Is it still used. They had a nice sized yard and you can see boxcars on Google Map Aerial View but on the ground it looks empty. Is that downtown spur used at all?
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When I was a kid( 60s). I can remember seeing many freight cars on the sidings That space is open now. but that was all track at one time. I don't know about now but lower Wacker Dr had rail tracks running through it to include the Michigan Ave Bridge. I will try to find pics and post later.
I was staying at a hotel in the area for a show at McCormick Place in September and I did see a tank car and a few box cars on/at the end of the spur as seen from Kinzie Street.
So, yes, as of September, there was still use on the spur.
Hope that helps,
Charlie
Just wondering if the OP means the Trib site on Michigan Avenue, the Freedom Center printing plant on West Chicago, perhaps (as Charlie could be referring to) the former R.R. Donnelley plant, near McCormick Place, or someplace else.
EDIT: I goofed - Kinzie Street is near the Michigan Avenue site, of course. I got confused by the McCormick Place reference.
David
NKP Muncie:
You are correct, my post was confusing, sorry about that.
The comment about McCormick Place really had nothing to do with the original question.
I'm pretty sure Mike W. is asking about the spur that runs by the Tribune Freedom Center.
My answer, "as seen from Kinzie" was in regard to the spur Mike W is asking.
Again, this was in mid-September so fairly recently it was still in use.
Hope that helps clear things up.
Charlie
Not to side track things, but I've read that the Freedom Train cars were on display at Navy Pier once. The cars took that track that went under the old Sun Times building to reach Navy Pier. The loco (4449 IIRC) didn't make it to Navy Pier, so it was parked in that yard. I've often thought about how odd it must've looked watching the cars being pushed over those tracks, and then the stunning 4449 sitting in that yard.
Yes I am referring to the location right downtown by the river...and somewhat under where the tracks head to Northwestern Terminal.
The line being discussed is fed by a lift bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River, which is "permanently" in the up position. The trackage then proceeded under the Merchandise Mart. The site of the Merchandise Mart is where the earlier Chicago & North Western Chicago passenger terminal was located, replaced in 1911 by the station that was subsequently replaced by the Ogilvie Tarnsportation Center.
Mark S. I think it might be a bit less confusing to say "the bridge (not a lift bridge BTW) is the now the end of the line" as opposed to being "fed by the bridge".
Not trying to be smart, I just think it might be easier to understand if we are talking about the same thing. The area Mike W. has posted about is very historically significant as I think this was part of the very first laid track in Chicago.(Navy Pier west to the bridge).
So to answer Mike W. question, yes, the spur was still in use up until mid-September. I cannot confirm anything after that. Freedom or Tribune Center is effectively the last (furthers away from the main) customer on the line, with the physical line ending a few hundred yards south of Freedom or Tribune Center, at the C&NW bridge which is in the up position.
If this is not correct or confusing please let me know.
Charlie
Here are some photos (not mine) of the Kinzie Street C&NW Railroad Bridge:
http://queencitydiscovery.blog...-bridge-chicago.html
Great photos of the bridge jay jay. Thanks for posting the link.
Great pictures, John. Would be a great bridge to model.
Art
Thanks for the info. Sad to see that the inner city is now more retail/office space than industry that ships by rail.
