All Things Must Pass
After pulling a single boxcar out of the Tribune's Freedom Center on the right, UP #815 runs around its train at Grand Avenue Yard before starting up towards the northwest side to switch Alpha Baking. CNW waycar #11119 will bring up the markers as usual and will be used on the two-mile shove down the Cragin Lead.
The events of the past month have effectively signaled the end of freight operations in the former C&NW switching district around North Avenue. Last month, Blommer Chocolate abruptly closed its plant on Desplaines and Kinzie immediately ending rail service on the upper level and the last tank car arriving on the lower level last week. The Tribune is expected to start laying off workers this month with printing operations moving to Schaumburg and the Freedom Center being vacated to make way for the construction of Bally's casino. This leaves Alpha Baking as the last industry on the Harvard Sub east of Deval which means regular freight operations east of Mayfair will cease once Blommer and the Tribune close. Word on the street has it that an Elk Grove-based job will replace the 60B to switch the remaining customers on the Harvard between Mayfair and Barrington. Another chapter of Chicago railroading is about to come to an end.
All Things Must Pass
After pulling a single boxcar out of the Tribune's Freedom Center on the right, UP #815 runs around its train at Grand Avenue Yard before starting up towards the northwest side to switch Alpha Baking. CNW waycar #11119 will bring up the markers as usual and will be used on the two-mile shove down the Cragin Lead.
The events of the past month have effectively signaled the end of freight operations in the former C&NW switching district around North Avenue. Last month, Blommer Chocolate abruptly closed its plant on Desplaines and Kinzie immediately ending rail service on the upper level and the last tank car arriving on the lower level last week. The Tribune is expected to start laying off workers this month with printing operations moving to Schaumburg and the Freedom Center being vacated to make way for the construction of Bally's casino. This leaves Alpha Baking as the last industry on the Harvard Sub east of Deval which means regular freight operations east of Mayfair will cease once Blommer and the Tribune close. Word on the street has it that an Elk Grove-based job will replace the 60B to switch the remaining customers on the Harvard between Mayfair and Barrington. Another chapter of Chicago railroading is about to come to an end.