, Whiting & East Chicago Ry. They connected to Chicago Surface Lines at 106th and Indianapolis. The swing bridge in the above photo was replaced by a bascule bridge in 1910. Construction of the bascule bridge is seen here - source and photographer unknown.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Rod's post

That bridge is close enough to the state line that a 1939 Illinois aerial photo covers it. You can see the bridge's counterweight on the north side. It appears that only the foundation is left for the two gas holders. That surprises me because most of the gas holders are still standing in these photos.

https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/.../0bwq10063.jpg

Bob Lalich: Dennis DeBruler - the gas holders in question here were part of a manufactured gas facility. By 1938, a large natural gas pipeline from Texas to the Chicago region had been completed and much larger gas holders were in use for storage. Small gas plants like the one here were no longer needed.

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for Locomotive Fuel

Ricardo Garcia posted two photos with the comment: "Always liked BNs natural Gas paint scheme."

Steven Leeson: That was a plumber's nightmare. They were with us in Tacoma for quite a while testing. The locomotive would switch to LPG in 5th notch and higher. Since LPG has less BTUs than diesel, they lost about 30 percent horsepower when it switched over. The fuel to air density ratio was really touchy, even a change in altitude or barometric pressure made a dramatic shift in power. Like it's former GP-9 that was also tried previously, it ended up being converted back to a conventional diesel. The GP-9 with 1000 Horsepower using LPG was useless and sent to Ceeco in Tacoma for parts. [I believe he meant LNG instead of LPG. The two locomotives were used to haul Powder River Basin coal trains during 1991-96. [qstation]]

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In 1993, BN concluded LNG was reliable, safe and beneficial. [ieeexplore] So why did the project end in 1996? Because gas was only twice as cheap as diesel fuel back then. In 2013, it was five times as cheap and BNSF started another LNG trial. [RailwayAge] From the 1993 trials, BNSF did continue to use four 1200 HP switch locomotives built by Morrison-Kundsen until the end of their design lifetime. [WeAreThePractitioners, offshore] Yard switching has the advantage of low usage between overnight refills and the need for only one special refueling station. But now those fuel usage advantages make yard switching a candidate for battery power.

Natural gas becoming cheap because of fracking is why BNSF started another test program in 2013. LNG should start in long-haul, high density routes were a few refueling facilities can serve a lot of fuel usage. The 1990s experiment did revenue service between coal mines in Montana and power plants in Minnesota and BN's coal piers at Superior, WI. Today, intermodal trains between Los Angles and Chicago would be a good candidate. BN subcontracted the refueling to "Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., which was (and still is) in the business of safely handling gasses and cryogenic liquids."  [offshore, RailwayAge] 

One fuel tender design builds on container train technology.

WeAreThePractitioners

By double stacking the tanks, a tender can carry 20,000 gallons. That is enough fuel to travel the Los Angles-Chicago route without a refueling. Furthermore, refueling can consist of swapping the containers to reduce the dwell time in the terminals.

The remaining impediment to using LNG seems to be regulations. Railroads want to run unit trains of LNG from natural gas basins to ocean-going ports for export. Union and civic leaders are screaming about the safety issues of running "train bombs." [CBS12] First of all, I've seen both of these types of "leaders' complain about issues that really were not problems. I think some of them feel that they have to complain to justify the existence of their jobs. Second of all, a tender carries a lot less LNG than a unit train. Third of all, is it a bomb or just a big fire? Having read about unit trains carrying crude oil, I think all of these trains should have a tank car between the locos and the front-end buffer car that carries fire fighting foam material. And maybe even a foam generator that can be carried by a skid steer. If a town doesn't have a skid steer (landscape company, tractor dealer, etc.), a local farmer probably does. The same foam fighting solution could be used by LNG unit trains. Fourth of all, LNG is safer than propane. (BN contracted in 1990 with the Los Alamos National Laboratory for a safety analysis. LNG and CNG are safer than LPG (propane) [RailwayAge]) Do those civic and union leaders have any idea how much propane is rolling across our country in trucks as well as trains? When I was writing these notes, I happened to see a westbound BNSF mixed freight train when I was going back home from the library in Downers Grove, IL. So I did an analysis of all of the placarded tank cars. This is what I saw:

• 4 2031: 157 Nitric acid, other than red fuming, with not more than 65% nitric acid
• 4 1987: 127 Alcohols, n.o.s.
• 1 3295: 128 Hydrocarbons, liquid, n.o.s.
• 1 1760: 154 Ferrous chloride, solution
• 1 1993: 131 Compound, cleaning liquid (flammable)
• several 3257: 131 Nitriles, poisonous, flammable, n.o.s.   It is labeled HOT ASPHALT.
• 1 1075: 115 Butane

In my placard notes, I have listed the results of analyzing some trains in the past.

I did a Google search on "lng iso container testing". I didn't read any of the results. I'm just happy there were some results. But I did not find anything that looked like crash testing LNG freight cars and tenders at the railroad testing facility in Colorado.

LNG reduces pollution, both particulates and emissions (CO2 and NOX), "perhaps even besting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's stringent Tier 4 air emission standard." [ProgressiveRailroading] Given the complexity of a Tier 4 locomotive, this has to be a significant advantage.

WeAreThePractitioners

CN borrowed the LNG tender pictured at the top of these notes to do experiments in 2012. They even repainted the tender in CN colors. These tender cars were designed to withstand the buff and draft forces within the locomotive consist because BN had frame and/or drawbar fatigue in the diesel tender cars that were used during the 1980s oil crises. Those 1980s tenders were just modified existing tank cars. [WeAreThePractitioners, RailwayAge] (Another article said CN borrowed a UP tender. [ProgressiveRailroading])

I noticed that the middle "locomotive" in this Florida East Coast consist looked strange. Then I remembered that they converted to using LNG and that "strange" unit would be the fuel tender. They converted in 2017. [CBS12] FEC is also hauling LNG containers between a New Fortress Energy liquification plant and Ports Miami and Everglades. [fecrwy]

Screenshot

Norfolk Southern is borrowing BNSF SD70ACes #9130 and #9131 for compressed natural gas experiments using a purpose built tender. The tender uses 28 separate CNG tanks. I'm glad to hear that it is several smaller tanks. But if a tank fails, are the other tanks strong enough to withstand any resulting boom from the first tank? The tender carries the equivalent of 4,600 gallons of diesel fuel. The experiment was planned to run for 6 months in 2019 or 2020. [trains] But I could not find any results of the experiment.

trains

BNSF reports that it evaluated LNG from 2013-17. [energy] They did develop a new tender for this trial and it carries 23,800 gallons. [rrpicturearchives] But I still can't find the results of that evaluation.

Update: just a few hours after I published, this came up on my Facebook timeline.

safe_image for PHMSA, FRA Capping LNG By Rail?

Grayland/South Mayfair Junction: C&NW vs. Milwaukee and a Gasometer

(Satellite)

I learned the modern and old names of this junction from comments in this post. And I've seen two names for the north/south C&NW branch: Cragin line and 40th Street line.

Dennis DeBruler commented on the comments

Even if it doesn't have "diamonds in the air," the Grayland/South Mayfair junction was of interest because it was missing from my notes. This junction would still be active because UP delivers covered hoppers to Alpha Bakery further south.

41°55'16.3"N 87°44'28.6"W

Paul Musselman posted three ca. 2006 photos of and around this crossing.

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[Note that the Cragin  line used to be double track.]

Junior Farmer commented on the third photo

While studying the Mayfair Junction, I noticed that there was a gasometer a little southwest of this junction.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILAP

Peoples Gas still owns that location, but now it is a service facility.

Street View, Jun 2019

This was how I verified it was Peoples  Gas.

Street View, Jun 2019

But then I was shocked to learn that the satellite image of a vacant lot is correct.

Street View, Aug 2022

Gasometers along the Calumet River, IC Freight House and Sanborn Maps

There were a lot of gasometers in this area because every steel company with a coke plant would need one and the gas company appears to have some also. Gas holders associated with a steel plant are documented as part of that plant.

• Interlake/Acme/By Products Coke Corp
• Wisconsin Steel
• Youngstown/Iroquois Steel

Eleventh Photo in a Media Set by Rod Sellers
Rod Sellers 1938 aerial photo of area near 95th and Calumet River. West of the river are 2 gas holders, one between 95th and 96th Streets and the other at 97th Street. Both cast long shadows in the photos. Although not readable in the photograph, the gas holder at 97th Street has an arrow on top pointing to Municipal Airport (later Midway Airport)

Dennis DeBruler commented on Rod's photo
I think it says 12 miles. I never noticed the other one before. Thanks for pointing them out.
https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/.../0bwq05067.jpg

Jim Prrfan posted
IH The International on the Calumet River. Late 60's.
Jim PRRFan Photos.
[The freighter is carrying iron ore to Wisconsin Steel. The grain elevator on the right was Garvey/Continental/South Chicago.]

The "white" gas holder in the above aerial is seen below.

Rod Sellers posted
A street scene in busy part of South Chicago, 1912. No further information given. Address on Boarding House / Bakery does appear to be 9423. Sanborn Maps from 1913 (attached) show three buildings on Commercial Avenue at 9421 (corner of awning looks like 9421), 9423 (address over door and on awning), 9425 (building set back from the street) Assuming that the gas holder is the one at Houston Avenue near 96th Street I would guess that the view is 94th and Commercial. Only an educated guess.
Bob Lalich: Rod Sellers - I agree, this is Commercial Ave near 94th St, north of the tracks before elevation. The city passed an ordinance in 1906 requiring the railroads to elevate the area around 95th and South Chicago Ave by the end of 1911. The US Army Corp of Engineers had made a decision to widen the Calumet River, which required the railroads to build new bridges. Construction of the new bridges began in 1912.
Prior to elevation and grade separation, a survey recorded over 900 movements a day over the railroad crossings at this location, showing the need for improvements. Here is a Sanborn map from 1897 which shows the conditions before elevation. I wonder if the ambulance in the photo was called because someone had been hit by a train.

Rod commented on his post
Sanborn Gas Holder

VintageTribune

The Skyway bridge under construction, 1958.

This construction photo of the Skyway caught the gas holder rather empty.

Mike Lenich posted
Skyway under construction where I grew up..,

Rod Sellers posted
93rd and Baltimore.

Bob Lalich

Kevin A Heggi

 - the structure behind the streetcar was originally IC's South Chicago freight house. I believe it was leased or sold to another company and was a potato and onion warehouse in 1946, according to the Sanborn map. Not sure if there was a fire or just a roof collapse.

Bob Lalich commented on Rod's comment
Here is a 1913 Sanborn map showing the IC freight house.

Bill Staniec

Bob Lalich

 Bob, how may I find the web site for that map. There are so many Sandburn Maps on the Library of Congress site that it is very hard to locate our area. I'd like to see maps from various time periods.

Bob Lalich

Bill Staniec

 - I found this on the LOC site. South Chicago and nearby areas are found in Vol F.

Rod Sellers

Bill Staniec

 For 1894-1897 select Volume F 1897 for SE Side

For 1905-1951 select Volume 27 (South Chicago north) 1923, 1948, 1948-51 Volume 47 (South Chicago south) 1947, 1947-50 Volume 48 (ES, SD, Heg) 1947, 1947-50 Volume F (SE Side) 1911, 1913-46

Marty Bernard posted

McCormick Blvd., Gas Manufacturing and Gasometer near O'Brien WRP

Plant and Gasometer: (Satellite)

Gasometer: (Satellite)

The MWRD built McCormick Blvd. with concrete.

MWRD posted
A northward view of two police officers on McCormick Blvd. between Howard St. and Oakton St. in Skokie on May 4, 1928. This location is directly east of the MWRD's O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant (formerly North Side), which was nearly completed at the time of the photo. The viaduct in the background, which is no longer there, was a part of the Mayfair Branch of the Chicago & North Western Railway which passed through what is now the Skokie North Shore Channel Park. The viaduct above the officers was a part of the North Shore Electric Line Skokie Valley Branch and is now used by the CTA Yellow Line. The large building in the background was a manufactured gas plant for the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois.
MWRD posted, same comment

MWRD posted
Construction of the viaduct for the Chicago & North Western railroad over McCormick Road (now Boulevard) in Skokie, Illinois, on June 7, 1926, slightly northeast of the O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant, which was also under construction at the time of the photo. The viaduct is no longer there but was a part of the Mayfair Branch of the Chicago & North Western Railway which crossed over McCormick Boulevard between Howard Street and Oakton Street.

This photo caught the gas holder for the gas plant.

MWRD posted
A view of McCormick Boulevard looking south from Howard Street in Skokie, Illinois, on May 12, 1926. The O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (originally called North Side) was under construction nearby on Howard Street and would go into service in 1928.

Bob Lalich: The CNW line between Evanston and Mayfair was called the Weber Branch.

The following map of the Weber Branch shows the gas manufacturing plant was on the southwest corner of Oakton Street and McCormick Boulevard.

David Daruszka commented on Brian's post
The Weber Branch derived its name from Barney F. Weber who owned a brickyard. He founded the Chicago & West Ridge Railroad, that consisted of track but no rolling stock. It was operated under agreement by the C&NW, but was not part of the Mayfair Cutoff. It connected with the C&NW at Weber Yard. So Mr. Weber's name somehow become associated with the yard and the branch line. Information from the Rogers Park Historical Society newsletter "The Historian".

In the following 1938 aerial, I include the gas holder shown on the above map near the lower-right corner, a gas holder I noticed in the upper-right corner, the gas plant and the O'Brien WRP (Water Reclamation Plant).

1938 Aerial Photo from ILAP

Zoomed in on the gas manufacturing plant.

The C&NW bridge still exists.

Satellite

1928 Evanston Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

Chicago obviously zoned land by the railroad for industrial use, which was more filled in by 1953.

1953 Evanston Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

MWRD posted
Excavation for the construction of McCormick Boulevard on May 9, 1925.
The MWRD completed construction of McCormick Boulevard (originally McCormick Road) in 1926. It was named in honor of Colonel Robert Rutherford McCormick who was the Sanitary District's President during construction of the North Shore Channel.

MWRD posted on Nov 4, 2022
Construction of McCormick Boulevard on July 4, 1925. The MWRD completed construction of McCormick Boulevard (originally McCormick Road) in 1926.

 

MWRD posted
Construction of McCormick Boulevard on August 17, 1925.

MWRD posted
A crew at work during construction of McCormick Boulevard on August 17, 1925.

 

MWRD posted, probably cropped
Construction of McCormick Boulevard on September 24, 1925.

MWRD posted
Excavation for a portion of McCormick Boulevard near the construction site of the Chicago & North Western Railroad viaduct between Oakton Street and Howard Street in Skokie, Illinois, on January 16, 1926.
MWRD posted on Feb 12, 2023

MWRD posted
Construction of a viaduct for the Mayfair Division of the Chicago & North Western railroad over McCormick Boulevard between Oakton Street and Howard Street in the Village of Skokie on May 7, 1926.

MWRD posted on Feb 3, 2023
A view to the northwest showing workers and paving equipment during construction of McCormick Boulevard between Howard and Oakton Streets in Skokie, Illinois, on September 7, 1926. 

 

MWRD posted
A view to the north during construction of McCormick Boulevard between Howard Street and Oakton Street in Skokie on September 7, 1926.

 

MWRD posted
A northward view showing of a nearly completed section of McCormick Boulevard between Howard and Oakton Streets in Skokie, Illinois, on September 7, 1926.

The link in the comment below

I got a fresh copy of the aerial to make sure I had full resolution of this area. The Mayfair spur is right next to the Mayfair Branch to extends all the way to the left background. I added the red dot circle at the bottom to indicate where I think the cable tower was. I assumed they put it near the property line and in the middle of the tanks that had to be constructed. We can see in the left-foreground of the photo the reinforcement and some of the forms for the east wall of the tanks. The yellow lines mark the left and right view lines of the photo.

I noticed that the right yellow line above doesn't properly catch the corner of the tanks. So I think the cable tower was further away from the properly line. It appears that the gas plant was torn down by the date of the aerial photo, which is 1938.  This photo in the collection shows that the gasometer did exist back then.

This photo taught me that the cable tower is on rails and can move back forth along the south side.

DC-Photo 4.45

So there is some uncertainty as to where the tower was.