Nostalgia & History > 3 of EJ&E's Monsters

Here are three of Rick Burn's photos of EJ&E 900s (Baldwin DT66-2000) taken in Munger, IL in December 1966.  The third photo is of 924 but I can't read the number on the first two.  The overpass in the first photo is of the the Illinois Central's line to Iowa.

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/17 15:55 by MartyBernard.

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Nice photos of old legends. The first photo looks as if it could be the 900.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

All three have been re-engined with EMDs.
G

Very good shots Marty; am I correct to assume that this part of the former 'J' no longer sports that wide open prairie look?
I saw the road up close and personnal around Chicago Heights and Park Forest between 62 and 64 , I want to say some of the center cabs had not been re-engined by EMD then yet. They could fill up a grade crossing with orange that's for sure. I understand CN has modernized and upgraded the former interchange there between the ex J and former IC main to route through freights south.
Thanks
Pete

More treasures. Thanks for posting these.
Bob

The as-built Baldwins were in the 100 series. The followind is from Diesel Shop ( http://www.thedieselshop.us/EJE.HTML )

DT66-2000 re-building (by BLW) into "700" series

• 101    To EJE 701:1
• 102    To EJE 702:1
• 104    To EJE 704:1
• 105    To EJE 705
• 107    To EJE 707
• 108    To EJE 708
• 111    To EJE 711
• 117    To EJE 717
• 122    To EJE 722
• 123    To EJE 723

DT66-2000 re-building (by EMD) into "900" series

• 103    To EJE 903
• 106    To EJE 906
• 109    To EJE 909
• 110    To EJE 910
• 112    To EJE 912
• 113    To EJE 912
• 114    To EJE 914
• 115    To EJE 915
• 116    To EJE 916
• 119    To EJE 919
• 120    To EJE 920
• 121    To EJE 921
• 124    To EJE 924
• 125    To EJE 925

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/17 19:19 by MartyBernard.

Here is the IC - EJ&E interchange today.  The EJ&E runs north/south and the IC runs diagonally.  As you can see it's still farm land.

https://goo.gl/maps/KcDPd7TFpRk

Marty

MartyBernard Wrote:
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> Here is the IC - EJ&E interchange today.  The
> EJ&E runs north/south and the IC runs
> diagonally.  As you can see it's still farm
> land.
>
> https://goo.gl/maps/KcDPd7TFpRk
>
> Marty

I'm not sure if it's farm land or county forest preserve.

Anyway, when CN bought the "J" the municipality of Barrington, IL went out of its collective mind.  Barrington is south of this junction on the old "J".  It was like:  "Oh, My God!  More FREIGHT TRAINS are comming.  We're all going to die!"   This opposition was lead by Barring ton's mayor and the US congress person who lived in Barrington.  (She was also my Representative and I helped get rid of her.)  To date I have not heard of any serious incidents caused by the additional FREIGHT TRAINS through Barrington.  A CN train did get a knuckle there causing some crossing blockage.  The mayor had the police investigating the failed knuckle.

So, CN wanted to add an interchange track in the southwest quadrant of the Munger junction.  This would have allowed trains from Iowa to just continue on to the southbound "J",     But to do this the CN needed to buy 10 acres of the forest preserve and also buy property to give to the forest preserve to replace the lost acreage.  Not a big deal.  Unless there is political opposition.  So now CN trains from Iowa must back up over the existing NE quadrant interchange track to go south on the "J".  Or, they can continue on though the Chicago congestion.  Which does make for some interesting pictures of grain trains moving next to tall buildings near the Chicago lake front.

The area on both sides of the EJ&E south of Stearns Road is part of Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve.
http://www.dupageforest.org/Pratt_s_Wayne_Woods_Map.aspx

The third photo looks like Stearns Road just north of the bridge over the IC.

I grew up a few mile east of here in Bloomingdale and took many trips to Pratt's Wayne Woods. It was a go-to spot for school, scout and family outings. I don't recall ever seeing a J train but do remember seeing Amtrak's Blackhawk with 3 RDC's and the occasional freight on the IC tracks.

As I recall, CN wants to build a 25 mph connection track which requires right-of-way from the forest preserve district. If they built a 10 or 15 mph connection, I think they won't need any right-of-way from the forest preserve. I have not heard anything recently so perhaps CN decided it was not worth the investment for the 3-4 trains a day.

And just a minor note, the fine town of Barrington is several miles north of Munger. I know everyone likes to beat on Barrington but I have seen first hand how a lengthy train stops traffic in Barrington in all directions as the track slices diagonally across the street grid.

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/17 07:11 by kevink.

Pretty sure the unit in the first picture is the 909.