Leo,
Thanks very much for the information. Years ago I lived in La
Grange, but as a kid Downers Grove was beyond my bike riding range,
so I never got there.
Sounds like it has possibilities for the central part of a new layout.
John
--- In BRHSlist@y..., qutlx1@a... wrote:
> John,
> If you can find a copy of the Centennial publication for the 100th
> anniversary of Q suburban service there are several pictures of
Downers Grove
> about 1952.Also one of the early society bulletins(I believe it is
number
> 1,later reprinted along with #2 and 3 as one unit) has a wealth of
info on
> the dinkies.
> As to the yard itself if memory is correct there were 5 layover
trks
> (1-5).and yes there was a rdhse(see earlier archived editions of
this list
> for the many discussions weve had on that subject.
> After all the suburbans moved to Aurora(note that Aurora was
already the
> major layover yard) the yard at Downers was "economized"(trks 3 and
4 were
> taken out) and of course the rdhse was gone,etc. Can't say in what
year(s).
> I recall in the early 70's that we spotted cars at Edward Hines in
the
> yard(they're still there and still receiving cars).Also there was a
builder
> or building supply company that received cars of bricks "down
below" on the 2
> lower tracks paralleling the street.Also there was a bulk oil
distributor off
> of trk 5.
> But the busiest time of day at Downers was when the "congo"(Congess
Park turn
> out of Cicero)would bring the west cars to Downers to make room to
switch the
> yard at the "park" or because Cicero didn't have room or time to
hump them.
> The cars would then be picked up by westbound thru frts using the
switch down
> near Belmont Ave.
> ALso the Congo would sometimes go to Downers with their train right
out of
> Cicero as the yard at the park would be full and the only way to
run around
> the train and get it delivered to the "Harbor" was to use the yard
at Downers
> for the runaround.
> Sometimes we'd run to Downers with a reefer for Pepperidge Farm and
runaround
> it in the yard and then spot it at their plant at Fairview Ave.
> Finally Downers was and is a great place to stage work equipment
and work
> trains.
>
> Leo
> P.S. it was also a good place to stage the funeral train from the
Belmont Ave
> wreck in 1973.
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