09-17-2009
( Reply#: 3784 ) |
Tom J |
Ok, Gang, the Old Tomster is planning on being at the Illinois Railway Museum this Saturday. I will let you guys know how I liked the place when I get back.
Tom |
09-21-2009
( Reply#: 3786 ) |
Tom J |
The museum was SUPER! I really had a good time.
They have a little bit of everything, from steam locomotives to diesel locomotives to electric locomotives and many different rail cars.
I rode the "Nebraska Zephyr," which was really cool. They have a four mile section of track that they use for demonstration rides.
Here's a link to my pictures.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Illinois%20Railway%20Museum/
Tomster
P.S.
They even had some old South Shore equipment.
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Illinois%20Railway%20Museum/IMG_0063_533x800.jpg[/IMG] |
09-21-2009
( Reply#: 3787 ) |
BobK |
Photo #20, the South Shore railcar is what I took back in the early 60's to and from work in the Loop. The only heat in Winter was a small pot belly stove in a small room in the corner of the car, totally useless, no A/C in the Summer and the moldy wool smell of the upholstry.
I remember when going through the south side we weere instructed to close the curtains on the west side of the train so that specific aim couldn't take place.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
09-21-2009
( Reply#: 3788 ) |
Tom J |
This is the picture Bob is talking about.
Everyone please be aware that there are two pages of pictures in that album, so when you click on the link, be sure to go to the second page after you see all the pics on the first page.
Tom
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/tsjay/Illinois%20Railway%20Museum/IMG_0046_533x800.jpg[/IMG] |
09-21-2009
( Reply#: 3789 ) |
duane |
Hey Tom. Thanks for the great pictures. Of course the SS pics are the ones closest to my heart. I, too, rode those old cars to Chicago, first with my mom to go Christmas shopping in downtown Chicago, and later, to take dates to downtown Chicago.
But I really loved all the other photos too. The shiny, stainless steel engine was cool. I'll have to plan a trip there sometime. Not sure where the wind turbines are located. But aren't they impressive. There is also a huge complex of them near our old stomping grounds of West Laugh-a-lot, Indiana...I think in the town of Fowler. |
09-22-2009
( Reply#: 3790 ) |
Tom J |
Duane:
Thanks.
The wind farm was mostly on the west side of I-39, but there were a few generators on the east side, too. They were between the Mendota Exit(mile 72) exit and the I-88 interchange (mile 97), a stretch of about twenty-five miles. You would see a bunch of them, and then you would go a few miles and see another big bunch of them. I think there were actually four different wind farms along that stretch.
Tomster |
09-22-2009
( Reply#: 3791 ) |
tom w |
Tom; We used to go to the steam town in Heston, Indiana. For some reason, we loved visiting and seeing the steam rail crane work. They even let me run it once. I remember a derailed coal gondola down by Hohman Ave and the crane lifting it back onto the tracks when I was very young. Heston also had steam threshers, a steamboat, a working sawmill etc. They also had several sizes of tracks and locomotives. We used to ride the full-size one around the property. What made me remember was------The conductor wore the old South Shore conductors uniform complete with cap and punch!!! Have you guys ever been there? Is it still in existence?? Tom W |
09-23-2009
( Reply#: 3793 ) |
Tom J |
Never been there, Tom W. Where is Heston?
Tom J |
09-23-2009
( Reply#: 3795 ) |
BobK |
It's in LaPorte County right up near the Michigan border and east of IN39 on CR 1000 N. http://www.hesston.org/
It's been quite a while since I've been over there.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
09-23-2009
( Reply#: 3796 ) |
tom w |
Bob; Have you been there? Particularly at threshing time? Tom W |
09-23-2009
( Reply#: 3797 ) |
BobK |
We only stopped in there once several years ago Tom. Nothing was going on at the time.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
10-29-2009
( Reply#: 3875 ) |
Tom J |
quote:
Originally posted by duane
Hey Tom. Thanks for the great pictures. Of course the SS pics are the ones closest to my heart. I, too, rode those old cars to Chicago, first with my mom to go Christmas shopping in downtown Chicago, and later, to take dates to downtown Chicago.
But I really loved all the other photos too. The shiny, stainless steel engine was cool. I'll have to plan a trip there sometime. Not sure where the wind turbines are located. But aren't they impressive. There is also a huge complex of them near our old stomping grounds of West Laugh-a-lot, Indiana...I think in the town of Fowler.
Duane:
I have not seen this video, but I wanted to make you aware that it exists, in case you might be interested.
http://www.greenfrog.com/oldSS_dvd.shtml
Green Frog now has items over $20.00 discounted 40% with free shipping. This $29.95 video can be purchased for $17.97 delivered.
If I had been a frequent or semi-frequent rider of the South Shore, I would be all over this video. Heck, I might get one anyway, since it was so much a part of "The Region."
Tomster |
11-09-2009
( Reply#: 3908 ) |
Tom J |
OK, I ordered the South Shore video today. It says that the filming was done in the 1976 - 1978 time period. I had already left The Region by then, but I was around for visits with my folks occasionally until they moved down here to KY in 1978. I hope I see lots of familiar sites.
Tom |
11-10-2009
( Reply#: 3912 ) |
tom w |
Hi Tom;
I remember standing at the South Shore station on Hohman Avenue and watching the above engine going slowly by with a string of coal gondolas. Big kids would jump on and start throwing coal off of the cars onto the dirt road that ran along the south side of the tracks. Then the old ladies with their long coats and bubushkas would pull little wagons along and pick up the coal pieces and take them home for heat. What a different world that was, huh? I also remember later on when they built the toll road and re-routed the South Shore to an elevated track, what a time the old engine had getting a much smaller train up the hill that started just east of Calumet Ave. even after gathering as much speed as possible between Hohman and Calumet. Tom W
|
11-10-2009
( Reply#: 3913 ) |
Tom J |
Oh, man, Tom W, thanks for those memories. Like I said, I had very little personal experience with the South Shore, but I recognize it as being an icon of The Region and a part of my heritage.
I hope you will have a lot more memories to share, South Shore or whatever.
Tom |
11-14-2009
( Reply#: 3942 ) |
Tom J |
The South Shore video came in, and I enjoyed watching it. I know it would have meant more to me if I had been a regular rider. I'm sure I must have ridden the train a time or two as I was growing up, but I really don't have any clear memories of doing so.
Where was the South Shore station back in our day? There is a new one now, right? The video did not show enough background for me to identify the location of the station. The filming was done in the late 70s.
Tom |
11-14-2009
( Reply#: 3943 ) |
BobK |
The current Hammond station is much bigger and the building is approximately in the same place only the old one was parallel to the tracks. There was no overhead protection and the parking lot was much smaller. My reference is to the early 60s.
The East Chicago station has a new building but it is pretty much the same as I recall.
Bob
[img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img] |
