#commutertrain

Joliet, Addendum

I have one more post from my recent visit to Joliet, Illinois: this time on the line running perpendicular to the ATSF/GM&O mainline: the Rock Island Railroad. The first shot is from yesterday with the second being from 1976.

Instead of using Joliet Union Station, Metra has a new platform on the east side of the diamond and tower where the train was idling. This would be in the distant right side of the frame of the second image. I should say, I believe that wonderful station is built using Indiana limestone, from the land where I was born.

The Changing Skyline of Chicago

A Rock Island commuter train departs LaSalle Street Station, in Chicago, Illinois. The locomotive here is an EMD F7A built for the railroad in March of 1949.

The Chicago Board of Trade Building is conspicuous in the background, while the John Hancock is lurking off in the background toward the right-hand side of the image.

The view was made from Roosevelt Road, and one would be hard-pressed to see much at all from this spot today: big box stores rise up on either side of the tracks (where Metra trains now run) blocking much of what one sees in this vintage view.

Sixteenth Street Tower

A CRI&P F-unit is moving light at the 16th Street Crossing, Chicago, Illinois. The locomotive was built for the railroad in March of 1949.

In the background, in addition to the building formerly known as the Sears Tower, one will notice the John Hancock Building toward the right edge of the frame.

Last of the Slant-Noses

I believe this was the last active slant-nosed E-unit. CRI&P E6 number 630 is seen in LaSalle Street Station, Chicago, Illinois. The distinctive locomotive was built for the railroad in October of 1941.

On the Rock—Inbound at Joliet

Here we see an inbound train make its station stop at Joliet and then head across the tracks of the ATSF and GM&O.

Peoria Rocket

I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph both Rock Islands Rockets back in the day.

This one was the first of the two, the Peoria Rocket, perhaps, and it happens to be powered by the distinctive bicentennial unit of the time: number 652 (it would later be preserved).

The train is seen traveling eastbound (inbound) and photographed from Marley Road in New Lenox, Illinois.