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Am I correct in thinking that while the fourth track was added on
the south, it was the north one that was removed a few years
later? As evidence, I point not only to the present day access
road on the north side, but also to the fact that until 1980 the
Naperville station had two island platforms. When I was growing up
in the 1970s, Main 1 was on the south side of the north platform
and the track on the north side of it was part of the complex of
sidings for Kroehler, but it makes sense that it would once have
been the fourth (or rather first) main.
Re: the signal bridge, I would point out that the present day
signal bridge (which I know was replaced just a few years ago, but
in the same place as the previous one) is just east of the defect
detector, which calls itself MP 27.1, so the signal is probably
27.04.
--
David Streeter
Naperville, IL
On 12/11/2020 2:13 AM, zephyr98072
wrote:
Bill and others:
I believe the first photo is the signal bridge at MP 27.04. The
photo is looking eastward and the 4th track built is on the
right. This bridge was constructed here in 1913 as a three
track bridge. If you expand the photo, you can see that it now
depicts a three track bridge with a 14' extension on the right
(south). The gusset plate extending slightly below the truss
under the '2nd from the right' signal target was for the
original diagonal brace between the truss and the tower in its
original location. The plans for adding the 14' extensions
called for this gusset to be removed, but few if any were,
making the 3 track bridges with extensions easily
distinguishable from 4 track bridges. The extensions also had a
slightly different lateral design from the original bridges.
Also look at the signal target on the extreme right. It is
identifiable as a 'tri-color' light signal with the green bulb
lit on the upper left. The bi-directional signals for the two
middle mains are also readily apparent.
Signal bridge 27.04 was re-spaced to MP 27.42 in the early 50's
as part of the project to install cab signals, but the original
solid north pedestal and the southerly two stem pedestal for the
1930 extension were still in place well after 2000.
Glen Haug
Leo,
In reference to your comments about the fourth
main and the proposed elevated track structure between
Chicago and Aurora, attached are two photos. The first shows
the fourth main between Lisle and Naperville. This is a John
W. Barriger photo taken on one of his several railroad
inspection trips. The second photo is an artist’s conception
of what the proposed elevated structure would have looked
like as it passed through Downers Grove. Both of these
photos are available in the members only Flickr gallery on
the BRHS website.
Bill Barber
Gravois Mills, MO
Re: Just
in passing ................
From: Leo Phillipp
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2020
04:51:55 PST
The fourth main was built
between Eola and Downers Grove in the late 20s(‘28 and
‘29) and was removed in ‘32 and ‘33 when the Great
Depression hit. Besides evidence in employee
timetables and track diagrams there is still one last
remnant at Downers Grove between Belmont and Main St.
on the north side where a track runs parallel to the
mains before swinging a bit northerly into what is
left of the Downers Grove yard.
That’s short stretch is the last
physical evidence of the fourth main. That is, other
than bridge abutments at Salt creek and the Du Page
river.
I do have a photo taken between
Lisle and Naperville depicting the existence of the
fourth in my collection. I think there’s a copy in the
members only photo section of the BRHS website.
The elevation plans were
resurrected after WWII in great detail(the BRHS
archives has a copy ). The railroad and most the
suburbs were anxious to proceed. But Berwyn and one
other town(which I can’t recall at this moment)
refused to agree and the plan died.
Leo Philipp
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