Chicago Terminal Passenger Train August 23, 2008-Tom Burke Video

The ultimate in rare mileage. Chicago Terminal (CTR) operated a passenger excursion for customers of parent company Iowa Pacific on August 21, 2008. It parked on the former Peerless Confectionary spur on N. Lakewood Avenue just south of Diversey Parkway at the current north end of the former MIlwaukee Road Chicago & Evanston (C&E) line. On Saturday, August 23, private car Caritas (http://www.highirontravel.com/) was pushed back with CTR's SW8. Caritas is also owned by Iowa Pacific.

The day started off slowly due to several parked cars blocking the former Peerless Confectionary spur along Lakewood Avenue which had to be moved by tow trucks first. The train received a police escort going down Lakewood and it got a lot of attention from passersby, some taking pictures with cellphones.

This passenger train was the first one on the former Milwaukee Road C&E Line in this stretch going back some 90 years. In 1985 Soo Line took over operations, then on January 2, 2007, shortline CTR became the operator of the former Milwaukee Road lines on Chicago's North Side.

In April of 2007 Peerless Confectionary shut down and the site was razed for a future condo project. Peerless was the only freight customer north of Clybourn Avenue on the line.

The audio unfortunately had to be left out due to private conversations taking place behind me during the trip.

Tom Burke

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Chicago Terminal
• Lakewood
• CTR
• passenger
• train
• railroad
• spur
• Peerless
• Diversey
• Caritas
• Chicago
• Iowa Pacific
• street running
• Schuberth
• police
• tow

[robertgift]

Neat video! Let's hear the audio. Blank only parts needing it. IT's A FOUR WAY STOP, MORON COP. Yes, park your cruiser on the tracks and impede the train. Brilliant. No need for police. Flagman can do it. Did you have a whistle on the rear of the private car? When did a rail car last traverse that track? Any concerns about flangeways being clogged and derailing the car? Or were they inspected and cleared? Better if the engine went first.

[arthurgerber]

Thanks for the feedback. To answer your questions:

1. There was no whistle used on the private car.

2. The last movement on the line was the return of a pair of stored gondolas on the old spur this fall.

3. In some spots a crowbar had to be used to push asphalt and dirt out of the flangeways and plate over the switch mechanism.

4. If the engine faced south instead of the private car then it would have been more of a challenge backing out of the spur and onto Diversey blind.

[Boyeeism]

The Peerless Confection Co. was between Schubert Ave. and Diversey Pkwy. along Lakewood Ave. The site is now being made into town homes named Row2750.

[TrainmasterCurt]

Trains always have 1st authority!

[bonzoleum]

This is probably the most interesting vid I've seen here on YT. I wasn't sure when they stopped using this branch as one day it seemed the cars weren't parked at Peerless anymore!

Do you have any more fottage from this excursion?

Will they do any more? Are they going to officially abandon this line now?

[isp10man]

i hate condos i miss the old chicago... do you know anything about the past? like when this train use to pass diversey headed toward belmont on lakewood to an old candy factory located on fletcher and lakewood near the old lakeview recycle center and mask factory on belmont? i sure do hate gentrification...

[Latterlife]

Large, strong, and holds more passangers. No need for tires, therefore....no blow-outs!! Rent-a-train for only $20,000 a week!!

[bonnevillessei]

wow, the only vehicle that can make the police move....GREAT!!!!!

[MP36er]

Haha, I can see my car from here! I was standing right next to you, and I don't remember anything confidential said.

[staintedcards]

private conversations jesus who was on this Bush and his cronnies whats so private that you cant air it?