Steam & Excursion > ICRR 1639 came to town

Almost every westbound Illinois Central freight would pause in Broadview to pick up or drop off a cut of cars from the IHB interchange. That was great from my point of view because I could sit back and watch the switching to my hearts content. The Broadview yard wasn't very big, maybe 10 blocks long with 8-10 tracks. The road engines always did their own switching as required, and then reassembled their train, picked up orders, and blasted out of town. ICRR 1639 is switching in the yard before heading west on a winter day in 1954. This was the last steam locomotive I saw passing through Broadview.

Jack Bejna
Los Angeles, CA

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Interesting that extra class lights are lit but, no flags.

Nice shot and story... just sent it to my Uncle who was the Rockford Agent/Operator for years.
He even remembers double-headed steam through Rockford!

While this was the last steam locomotive you saw passing through this location, your excellent slide is a great way to document this piece of history.
Thanks for sharing this.
Bob

refarkas Wrote:
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> While this was the last steam locomotive you saw
> passing through this location, your excellent
> slide is a great way to document this piece of
> history.
> Thanks for sharing this.
> Bob


For sure.

Thanks Juice, more..

chico
http://www.heartlandrails.com

Great shot. It looks like it could have been taken yesterday. Thanks for sharing, and hope you might have more like this!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

Very nice and typical IC steam: nothing fancy, just a lot of guts to pull a lot of tonnage,
-JH

Jack, the hits just keep on comin' from you! I hope that you never run out of great photos to post here on TO. Thanks, Jack.

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

Is this next to where Home Depot and Target are today?

ctjacks Wrote:
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> Is this next to where Home Depot and Target are
> today?

I can't answer that because I haven't been in Broadview for a number of years now. The west end of the yard ended at 17th avenue; the depot was on the south side of the track just east of 17th. The east end of the yard was at ninth avenue. There was a depot there named Hines for the hospital there.

Jack Bejna
Los Angeles, CA

Jack, be glad you aren't there today!

(blizzard cleanup)

chico
http://www.heartlandrails.com

juicejunkie Wrote:
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> ctjacks Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is this next to where Home Depot and Target are
> > today?
>
> I can't answer that because I haven't been in
> Broadview for a number of years now. The west end
> of the yard ended at 17th avenue; the depot was on
> the south side of the track just east of 17th. The
> east end of the yard was at ninth avenue. There
> was a depot there named Hines for the hospital
> there.

There are Home Depot and Target stores within sight of the IC in Hillside, west of Mannheim Road and roughly a couple miles west of the west end of Hawthorne Yard. If you drive that area, 17th Ave is the second exit east of Mannheim on the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290).

NZ

Target and Home Depot are just South of the the location. The Target and Home Depot are in the area that once was a field and parts yard for International Harvester parts distribution center. IH had two tracks that came off the south passing siding. They had tracks in the warehouse and outside storage as well. When IH closed the facility, the mall was build on the property.

M. Tyl
Broadview, IL

Panamerican99 Wrote:
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> Very nice and typical IC steam: nothing fancy,
> just a lot of guts to pull a lot of tonnage,
> -JH

Yeah. IC power just plain looked like it worked for its living. And, it looked good! No frills.

-Larry Doyle

We have an example of an IC 2-8-0 here at Steamtown.
Ed K. cp Laurel Run

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