Nostalgia & History > Blue Island (Vermont Street) IL... "Then & Now"

Just a couple of weeks shy of being 40 years apart, here are two images taken from the Western Avenue overpass in Blue Island The outbound Rock Island commuter train was photographed at the start of the afternoon rush hour in June, 1976.. Two days ago,, I retraced my steps once again to offer a "then and now" look. I had to shoot an inbound Metra train, as track assignments have changed some over the decades, but there is a fair amount here that really hasn't, especially given the urban nature of the scene.  Neither do I recall the climb up to the Western Aveunu bridge in 1976  being as exhausting as it was on Monday!

Cheers,

aussiehinz

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Amazing - I don't think there are many urban scenes in the US that have remained this constant over this many years!

Not too much change,Mark.


Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

Ah yes, good ole Vermont Street tower. My good friend Bob McGarry worked third shift there. When I would get in from a freight run I would stop up and visit with him. Looks like all they removed was the east yard lead. Off to the far left was the Suburban coach yard where they stored the old heavyweight 80 seat coaches and the AC trains. The AC trains were the first commuter cars they had with air conditioning and the center pneumatic doors but they were one level. Then along came the double decker "Dummies". When I was working there they had one freight for Silvis and one for Peoria along with an Ottawa turn that came out of Burr Oak yard. They also had several pick up fills for trains originating from South Chicago and 12th Street yards. Of course there were a myriad of transfers to the many other railroads as well.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Brings back memories of the summer of 1967 when I worked as a relief station agent at Blue Island.  Rotated among all three shifts selling tickets, copying orders and giving same to outbound freight crews.  That was when they still had cabooses so two sets of orders on hoops were placed on the trackside pole.

In 1976, I was a young engineer out of Peoria forced up to protect (as a fireman) suburbans, the two passenger trains, and the hostling jobs at 47th St and at Blue Island.  Thanks for reminding me of my younger days on the Rock Island.

R Seaton

I love these before and after shots. Thank you!
1. The trees have grown (dah)
2. Metra spent some $$$ making the station pretty
3. The brown house is now painted a lighter color and window awnings have been removed
4. There are high-rise billborads over the tree line.
5. Are the smokestacks gone or are they just covered by the trees?
6. The Tower has been remodeled OR there are window shades down???

Never been there - now I want to visit. Thanks again.

Bill
 

Hmmm, maroon AMC Pacer in the older picture.

Paul Ramer
Cincinnati, OH

it looks like there is more trackage in the newer picture than in the old. what are the tracks behind the last metra car?? dave, out.

davebb71 Wrote:
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> it looks like there is more trackage in the newer
> picture than in the old. what are the tracks
> behind the last metra car?? dave, out.

That is a connection that Metra built between the RI district main and Metra Electric's Blue Island branch, used to bring Metra Electric bi-levels over to the shop at Blue Island for wheel work.  One of Metra's SW1s is equipped with a special coupler to move the electric cars.

Andy

In picture 1 an IC Electric "Highliner" can be seen sitting in their station.
In picture 2 it looks like a retired "Highliner" may be seen stored in the old RI yard along
the left edge of the photo.  Or is it a new Metra Electric car?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/16 19:41 by Englewood.

bmarti7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I love these before and after shots. Thank you!
> 1. The trees have grown (dah)
> 2. Metra spent some $$$ making the station pretty
> 3. The brown house is now painted a lighter color
> and window awnings have been removed
> 4. There are high-rise billborads over the tree
> line.
> 5. Are the smokestacks gone or are they just
> covered by the trees?
> 6. The Tower has been remodeled OR there are
> window shades down???
>
> Never been there - now I want to visit. Thanks
> again.
>
> Bill
>  
Back in the day the tower had dark green sunshades.  Bill, the afternoon towerman, probably has them pulled
down in the 1976 photo.

Very nice comparison.....I know how exhausting things can be now as opposed to 40 years ago.... 

Not only have the awnings disappeared on the Old Brown house, the windows have been replaced
with smaller versions on the top and middle floor.  What is all that activity further down the track,
older picture, black station wagon and people milling around?
Frank30

Frank30 Wrote:
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What is all that activity further down
> the track,
> older picture, black station wagon and people
> milling around?
> Frank30

Looks like the usual mass confusion after the westbound suburban train is finally
departing after having Vermont St. blocked while unloading.   The gates at Vermont have
probably just gone up and the driver of the station wagon has jumped the gun while passengers
are still crossing Vermont St.

The real excitement occured when a rush hour IC train arrived and its passengers were trying to get
across Vermont while the non-stop Bankers or No. 223 came blasting through.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/27/16 07:20 by Englewood.