shortliner Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 http://www.shorpy.com/node/12148?size=_original Judging by the trains, the Hi-cube is not a new invention Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshine coast Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 http://www.shorpy.co...?size=_original Judging by the trains, the Hi-cube is not a new invention Silly boy .....it is a Bachmann ON30 boxcar on a HO layout ...... Regards Trevor ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Very interesting as usual. Walkway looks cool.... Also what are those two locos doing in the middle of the trackwork? I hope that there is a turnout hidden under the closer one. Btw the switches do NOT appear to be loose heeled at this time. Is that a Double Slip too? Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted January 6, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2012 http://www.shorpy.co...?size=_original Judging by the trains, the Hi-cube is not a new invention Just think, someone could have made zillions out of the carbon offset scam if they'd thought of it back then! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 There looks to be a turnout rail on the right of 1508, and some of the other spurs seem to have some odd-sized cars in the trains.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 The large car is a carriage or furniture car, They were in the 40-50 ft range. Also note it sits lower on the trucks to reduce the overall height. While the car lengths may look "unusual" to you they are entirely common for the era. The vast majority of the cars in the picture are 34-36 ft cars, probably way more 34 ft cars than 36's. I do see a few 28-30 ft cars, which would have been the norm a decade or two earlier, but are now (1901) wearing out and being replaced by 34 or 36 ft cars. #1508 is indeed heading through a crossover, you can just see it beyond the engine. and if you look closely you will note the engine is cocked slightly to the right as it enters the switch. You can tell its a switch engine because of the large backup light mounted on the roof of the cab. Not sure what you mean by "heeled" but they appear to be conventional switches and there does appear to be two double slip switches in the 4th track from the left.. Other stuff: the banjo signal at the end of the platform the platform light posts have two different types of lights in them cool eyebrow shaped platform canopy only two boxcars with left opening doors are from eastern roads (B&O and NYC&HR) the "bridge to nowhere" was a big political deal in the last presidential election, appears there are 3 of them in this picture switch targets appear to be yellow and red amazing amout of smoke and steam acros the horizon of the whole picture note the elevators labeled A and B in the background While I love digital photography, you can't beat a 8x10 glass negative for detail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 The bridges to nowhere look like passenger ferry connections - but the exposed pilings make it look like they are in disuse. I'm only guessing.....whatever they are great vantage points! Interesting comments. The slender tower is part of Montgomery Ward - heck my Mum used to get their catalogues in England in the 50's and 60's - it apparently is still standing, minus the pointy bit at the top.... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 See the pics larger here http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/det1994006727/PP/ Note the heated boxcar on the far right pic that isn't included in the Shorpy panorama. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 That is a heated/ventilated car. There are also two of the inside stake gons like Westerfield sells/sold/will be selling. I also noted more left opening doors on IC cars and several with plug doors, probably made by St. Charles Car Co. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Having blown up the photo I can see that the turnouts are indeed loose heeled switches but with very short point blades. Great photo all round. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 The bridges to nowhere look like passenger ferry connections - but the exposed pilings make it look like they are in disuse. I'm only guessing.....whatever they are great vantage points! And right you are Pete. Here is an illustration (looking south instead of north) by Rand McNally in 1893, Michigan Avenue being the street on the left of the photograph. While the skyline has changed it's amazing how many of those buildings are still there - including of course the Art Institute to the right of Michigan Avenue in the picture, and the statue of Senator (and General) John Logan, (east of Michigan Ave at about 9th). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Here's a view from the north. (It's a bit tedious to navigate.) I presume this was taken from the vicinity east of what was Randolph Street Station - now the area bounded by Lake Shore Dr., Wacker Dr and Randolph St. There's a later map of the loop with a focus on railroad lines here. This map of the fire of 1871 still shows the Illinois Central on its causeway. Grant Park (the area between the Illinois Central and Michigan Avenue is all landfill from the fire. All the buildings visible in the Shorpy picture date from after the fire. Here's a shot of the station closer to the Art Institute (Van Buren St.) in 1907. The Shorpy picture is a great find - thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 On the left side of the yard is another of those big furniture cars, you can even read "Furniture" written on the side. Evidently Chicago has been on a steady march out into Lake Michigan, filling in the land under the railroad and then the land on the east of the railroad tracks was filled in and became Grant Park and theose bridges ended up being bridges into the park. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Just in case anybody is really inspired by the Shorpy pix there is an IC 36 ft reefer like the ones in the original Shorpy pix for sale on E-Bay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 It is amazing to me how a single picture can bring out such a wealth of information - the internet is truly a wonderful source of spreading knowledge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 It certainly is and looking at the photo again I like the boulevard type roadway which also required remarkable foresight on behalf of the Planners, considering the usage at the time. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 The big Horse Statue in the Shorpy photo is still there in it's original position, by the look of it... sorry I've no idea who it depicts, without googling it (if I had time!).... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozexpatriate Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 The big Horse Statue in the Shorpy photo is still there in it's original position, by the look of it... sorry I've no idea who it depicts, without googling it (if I had time!).... ... statue of Senator (and General) John Logan, (east of Michigan Ave at about 9th). More from Wikipedia, should anyone be interested. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Ooops.... note to Self:- Read other posts more carefully.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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