Back in August of 1980, Bob Bruneau asked me to take measurements of a typical rural passenger platform on the CA&E, since he wanted to reproduce one at IRM. I'm not sure exactly where he planned to install it, and it hasn't gotten done -- yet. But I went to Hart Rd. on the Batavia branch and measured what I could. At that time the platform was still pretty complete, and it was easy to tell where the rails had been. The mosquitos were terrible, but I still have the notes in a pocket notebook from that time. It took me some effort to find, but here it is. In this plan, south is up.
In the notes, I called it "Hart EB" but I think there was only one platform per crossing on the Batavia line. And I found no trace of the waiting shelter.
Forty years later, on Sunday we were out for a walk and stopped at the platform. That brought back memories. It's now covered with dirt and brush, but there are still traces of some of the planks visible. Cinders, not so much. And where the track was has now been paved over.
So if you want to construct an authentic Batavia branch platform to any scale, there you have it.
I’ve always been so fascinated about the remnants (or lack thereof) of the CA&E. For young folks like me, it’s extremely hard to imagine an interurban line existing in the same space as the prairie path. 1957 might as well be the 1800’s for those of us born in “modern times”. With that said, do you know how much stuff (ties, ballast, rails, third rail foundations, etc) is still buried under the bike path, street crossings and layers of dirt? I understand that most of the rails and valuable metals were torn up and scrapped, but was everything else just left behind and covered with the sands of time? Any interesting places to see nice glimpses of the past?
ReplyDeleteAnd on another related note, I heard stories that the bridge over Roosevelt Road on the Westchester branch of the “L” actually still exists and was simply filled-in with everything still under there, waiting for future archaeological discovery. Which apparently explains the curved “hump” you’ll notice when driving over the location even today. Have you heard any such stories?
Sorry for the long comment! But I've been waiting a long time for you to post something about the line remnants!
Oh and just for clarification......I'm not talking about the half-buried Illinois Central railroad bridge, which I'm sure probably has some cool stuff hidden underneath as well. But rather the bridge spanning Roosevelt Road where the station was located.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to have a platform at the west end of track so I can take rapid transit into town whenever I had a meeting or rules test at 1 Main St. When I am working a tail hose, my mark is 4 poles from the end of track. If I stopped 5 poles short I could still fit SLSF 1630 with 9 cars. In that area the poles are spaced just over 50 feet. So a clearance limit at 3 poles out would work easy ....... What ya, think?
ReplyDeleteThere are very few remnants of rail or other hardware still along the path. There are plenty of ties that were thrown aside, along the embankment in various places, but that's about it. I don't know of any crossings that still have rail, with the possible exception of Roosevelt in Wheaton. Back in the late 70's I made an effort to collect any third rail chairs I could find and take them to IRM, but it wasn't much. The story about the Roosevelt Rd. bridge over the Westchester branch strikes me as implausible.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for YOU, Sam, you know who to talk to, and it isn't me!
Yes, but I'll get further action with you than with him.
ReplyDelete(Now if Julie Johnson were still with us....)
Well I live in Michigan so don't get to the Chicago area much anymore, but I have covered nearly the entire Prairie Path on several bike excursions (that nice flat Illinois prairie is very bike-friendly).
ReplyDeleteIn 1998(?) there was rail in Weisbrook Rd., in 2000 there was rail in Jewell Rd., in 2007 both had been removed. There were (are?) a few concrete signal bases here and there, and of course that substation building out the Elgin branch as well as the Villa Park station, home of the Villa Park Historical Society. Not to mention the various bridges, especially the one over the Metra/UP (nee C&NW) tracks in Wheaton.
Mike M.
Mike: You are of course correct about the buildings and bridges, I was thinking of the more obscure remnants such as rail. I just remembered two sidings that are still partly there, I think, although covered over: the Wallfill siding in Wheaton, and the Westmore Supply siding in Villa Park.
ReplyDelete