Western Railroad Discussion > CN across the 1899 CM&N swing bridge, damaged tank car

Posting some stray photos I took recently. First up, CN M337 is headed towards Hawthorne Yard and eventually Iowa as it crosses an impressive swing bridge over the Chicago Ship & Sanitary Canal. The bridge was built in 1899 for the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad, which I understand is the railroad IC chartered to built into Wisconsin. As it crosses over Kedzie Ave, I got a mediocre shot of the 100 year anniversary unit. Only later did I realize that makes the bridge 20 years older than Canadian National itself.

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Lastly, an oddball find. On 38th and Morgan St. in Chicago, South Chicago Packing has a cramped yet always packed yard of tank cars. Looks like they have spots where they load or unload that accomodate about 6 cars each. Something seems to have gone wrong, with this car though - any guesses? Maybe a derailment when it tipped over? The gondola is an oddity too, as it has no place in their facility. 

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Perhaps the gondola was used as the safe place for the conductor or brakeman to ride a shove.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/20 11:43 by MP555.

 Seeing that the reservoir on the tank car is damaged and since delivering this car (appears to be a load) to the destination is less than a mile from Ashland Ave. yard, I'm guessing the gondola might have been used strictly for it's operating air brake. MP555's reply may be correct just as well.....

Could be some loose parts for the tank car in the gondola too.
But the real question is why is that damaged tank car here?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/20 12:38 by PHall.

PHall Wrote:
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> Could be some loose parts for the tank car in the
> gondola too.
> But the real question is why is that damaged tank
> car here?

To unload whatever is in it so that it can go to a shop and be repaired. 

1019X Wrote:
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> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Could be some loose parts for the tank car in
> the
> > gondola too.
> > But the real question is why is that damaged
> tank
> > car here?
>
> To unload whatever is in it so that it can go to a
> shop and be repaired. 

Considering that there's a big hole cut in the side and a spray painted note that the car was cleaned and purged, most likely at the derailment site during the clean up.
I don't think it made a delivery here. 

 I'm wondering if it was cleaned and purged at that location?

Classic old swing bridge, thanks for posting.

ghemr Wrote:
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>  I'm wondering if it was cleaned and purged at
> that location?

Don't see how since the car is not legal for movement except to the shop.
Multiple safety applicences are gone or damaged.

PHall Wrote:
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> ghemr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >  I'm wondering if it was cleaned and purged at
> > that location?
>
> Don't see how since the car is not legal for
> movement except to the shop.
> Multiple safety applicences are gone or damaged.

Indeed----no doubt! However the car is within yard limits....

ghemr Wrote:
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> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ghemr Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > >  I'm wondering if it was cleaned and purged
> at
> > > that location?
> >
> > Don't see how since the car is not legal for
> > movement except to the shop.
> > Multiple safety applicences are gone or
> damaged.
>
> Indeed----no doubt! However the car is within yard
> limits....

But where did the damage occur?  From the looks of it they were going way faster then Restricted speed!

South Chicago Packing probably loads tallow in the tank cars, so it seems unlikely the damaged car would be there for unloading unless it was damaged nearby.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/20 23:34 by EricSP.

I can't help with the tank car but that is a nice shot of M337 over the canal.

In pic 3 - is that a blue flag or a derail warning on the ground?
...Lorenzo

567Chant Wrote:
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> In pic 3 - is that a blue flag or a derail warning on the ground?
> ...Lorenzo

Perhaps a "high visibility" wheel chock.

Brian