I paid a brief visit to the Rockford Park District's "streetcar" operation while on vacation. They have a gasoline-powered open car which they operate on about two miles of what I believe is still an active branch of the North Western (UP). It starts its trip at the station shown here.
Not far away is the carbarn, lettered for "Rockford and Interurban"; it has large picture windows so the car inside was visible, but difficult to photograph. The car was damaged in a fire a couple of years ago, but has been repaired and should be operating this summer.
The line includes about a half mile of street running, as shown here. I'd like to know the details of how their track rights agreement with the UP works. A collision between the little open car and a freight train would be bad, to say the least.I also took some pictures of CB&Q stuff in and around Oregon, if anyone's interested.
I never really considered Rockford to be a prime vacation spot in the middle of March.
ReplyDeleteWell, we were just passing through. And I think almost any real street running is interesting.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, street running is neat wherever one may encounter it.
ReplyDeleteThis is in Rockford, ILLINOIS? Never even knew of this.
ReplyDeleteYes, ILLINOIS. Mile after magnificent mile. :)
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