CSX Switching Ferrara Pan Candy Co., Oak Park, IL, 21.07.11

By very fortunate happenstance, I caught what is a very unpredictable train movement on CSX's almost-out-of-service B&OCT Altenheim Subdivision.

It exists as a revenue line from a connection with the Belt Railway of Chicago at Rockwell Jct, then parallels I-290 and CTA's Blue Line 'L', to the Ferrara Pan Candy Company plant in Oak Park between Harlem and Circle Avenues. The once-daily or as-needed (depending on traffic levels) local works industries as far west as here, before returning and leaving its cars for the BRC. North of here, the line changes to CN ownership at Madison St, then connects to CP/Metra and the IHB at Franklin Park. Despite its position as an apparently strategic line, the Altenheim has been downgraded for service by this local, and for storing well cars. Very, very occasionally, (a couple times a year, perhaps) if both the BRC and IHB are clogged with trains at Franklin Park, CN will send a train into the city via this line. B&O and Soo Line trains used to operate into the city via the Altenheim, however.




Here, seen from the adjacent Harlem Avenue station on the Forest Park Branch of the CTA Blue Line 'L' rapid transit line, an outbound 'L' train heads to Forest Park, as CSX YN3-painted GP15T #1523 works the local, picking up one empty car from the candy factory and adding it to its consist to bring back to the Belt. The factory's electronic sign reads a hot, muggy 95F as a CTA train heads for the Loop and the local heads east on the Altenheim. A little transfer caboose brings up the rear of the train.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CSX
• B&OCT
• Altenheim Sub
• Subdivision
• Oak Park
• Chicago
• IL
• Illinois
• rail
• railroad
• railway
• train
• trains
• freight
• switching
• switch job
• local
• Ferrara Pan Candy Co
• transfer
• caboose
• CTA
• Blue Line
• railfan

[joseg2143]

Seriously, how long have those TTX well cars been sitting there? My wife and I've been going to Forest Park since February for checkups on our son and now that he's been born there, they're still there. What gives?

[Nachtwolf1]

@joseg2143 They are being stored due to the down economy until they are needed. The CSX Altenheim Sub is a good place to store railcars, since except for the Ferrara-Pan job, the line is out of service. There used to be more of them sitting there, but some got picked up for use in revenue service.

[quimbyt]

Too bad that caboose was ruined by all that graffiti trash. CSX should clean that up.

[Nachtwolf1]

@quimbyt If they did, it would just get graffiti'd again. The local that uses it is based out of a small yard in a very dangerous neighborhood full of gangs.

[stormyhawn]

I don't mean to nit-pick, but the Ferrara-Pan Candy Company is actually in Forest Park, as is the Harlem Avenue Blue Line station. Great vid, thanks!

[KHVEDOR]

Caboose is very a picturesque.