Leo’s identification of the Castle Graphics shot west of Lisle at St. Procopius’ coal plant siding brings to mind a long term research alert (?) project for you Q Historians……
Over the years there were several significant sidetracks off of the mainline that are not generally known as they often were gone long ago and they were apparently not significant enough to have survived in any company records. Old track diagram books probably showed them but I’ve never seen any really old ones and they probably went up in smoke in the General Headquarters Fire.
For example:
Ashland Avenue line to the racetrack that eventually moved to Harlem Avenue & 16th Street
Was the “Chicago & Northwestern Cut-Off” that shows up on some published maps running from the C&NW West Line connecting down to the CB&Q mainline ever built (pre-BRC but on the same approximate alignment)
Line from Morton Park / Hawthorne to Grant Works (c.1890)
Siding down to industries on north side of tracks at West Grossdale / Congress and on south side line down to quarries at Lyons / McCook also prior to IHB and predecessors (pre-1890)
St. Procopius Coal Plant Siding
Extent of CB&Q tracks to Chicago Union Stock Yards and predecessor yards and Lumber District
On a related issue…..did the Lyons Belt ever connect to the CB&Q at Hollywood/East Grossdale?
Purpose of and details of operation of isolated Burlington South Chicago Terminal Railroad Company.
Charlie Vlk