PRR Chicago - 1957

[richhotrain]

That mammoth structure is actually the Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Terminal which was located at 323 W. Polk Street. It was built over a 4-year period from 1915 to 1918. 

Overall, the building contained 1.5 million square feet of space on five levels, making it one of the largest buildings in the world at the time. Typical of Chicago architecture, it was ignored for years after being taken out of service and then finally demolished in 1979 instead of getting the landmark status that it deserved.

Incidentally, Chicago Union Station which opened in 1925 is still standing and operating as a passenger train station and sits a few blocks northwest of the site of the former Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Terminal.

Rich

 

[Rook2324]

Thanks for letting us look at a great shot. I have always enjoyed looking at the area around Union Station in the 50s and 60s

[oldline1]

Roger, 

Thanks for sharing that great shot. Something just glorious about Tuscan Red and gold stripes! I grew up in Baltimore and most of my Pennsy experience was G-motors and E44's. The only E-units and TR stuff was on the NC in and out of Baltimore and around Cockeysville. They used to really roll through there! The first Pennsy E-8A units I saw were in Cockeysville just at dusk one evening. The engine room lights were on in the 2nd unit and I saw the fireman back in there working on an engine or something as they hauled toward Baltimore. Very cool!

oldline1

[rogerhensley]

PRR Chicago - 1957
This is a great view of Chicago's Union Station in 1957. Here we see PRR EP20s pulling passenger consists on a bright, warm June day. This photo was taken by David Sweetland.