#chicagorails

[railwayhistorical]

The Plug Between Runs

Here we see GM&O’s Chicago commuter train which was known as “the Plug.” It's being serviced on a very cold day at Glenn Yard located south of Chicago. The commuter train ran between Chicago Union Station and Joliet on the GM&O, former Alton; Metra now calls this line the Heritage Corridor. I've posted shots from this servicing here before, but not this particular image.

Image by Richard Koenig; taken December 27th 1977.

[theyardlimit-blog]

RTA Rock Island - Root Street Tower

CRL- Blue Island, Il

In the years following the demise of the famed Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad, many of its Chicago based locomotives found themselves right back on home rails. Former Rock Island #4804 is seen in RTA(Metra) paint at Root Street(40th st.) on the former Rock Island Main Line. The little switcher survives today as Metra’s #1 and is now the oldest diesel locomotive in the country still in regular service outside of a Museum. The Robert Taylor high rise buildings in the background were demolished in the 90′s, and the old Chicago Junction Railway bridge in the background was demolished in the mid 2000′s.

We then see a pair of ex Rock Island GP7′s  now owned by Chicago Rail Link in Blue Island. They are probably on a transfer run between the old Rock Island Burr Oak Yard and the Indiana Harbor Belt Riverdale Yard. the transfer to this yard involves a long reverse move, so it was common for the Rail Link to put a locomotive at each end of the train. The second locomotive was still in service for Chicago Rail Link until a few years ago. It was scrapped maybe two years ago.

photo credit: d.w.davidson