@marmarinou / marmarinou.tumblr.com
"Amtrak's 'Day One' 50th Anniversary heritage unit, ALC-42 number 301, swings through the tight North Canal Street curve, just a couple minutes from its final arrival at Chicago Union Station with train 8, the eastbound Empire Builder. To the right, the old Cassidy Tire building, long a local landmark, is being demolished, presumably to make way for more condos- this is a hot area in real estate."
May 25, 2022
Photo by Jonathan Lee
“Conductor Lyle flags traffic on North Avenue so Engineer Phil can cross safely. Another near downtown switch job that has disappeared.”
Chicago
May 5, 2010
Photo by Lou Gerard
Source:
Today’s news that the Cassidy Tire building may be replaced with another high-rise residential building reminded me of an old posting I did showing passenger/commuter trains passing that building over the years. Here is an updated version:
All trains leaving the north side of Chicago Union Station cross Canal Street soon after leaving the station. This was originally Milwaukee Road trackage and is now used by the Metra Milwaukee District and Amtrak.
The Canal Street crossing is just west of the North Branch of the Chicago River, and has become prime real estate. Here are a number of views of the crossing over the years which show how it has changed:
“Milwaukee Road C&E lines switcher on the swing bridge behind Finkl Steel, 5/20/86. MP15 locomotive 446 still had at least one of its Milwaukee Road diamond heralds on the side of the cab.”
Chicago
May 20, 1986
This area is now slated for the Lincoln Yards “megaproject” along the North Branch of the Chicago River
