Pullman Jct
Chicago Short Line at Rock Island Jct
A CSL transfer is heading west on the former Rock Island South Chicago Branch after getting flagged to proceed in March of 1983. This was a non-interlocked junction and all trains were required to stop before proceeding on hand signal from the operator, including passenger trains prior to Amtrak. All switches were hand thrown by the operator.
This train was destined for Conrail's Colehour Yard on the former PRR Fort Wayne line. After clearing the switches and getting another signal from the operator, the train shoved east using what was referred to as the "up the wall" track to the ex-PRR line, seen in the background passing over the train.
The operator was a BRC employee. The man seen here was the regular day man. His name was Jackson and he was always friendly and accommodating to me. I remember him fondly.
I grew up a mile west of RI Jct. I would ride my bike here and climb the stairs from the Commercial Ave viaduct to the B&O passenger station and watch the trains from the platform, about a hundred yards to the west. The scene from the platform was especially dramatic at night. All the switches had lamps and the operator would signal the trains with a lantern.
Chicago Short Line at Rock Island Jct
A CSL transfer is heading west on the former Rock Island South Chicago Branch after getting flagged to proceed in March of 1983. This was a non-interlocked junction and all trains were required to stop before proceeding on hand signal from the operator, including passenger trains prior to Amtrak. All switches were hand thrown by the operator.
This train was destined for Conrail's Colehour Yard on the former PRR Fort Wayne line. After clearing the switches and getting another signal from the operator, the train shoved east using what was referred to as the "up the wall" track to the ex-PRR line, seen in the background passing over the train.
The operator was a BRC employee. The man seen here was the regular day man. His name was Jackson and he was always friendly and accommodating to me. I remember him fondly.
I grew up a mile west of RI Jct. I would ride my bike here and climb the stairs from the Commercial Ave viaduct to the B&O passenger station and watch the trains from the platform, about a hundred yards to the west. The scene from the platform was especially dramatic at night. All the switches had lamps and the operator would signal the trains with a lantern.