Re: [CBQ] 1899 Track Elevation Western Ave to Cicero and Interlocking at California Avenue

[STEVEN HOLDING <sholding@sbcglobal.net>]

Glen
I too have been looking for info on the Q and Concrete.  As early as 1904 they built a concrete arch bridge over Indian Creek just east of Plano.  They experimented and were an early user of concrete to replace timber in trestles and bridges with at least three plants which did pre-cast parts for use(Montgomery, Hannibal and Havelock)  in the mid-50's only the plant at Havelock was being used as most of the parts were already in use and did not need a whole lot more
"A Treatise on Masonry Construction" by Ira Osborn Baker a prof at U of I first published in 1889 is a very indepth study on that subject complete with plans for forms for the Chicago Elevation work by most of the roads( one of those rare books you stumble over never realizing you can use )
It was a fascinating time period when all the work was done at company expense and by company men to get the project done.  After the forms were in and the concrete poured and cured a trestle was built down the center and trains of fill were run over them to fill in between the walls. 
A lot use to be in place and is today lost in history unless we preserve it.  Like the Aurora Elevation we wrote about in Bulletin 46 although the Sanborn maps of the era do show what is now there(double instead of the triple that was built)(( and the idea was to expand to 5 tracks wide))
Once I can get my library put together and some landscaping done all while trying to get a book finished up  I hope to get back to writing
Steve in SC 

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From: zephyr98072 <glenehaug@msn.com>
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, May 20, 2012 5:43:29 PM
Subject: [CBQ] 1899 Track Elevation Western Ave to Cicero and Interlocking at California Avenue

 

If you run across any information on the Chicago grade separations, particularly west of Western Avenue in 1899, I would be interested in seeing it, or learning the reference.

I am trying to learn more about the interlocking that was installed at California Avenue (in 1888), and whether it was in fact at California Avenue, or an old name for Kedzie Avenue interlocking.

In 1899, the employee timetables stop referencing the interlocking at California Avenue, and start referring to the interlocking at Kedzie Avenue. I suspect that these were actually two completely different interlockings, and the one at California Avenue was moved to Kedzie Avenue as part of the requirements of construction of the track elevation that took place between Western Avenue and Cicero. All of the bridges in this segment were constructed in 1899, so the track elevation had to be at the same time.

I suspect what happened is that it was deemed impractical to raise the grade at the interlocking and keep it in service. The interlocking was probably moved to Kedzie Avenue after the track elevation was completed, say from Marshall Avenue westerly, and then the California interlocking retired to complete the track elevation back toward Western Avenue.

I have asked Rupert Gamlenz to be on the lookout for any information that might be in old periodicals on this, but then I decided to post the question to the entire list, in the event that others doing articles about other subjects in the same area may have stumbled across any information on this subject.

Any information at all would be appreciated.

Glen Haug

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