Nostalgia & History > C&WI Gathering at Dearborn

Here's a scene I have yet to come across in any of Frank's photos or any online. Chicago and Western Indiana RS1's 256, 259, and an unknown one flood the Dearborn station tracks with two that appear to be building trains and one departing with a 3 car commuter train. It's more than common to see at least one in the background working with a long distance train preparing to depart. However this is the first time I've seen the owner of the station fill up the platform tracks.

1) C&WI 256, taking out either 71 or 75 (possibly 105 if a Saturday,) uses a puzzle switch to scoot around other C&WI jobs working at Dearborn.

2) A zebra striped ATSF switcher can be seen off in the distance while the C&WI commuter train takes off. The conductor can be seen watching out the last car as most passengers have the windows open for some air in the summer.

Taken by Frank Tribbey in August 1964
PQM



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/20 18:25 by BNSF-6432.

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Super rare!  I departed Dearborn in August 1964 on the "San Francisco Chief" which, I thought, was one of the great unsung fine trains of that era.

I didn't realize the C&WI had commuter service. I certainly had never seen a photo of such train. Thank you for sharing the nice images.

Great photos.

A question.  Why did C&WI, and Santa Fe have switchers in Chicago with steam generators? Yes I know it gets cold.

Did the station(s) not have house steam?

Thanks in advance!
 

Yes there was house steam and it gets so cold that you didn't want occupied cars being transferred between trains to freeze up while being switched. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/20 19:10 by 1019X.

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> I didn't realize the C&WI had commuter service.
> I certainly had never seen a photo of such train.
> Thank you for sharing the nice images.

Think there was a write-up on a Chicago railfan group, sorry forget details.

Bob

"A+" images!
Bob

Milwaukee Wrote:
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> I didn't realize the C&WI had commuter service.

Their commuter service terminated in Dolton just past 138th Street near Lincoln Ave....

The C&WI used hand me down Erie Stillwell cars for its commuter service, the Erie being one of C&WI's owners.

Great images, just really rare stuff. The first image I have ever seen of the C&WI's commuter train. Thanks very much!

Great photo of the commuter ops of Dearborn's owner.

Rich

Concerning the need for steam generators.
Trains did not store in the station between runs
C&WI shuttled owner road cars to 51st yard for servicing, etc.
ATSF coach yard was much closer but power still needed steam.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/20 15:06 by Englewood.

Many switchers serving passenger stations had steam generators. Washington Terminal's RS-1's for example. 

Thanks for these photo's.   I did not have such luck in 1956.

Ed

Incredible number of boxcars in photo 2. Freight forwarder business?

Posted from Android

Keep in mind the railroads were in the LCL business big time. Including lots of trucks for pick up and delivery.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/20 09:15 by mundo.