• Blue Island Yard • Most of these photos were taken by Lightnin', this site's original owner. The fourth and fifth photos are by J.D. (Tuch)
Santucci who has accompanied them with some helpful comments.
View from the hump
NW and SW switchers at the service area
A Fairbanks Morse loco works the east end of the yard. Photo courtesy of Charlie Stricker
Tuch says: "The two towers on stilts are the east yardmaster's office on the top level and the trainmaster's office right
below it [the latter office has been removed since this photo was taken]. The
flat-roofed building just behind the light standard in known as "Longfield." This is the car inspector's headquarters
and locker room. At one time the Blue Island crew caller was located in this building.
The east yardmaster controls all movements at the east end of the yard, including the pull-down or trimmer
jobs that work the garden (hump bowl) and all inbound and outbound trains. He also instructs the hump yardmaster on where
to yard trains entering from the west, and tells eastbound trains at the hump end where to make their doubles
if such is required."
Ready tracks; note EL locomotive in the background. Tuch says: "Blue Island did not have a major engine servicing facility
since the Gibson roundhouse was less than ten miles to the east. Locomotives could be fueled and sanded, have lube oil
or cooling water added, have brakeshoes replaced, piston travel adjusted, and make other minor repairs.
In this shot you are looking roughly east. The clear track is the north ready track and the one to the right of the
tank is the south ready track. You'll notice the concrete pad to the right of the clear north ready track. This was
the fuel station. You can see the fuel racks."
NOTE: this facility was eliminated in 2004. All engine servicing is now
done at Gibson Yard.
At left, an NW2 switches a cut of cars. At center is a GP38-2 with slug, and at right an SW1500.
Yard office
Old yard office
East end of the yard; CN and Metra Electric tracks overhead
Hump action with SW1500 and slug
Hump tower
NW2 and booster unit pulling a cut of cars. Photo by Dennis Schmidt
SW1500 and slug at the east end of the yard. Photo by Dennis Schmidt
Three of the rebuilt SW1500s and a GP40-2 await a call to duty. Photo by Dennis Schmidt