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Welcome to our Chicago Rail Fair WebSite
Here's a preview of some of the exciting projects we have put together for you: Our feature article is the Chicago Rail Fair: 1948-1949 See how the Milwaukee Railroad Magazine promotes the Rail Fair Some other articles you will enjoy are: Railroads and Rail Yards of Chicago Railroads from the Encyclopedia of Chicago 1942 Railroad Quiz North Shore WebSite Attractions at the Rail Fair Chicago Tunnel Railroad Historical Shortline Railroads of Chicagoland Our reference section |
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Several years ago I wrote a story on the major railroads of 1950 and what happened to them.
Now I am following up with a closer examination of the New York Central Railroad. This railroad only lasted until 1968 when it merged into Penn Central. But, what was the NY Central Railroad like in 1950? You will also be interested in "What if the Penn Central Merger Did Not Happen" |
In a recent National Railway Historical
Society Bulletin I read that at the time of the Chicago Rail Fair of 1948,
Chicago had 22 Class 1 railroads, 9 switching/terminal roads; 6 industrial
railroads and 3 suburban (interurban) roads. A lot of the information I had was
from 1964 plus a few other items so I tried to reconstruct what 1948 must have
included:
Notes: (a- on “Shortlines of Chicago Historical Society” web page
(b- per 1964 Janes
(c- per 1964 Official Guide (d-
per 1997 Moody’s |
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There are several good sources for more information on the Rail Fair: Yesteryear Depot has some great pictures. For those of you not familiar with railroading in Chicago, most track inside the City limits and some near in suburbs are elevated. The bridges (viaducts) over the streets are about 12 feet in Height. Current federal standard calls for 16 feet. So the viaducts, which are almost 100 years old are being replace and raised at the same time. Some viaducts are not being done because they are poured concrete. At Mayfair, where Montrose Ave ducks under the line, the solution was to lower the street about 2 feet. |
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| Railroads and Rail Yards of Chicago |
| Chicago's three major terminal roads are featured prominently at many of the junctions covered on this website. |
| Chicago rail news |
| Chicago rail news |
| South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Railway Company |
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| Railroads from the Encyclopedia of Chicago |
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Encyclopedia of Chicago has a big section on the railroads of Chicago.
Although barely visible in the Middle West, by the 1840s the Railway Age had already dawned. Public support contributed to making Chicago a railroad hub. Backing took the form of franchises, subscriptions to railroad securities, and grants of real estate for rights-of-way and facilities. Chicagoans saw their first iron horse in 1848. On October 10, 1848, a 2-4-0 type steam locomotive, appropriately named The Pioneer, began to pull cars laden with construction supplies and workers over the advancing line of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. Spearheaded by several Chicago businessmen , the company formed the core of that future corporate giant, the Chicago & North Western Railway System. Although the Galena & Chicago Union won the distinction of being the first railroad to turn a wheel in Chicago and Cook County, it soon lost its monopoly status. The Illinois Central (IC), the first recipient of a federal land grant, rapidly took shape in the early 1850s. In 1894, six major depots served Chicago. A process of replacement terminals continued throughout the era of heavy train travel. In 1924 the last major terminal to open was Union Station, located on Adams and Canal Streets. |
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There is a
"Snow Belt"
in New York State that runs above Syracuse and Utica.
It goes East from Oswego to at least Boonville. Here's the station at Boonville.
Find out more about Weather around the World Ominous Weather is about more than weather. Its about our environment. Its about our social issues that need to be surfaced if we want to save our environment. See Champions of our Environment like Al Gore SAS le Prince Albert II de Monaco John R. Stilgoe Ralph Nader. We have addressed several railroad-related projects that will conserve fuel and lessen pollution. Our Window on Europe spotlights projects that can help the rest of the World. We have other environmental sites on garbage trucks and Rapid response temporary shelters / portable housing. |
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The Global Highway: Interchange to Everywhere A portal to the World. The Global Highway leads everywhere! Follow it to wherever you might want to go. We have something for everyone! |
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| Milwaukee Railroad Magazine |
| The railroads that exhibited at the Rail Fair promoted it too! Here's what the Milwaukee did. |
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RailwayStation.com has provided a
1942 Quiz Book on Railroads and Railroading. Here's some interesting questions and answers: |
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What is meant by Class One, Class Two and Class Three railroads
and switching and terminal companies? For statistical purposes, railroads are divided into three classes, as follows: Class One railroads, each having operating revenues above $1,000,000 a year; Class Two railroads, each having operating revenues above $100,000 and not exceeding $1,000,000 a year; and Class Three railroads, each having operating revenues up to $100,000 a year. (Roman numerals-1, II and III-are usually used in designating them.) Switching and terminal companies include local switching railroads, industrial railroads, port railroads, stockyard railroads, bridge and ferry companies, union station companies and various other local railway companies not engaged in line-haul operations. |
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How many railway companies are in operation in the United States? On January 1, 1941, there were 137 Class 1; 182 Class II; 215 Class III line-haul railroads and 208 switching and terminal companies in operation in the United States - a total of 742 operating companies in the four groups. |
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| Chicago Northwestern Railroad Magazine |
| The Chicago Northwestern Railroad exhibited at the Rail Fair. Here's how they promoted it. |
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| Missouri Pacific Magazine at the time of the Rail Fair |
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| Union Pacific Big Boy at the Rail Fair |
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Narrow Gauge Deadwood Central at Rail Fair
This card is from my collection which I found in St Joseph, Michigan. |
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New York City World's Fair Railroad Building
No, they didn't have a rail fair, but the 1939 World's Fair had a Railroad Building |
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| Railroad Magazine cover showing Chicago Rail Fair |
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| Souvenir from the Continental Illinois Bank made for the Chicago Rail Fair |
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The Chicago Tunnel Company
60-mile, two-foot gauge electric railroad that operated 149 locomotives and over 3000 freight cars in small tunnels forty feet below the streets of downtown Chicago. |
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World's Fastest Locomotive at Rail Fair
This card is from my collection which I found in St Joseph, Michigan. |
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| Chessie Train at Rail Fair |
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Historical Shortline Railroads of Chicagoland
Shortlines of Chicago Historical Society Historical Shortline Railroads of Chicagoland Aurora Elgin & Fox River - Became part of RELIC (Fox Valley trolley museum) Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal - Merged into CSX Bridgeport & South Chicago - absorbed by Chicago Terminal Transfer Burlington South Chicago Terminal - Purchased by Chicago & Western Indiana Calumet Hammond & Southeastern - Absorbed by Chicago Short Line Calumet Western - Purchased by Chicago Rail Link Central Wisconsin - Operations taken over by Wisconsin & Calumet Chicago & Calumet River - industrial line - abandoned Chicago & Calumet Terminal - Merged into Chicago Terminal Transfer Chicago & Illinois Eastern - Proposed Chicago & Illinois Western - Merged into Illinois Central Chicago & Indiana - Went out of business Chicago & Waldheim - operated before 1880 Chicago & West Ridge - track taken over by C&NW Chicago & Western - (1880-1885) Chicago Attica & Southern - Abandoned Chicago Aurora & Elgin electric line - Abandoned Chicago Central & Pacific - Regional Line - Purchased by Illinois Central Chicago Central - Purchased by Chicago Terminal Transfer Chicago Freeport & St Paul - Proposed Chicago Hammond & Western - Merged into Chicago Junction Chicago Heights Terminal Transfer - Purchased by Missouri Pacific Chicago Junction - Purchased by Chicago River & Indiana Chicago Lake Geneva & Pacific - never built Chicago Lake Shore & Eastern - absorbed by Elgin Joliet & Eastern Chicago Madison & Northern - Merged into Illinois Central Chicago Madison & Northern - Operations taken over by Wisconsin & Southern Chicago Millington & Western (1870-1879) Narrow gauge (3 foot) Chicago Missouri & Western - Regional Line - Bankrupt - sold to Southern Pacific and Gateway Western Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee - electric line - abandoned Chicago Palatine & Wauconda - abandoned Chciago Produce Terminal Chicago River & Indiana - Merged into Conrail Chicago Short Line - Purchased by South Chicago & Indiana Harbor Chicago Terminal Transfer - Purchased by Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Chicago Terminal Co - Proposed Chicago Tunnel - Narrow gauge (2 foot) - abandoned Chicago Union Station - Purchased by Amtrak Chicago West Pullman & Southern - Merged into Chicago Rail Link Comrail International Industrial Line East Chicago Belt - became Indiana Harbor Belt Elgin Joliet & Western - Owned by Elgin Joliet & Eastern Elkhorn & Walworth - Operations taken over by Wisconsin & Calumet Erie Western - Operations taken over by Chicago & Indiana Freeport & El Paso - Proposed - Outlying Gateway Western - Regional Line - Purchased by Kansas City Southern Hammond Belt Line - (1910-1929) abandoned Hanover - Abandon - Outlying I & M Rail Link - Regional Line - Purchased by Iowa Chicago & Eastern Illinois & Rock River - Proposed - Outlying Illinois Midland - abandoned Illinois Northern - absorbed by AT&SF (BNSF) Illinois Railnet - sold to Illinois Railways Illinois Terminal - This was a proposed line that would have done the local switching on the lines of UP (ex-C&NW) and CPrail (ex-soo, ex-CMST&P) in Chicago. Not to be confused with the Illinois Terminal that was absorbed by the N&W Indian Hill & Iron Range - industrial line - abandoned Indiana Interstate Joliet & Valparaiso - Proposed Joliet Junction Operations discontinued 1997 - becoming bike trail Joliet Union Depot La Salle & Bureau County - Name changed to Chicago Rail Link Lyons Belt Line Midlothian & Blue Island - abandoned Morris Terminal Rwy - Owned / absorbed by CRI&P New Jersery Indiana & Illinois - Merged into Norfolk & Western - Outlying North Shore & Western - electric line - abandoned Palatine Lake Zurich & Wauconda - Reorganize as Chicago Palatine & Wauconda Plymouth Short Line Pullman - Purchased by Chicago Rock Island & Pacific SPCSL Corporation - Paper Road - owned by Southern Pacific- Merged into Union Pacific Tippecanoe Union Stock Yards & Transit - Part of Chicago Junction Wisconsin & Calumet - Purchased by Wisconsin & Southern Wisconsin Chicago Link Wholley owned subsidary of Wisconsin Central RR Wisconsin Central - Regional Line - Purchase by Canadian National |
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Old Railway Express Agency Booklet from Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition in 1933-1934
Find out more about the Railway Express Agency. |
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| State Line Interlocking | ||
| In its heyday, State Line was one of the most complex interlockings in the United States. It was on the Indiana-Illinois border at the gateway to Chicago. Read more about the many railroads that crossed here. |
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The "Chicago 1948 Rail Fair" was in the July 1998 BRIDGE LINE BULLETIN |
| Attractions at the Rail Fair |
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There were lots of attractions to see and souvenirs to buy!
You could get a replica to the 1869 Golden Spike. C&O Railroad exhibited "Train X" ( Robert Young's dream) while Electro-Motive Division of General Motors displayed the "Train of Tomorrow". New York Central displayed a 6000-class Niagara plus several modern cars. Historical equipment included the Stourbridge Lion, the Dewitt Clinton, Locomotive 999. |
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