Re: [CBQ] Old Aurora-Chicago Track Diagram Books

["qutlx1@aol.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

Ray,

If you can find a copy of Ed De Rouins' "Moving Mail and Express by Rail" on pg 50 there is a paragraph detailing REA operations on the Q suburban trains in the 50s. Based on that the last westbound dinky set out an REA car at Berwyn each morning around 1AM,usually a reefer.

It goes on to state that both the Berwyn and La Grange REA offices loaded a car,that was spotted at La Grange and picked up around 10PM by an eastbound dinky.

There was also a westbound working morning REA car with a messenger on a dinky and an eastbound one in the evening.

Leo

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 11, 2016, at 9:11 PM, Charlie Vlk cvlk@comcast.net [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Ray

I have several Sanborn maps that show at least one of the Spurs being discussed

Rupert has come up with notes from annual reports talking about monies expended for a fourth main between Hawthorne and Riverside.  I have never seen any evidence that it existed; although the north passing track extended as a stub a block or so short of Harlem Avenue and there was a stub spur used in later days for work train cars under the IC bridge stubbing short of Ridgeland. 

If there was a fourth track it had to be very short lived and before the 1880s.

I'll see what I can dig out on the Berwyn sidings tomorrow and send you a email directly

Charlie Vlk

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 11, 2016, at 8:21 PM, qutlx1@aol.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Ray,

I don't have anything showing the Spurs but do have info. On them. My knowledge comes from several sources: the Aurora trainmens local union files, first hand conversations with the " old heads", reading from various books and other sources on REA  in and around Chicago.

First I'll state that I'm not sure about the street names as I'm not familiar with Berwyns.

The spur off " the westbound main" which is track 1 that ran eastward about a block or so east of the depot was used to set out an REA car on an early westbound dinky. 

I suspect the spur that ran westward was used to set out an empty REA car to be picked up by an eastbound dinky after REA was done loading for the day.

The westbound set out was discussed on the 8:30 DH one morning in the 70s,when as we passed,I mentioned that it looked like there was a spur there at one time. I have train masters notices from the 40s and 50s detailing which jobs had REA cars in their trains and where they were to be set out.

Leo

On Apr 11, 2016, at 7:43 PM, Ray Bedard tczephyr@hotmail.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Leo, Steve and other:

I lived in Berwyn, actually born at MacNiel Hospital and left in 1974. I seam to remember that there were 2 spurs on the west bound track. One was pointed eastward at Oak Park Ave the other was pointed west at Grove. The Grorve spur was right across from the REA office and I believe that that spur was used solely by them. Don't know what the spur off Oak Park Ave was used for. When I went back to Berwyn years later, they were gone.

I have always thought about building a diorama of Berwyn with these spurs, but since I never had any photos, would either of you, Leo or Steve, have drawings that show these spurs? If you do, would it be possible to make copies and either email or mail them to me? I will gladly pay you for your time and costs.

Ray Bedard

San Jose CA

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To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
F rom: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:32:23 -0500
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Old Aurora-Chicago Track Diagram Books

Mine is 1959 so not much different than Steves

Leo

On Apr 11, 2016, at 3:15 PM, 'Charlie Vlk' cvlk@comcast.net [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

Does anyone have old Aurora-Chicago Track Diagram Books in their collection?

The only one I have is from the CD collection  that Steve Holding offered and they date from the mid-1960s.

Thanks,
Charlie Vlk

 

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Posted by: qutlx1@aol.com

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