Tom,
The yard dated from before the turn of the 20th century (1880s?). Prior
to dieselization of the Q commuter service in late 1952, most commuter
trains terminated at Downers Grove. A few, however, did continue on to
Aurora. Trains were reconfigured at D.G. and, of course, were serviced.
There was a turntable and water tank located there until 1953 or 1954,
but no coaling facilities. That was done at Western Ave. during the day
time layover. At one time, there was also a roundhouse at D.G., but
that disappeared during the 1930's when the pacifics were assigned to
commuter trains. They didn't fit into the roundhouse. In fact, I
believe the turntable had to be changed out to accommodate them. Over
the years, a variety of steam locomotives were assigned to the commuter
operation. There were five tank engines purchased during the 1800s
specifically for the commuter trains, but for the most part, commuter
steam power was was downgraded road power including 4-4-0s, 4-6-0s,
4-4-2s, 4-6-2s and near the end, even the mighty 4-6-4 hudsons.
Diesels, began to invade the commuter operation about 1949, mostly
E-7s, however, some E-5s and even a few shovel nose Zephyr units (9904
and 9905 from the second Twin Cities Zephyr when they were bumped from
their original assignment) pulled commuter trains.
The original cars were open platform wood cars. Many of these were
later sheathed with steel and received steel under frames. As the first
gallery double deck cars entered service, some of the open platform
cars in the 7100 series were rebuilt with air conditioning, closed
platforms and new interiors. They were operated as complete trains or
mixed in with gallery cars.
As for the yard itself, it had 5 or 6 long tracks in the upper level
and two tracks in a lower portion along Warren Ave. about 10 feet down.
At least in later years, commuter trains were only kept in the upper
level. At one time, in the 1940s, there were plans being considered for
a new engine facility about where Edward Hines Lumber company is today.
However, the diesels came along and changed everything. Once the
commuter service was dieselized, all train went onto Aurora and the
D.G. was closed as far as commuter service was concerned. Over time the
yard trackage was reduced, but at least two tracks in the upper level
still exist. In its active days, the switch for the westbound lead to
the yard was located just west of the Forest Ave. signal bridge. That
was shortened back to the eastbound lead switch after the commuter
trains stopped using the D.G. yard.
From an operational standpoint, there was a locomotive hostler that
tended the locomotives over night. Early in the morning, they would
start building up steam for the first runs (there were at least 5-8
locomotives around every night. Trains originating from DG, would
depart from the depot about 10 - 15 minutes prior to schedule. They
would cross over the three track main line ( there was a manned tower
near the eastbound yard switch, the lower part of which remains today)
and then wait at the station (which is still used today) until
departure time. There was a track around the south side of the depot
which, I have been told, was also used as a commuter train staging
track, but I never saw that. Inbound trains would come in on the north
main and go directly to the yard after discharging passengers. In
April, 1947, the eastbound Twin Cities Zephyr struck a farm tractor
that had fallen off a flat car on a westbound freight that had just
gone by. It derailed, the locomotive (an E-5) laid over on it's side
and the articulated train sideswiped the north face and west platform
of the depot. That night, a single O-5 4-8-4 brought all of the evening
eastbound passenger trains that had been held at Aurora, carefully by
the depot using the south side staging track.
If you go to the BRHS website (www.burlingtonroute.com), I have two of
my dad's photos posted that were taken in the yard around 1940. One
shows a pacific on the turntable lead with the water tank in the
background. The other shows a line up of trains and locomotive and is
looking westward. The photos are in the public photo gallery under
locomotives on screen #6. Hope this helps. BTW, several of us are
looking for a track layout of the D.G. trackage including the yard.
I don't know if this is what you were looking for. I hope it helps.
Bill Barber
On Friday, April 8, 2005, at 08:36 AM, CBQ@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 10:52:35 EDT
> From: cbqfeeney@aol.com
> Subject: Downers Grove
>
>
> Greetings,
>
> I am interested in the yard, west of the Main St. station, in Downers
> Grove,
> IL. It is my understanding that many of the dinkies terminated here
> and were
> rearranged/configured for the morning commuters. Would anyone have
> information (to include photos, operations, facilities, drawings,
> etc.)? Feel free to
> contact me directly >cbqfeeney@aol.com<.
>
> Greatly appreciated,
> Tom Feeney
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