Railroads, Chicago-style

Great Northern Railway (U.S.) timetables 1965 by CLIFF BANCROFT

Amtrak Empire Builder (Train #8) inbound to Chicago at Rondout, passing under the North Shore Bike Trail, the former right of way of the North Shore Line.

Rondout, Illinois

February 1995

Photo by Rob Schreiner

BN 9943 E8A Empire Builder by fourhundredfleet on Flickr.

Caption: "BN E8A 9943 leads three former GN F units on Amtrak #8, the Empire Builder at Chicago, Illinois,on July 20, 1972. The sign on the building behind the train is having an identity crisis."

Photo by Jim Lewnard

The Empire Builder departing Chicago Union Station

Chicago

1965

Photo by Daryl McGee

Amtrak - 'Empire Builder' by rrradioman on Flickr.

Amtrak Empire Builder approaching Chicago Union Station with the Chicago River and Merchandise Mart in the background

Chicago

July 1974

Photos by Gary Sturm

Caption: “Burlington Northern NW2 524 (ex-CB&Q 9227) working the North Coast Limited and Empire Builder cars on Chicago Union Station leads. Photos taken from the Roosevelt Road Viaduct, Chicago, IL on March 30, 1971 (a month before Amtrak Day).”

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Photos by Marty Bernard

Note the massive Pennsylvania Railroad freight house in the upper right. It would be demolished within the next few years.

Amtrak - Canal Street by d.w.davidson on Flickr.

Amtrak Train No. 7, the Empire Builder , has just departed Chicago Union Station and is seen passing Lake Street Tower at the Canal Street grade crossing.

Chicago

March 1982

Photo by D.W. Davidson

Amtrak Empire Builder approaching Chicago Union Station from the north. The Chicago River and the Merchandise Mart are in the background.

Chicago

August 1973

An early Amtrak version of The Empire Builder crossing Canal Street as it departs from the north side of Chicago Union Station, led by ex-Burlington Northern E8 9941 followed by three blue ex-Great Northern F-units.

Chicago

July 1973

Photo by Lou Gerard

Caption: “Burlington Northern eastbound Morning Zephyr/Empire Builder/North Coast Limited, a combination of three trains down from Minneapolis/Saint Paul on the former CB&Q mainline, passing the LaVergne depot at the west end of the Q's Cicero Yard, and only a few miles from Chicago Union Station.”

Berwyn, Illinois

April 19, 1970

Photo by Paul Enenbach

Rondout time machine by clyde hancock Via Flickr: Rondout, Illinois

rn2-83 by George Hamlin Via Flickr: The Empire Builder arriving at Chicago Union Station at the end of its eastbound journey

Caption: "Amtrak's eastbound Empire Builder races past Rondout Tower with a reminder of the location's Milwaukee Road heritage bringing up the markers."

Rondout, Illinois

May 2012

Photo by Larry Sallee

Caption: “Eastbound North Coast Limited/Empire Builder slams through LaGrange IL near Christmas 1967. By late 1967, due to declining ridership, it was usual practice to combine the NP’s North Coast Limited, the GN’s Empire Builder, and the CB&Q’s Morning Zephyr in Minneapolis for the run into Chicago. However, the green class lights suggest there was enough patronage this day to warrant at least two separate trains.”

La Grange, Illinois

December 1967

Photos by Larry Sallee

Burlington Northern Empire Builder and North Coast Limited leaving Chicago Union Station.

Note the Harrison Street Tower to the right; this railroad tower still exists but is not visible since the New Post Office building was built around it and covers this whole scene today.

Chicago

April 2, 1971

Photo by Paul Enenbach

Amtrak’s Empire Builder led by ex-Burlington Route E8 locomotive

Deerfield, Illinois

January 1973

Photo by Lou Gerard