Originally posted by thebreeze05 [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:27 PM My daughter had a grade-school tour cut short because of the flood--it took a while for them to discover what had happened, but it was sure interesting to watch footage of the river spiraling down an invisible drain! There have been a couple of books written about the Chicago Tunnel System--too bad that the infrastructure can't be used in some way today, other than fur running pipes and cables. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:30 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR My daughter had a grade-school tour cut short because of the flood--it took a while for them to discover what had happened, but it was sure interesting to watch footage of the river spiraling down an invisible drain! There have been a couple of books written about the Chicago Tunnel System--too bad that the infrastructure can't be used in some way today, other than fur running pipes and cables. ill keep looking for another site[8D] Reply Edit spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:32 PM Do you know if the company who owned it had a name that I can look up in the Official RR guide from 79?[:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by CShaveRR Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:43 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Do you know if the company who owned it had a name that I can look up in the Official RR guide from 79?[:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by CShaveRR [8D] dont think they mentioned one Reply Edit CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:50 PM The correct name of the Company was the Chicago Tunnel Transport Company. The last trains operated in 1959. A good book on the subject is Forty Feet Below, by Bruce Moffatt. I think he also wrote another book more recently, which might go into more detail. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:55 PM Well that is why it would not be in a book printed in 79. Thanks for the research. [:p][:)][:D] Originally posted by CShaveRR [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Soo2610 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: US 354 posts Posted by Soo2610 on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:59 PM The Illinois Railroad Museum acquired a locomotive and several cars from this railroad several years ago when Lake Shore Drive was rebuilt by the art institute. They were found parked in the tunnel where they were left when the railroad shut down. The musuem is in the process of restoring the equipment and plans to put it on display Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:01 PM Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Have fun with your trains Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:05 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Friday, April 8, 2005 2:42 PM The railway is not by any means intact anymore. The railway ran into the basements and sub basements of many high profile Chicago buisneses. When the Randolph building was torn down a few years ago access was easy to the tunnels and we found that the basements have been bricked shut. The ones that weren't blocked off suffered when the tunnels flooded . The story of the tunnels is a fasinating story of Chicago corruption and politics with the sole purpose of the railway to break the back and the strangle hold of the teamsters union on the city. Randy Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 3:32 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Have fun with your trains Reply martin.knoepfel Member sinceDecember 2003 400 posts Posted by martin.knoepfel on Friday, April 8, 2005 5:35 PM I wonder why it isn't possible to use the tunnels for passenger trains. rolling stock would have to be custom-built, with low-slung cars the same way as cars used in mines for bringing miners to their workplace Reply Wdlgln005 Member sinceApril 2002 From: Nashville TN 1,306 posts Posted by Wdlgln005 on Friday, April 8, 2005 8:31 PM The "railroad' would be too narrow for use as a modern passenger or freight railway. As far as I know, it had few connections to the outside world. It even predates the 2 CTA subway lines built in the 50's. There have been plans made to build a cross loop subway or surface transit system, but nothing has happened. Seems to me when the tunnels flodded, part of the subway lines also flooded, due to power routing & other utilities. You may find some excellent books rprinted about the time of the floods. Forty Feet Below by Bruce Moffat is the best. Glenn Woodle Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 10:28 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Hey vsmith-- Sure you're not just spending a year dead for tax purposes a la Hotblack Desiato????[xx(][xx(] Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 9, 2005 2:26 PM thanks for the web page link thats really COOL man[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D] Reply Edit CSSHEGEWISCH Member sinceMarch 2016 From: Burbank IL (near Clearing) 13,492 posts Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 11, 2005 8:02 AM The freight tunnels lost their reason for existence when trucking deliveries developed in the 1920's. The tunnel service continued as a way of delivering coal and removing ashes from buildings that still had coal-fired boilers. Some of the ash cars were left in the tunnels with loads of ashes when the system was abandoned in 1959. When the State Street and Dearborn Street subways were bored, they were at the same level as the freight tunnels and gutted the system since the freight tunnels lost access to the buildings that fronted on those streets. Also, the tunnels received some publicity when Geraldo Rivera was looking for Al Capone's vaults in the Lexington Hotel at Cermak Rd. and Michigan Ave. He described it as a "secret" railway system that came within a few blocks of the Lexington Hotel. The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 2:29 AM Further Trivia.... Part of "The Blues Brothers" was filmed in the tunnels. The scene where Carrie Fisher is threatening Belushi with the M-16 was shot there. You can see the rails in the floor behind both Akroyd and Belushi in parts of the scene. Reply Edit Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR My daughter had a grade-school tour cut short because of the flood--it took a while for them to discover what had happened, but it was sure interesting to watch footage of the river spiraling down an invisible drain! There have been a couple of books written about the Chicago Tunnel System--too bad that the infrastructure can't be used in some way today, other than fur running pipes and cables.
Originally posted by CShaveRR Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:43 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Do you know if the company who owned it had a name that I can look up in the Official RR guide from 79?[:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by CShaveRR [8D] dont think they mentioned one Reply Edit CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:50 PM The correct name of the Company was the Chicago Tunnel Transport Company. The last trains operated in 1959. A good book on the subject is Forty Feet Below, by Bruce Moffatt. I think he also wrote another book more recently, which might go into more detail. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:55 PM Well that is why it would not be in a book printed in 79. Thanks for the research. [:p][:)][:D] Originally posted by CShaveRR [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Soo2610 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: US 354 posts Posted by Soo2610 on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:59 PM The Illinois Railroad Museum acquired a locomotive and several cars from this railroad several years ago when Lake Shore Drive was rebuilt by the art institute. They were found parked in the tunnel where they were left when the railroad shut down. The musuem is in the process of restoring the equipment and plans to put it on display Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:01 PM Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Have fun with your trains Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:05 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Friday, April 8, 2005 2:42 PM The railway is not by any means intact anymore. The railway ran into the basements and sub basements of many high profile Chicago buisneses. When the Randolph building was torn down a few years ago access was easy to the tunnels and we found that the basements have been bricked shut. The ones that weren't blocked off suffered when the tunnels flooded . The story of the tunnels is a fasinating story of Chicago corruption and politics with the sole purpose of the railway to break the back and the strangle hold of the teamsters union on the city. Randy Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 3:32 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Have fun with your trains Reply martin.knoepfel Member sinceDecember 2003 400 posts Posted by martin.knoepfel on Friday, April 8, 2005 5:35 PM I wonder why it isn't possible to use the tunnels for passenger trains. rolling stock would have to be custom-built, with low-slung cars the same way as cars used in mines for bringing miners to their workplace Reply Wdlgln005 Member sinceApril 2002 From: Nashville TN 1,306 posts Posted by Wdlgln005 on Friday, April 8, 2005 8:31 PM The "railroad' would be too narrow for use as a modern passenger or freight railway. As far as I know, it had few connections to the outside world. It even predates the 2 CTA subway lines built in the 50's. There have been plans made to build a cross loop subway or surface transit system, but nothing has happened. Seems to me when the tunnels flodded, part of the subway lines also flooded, due to power routing & other utilities. You may find some excellent books rprinted about the time of the floods. Forty Feet Below by Bruce Moffat is the best. Glenn Woodle Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 10:28 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Hey vsmith-- Sure you're not just spending a year dead for tax purposes a la Hotblack Desiato????[xx(][xx(] Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 9, 2005 2:26 PM thanks for the web page link thats really COOL man[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D] Reply Edit CSSHEGEWISCH Member sinceMarch 2016 From: Burbank IL (near Clearing) 13,492 posts Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 11, 2005 8:02 AM The freight tunnels lost their reason for existence when trucking deliveries developed in the 1920's. The tunnel service continued as a way of delivering coal and removing ashes from buildings that still had coal-fired boilers. Some of the ash cars were left in the tunnels with loads of ashes when the system was abandoned in 1959. When the State Street and Dearborn Street subways were bored, they were at the same level as the freight tunnels and gutted the system since the freight tunnels lost access to the buildings that fronted on those streets. Also, the tunnels received some publicity when Geraldo Rivera was looking for Al Capone's vaults in the Lexington Hotel at Cermak Rd. and Michigan Ave. He described it as a "secret" railway system that came within a few blocks of the Lexington Hotel. The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 2:29 AM Further Trivia.... Part of "The Blues Brothers" was filmed in the tunnels. The scene where Carrie Fisher is threatening Belushi with the M-16 was shot there. You can see the rails in the floor behind both Akroyd and Belushi in parts of the scene. Reply Edit Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Do you know if the company who owned it had a name that I can look up in the Official RR guide from 79?[:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by CShaveRR [8D] dont think they mentioned one Reply Edit CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:50 PM The correct name of the Company was the Chicago Tunnel Transport Company. The last trains operated in 1959. A good book on the subject is Forty Feet Below, by Bruce Moffatt. I think he also wrote another book more recently, which might go into more detail. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:55 PM Well that is why it would not be in a book printed in 79. Thanks for the research. [:p][:)][:D] Originally posted by CShaveRR [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Soo2610 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: US 354 posts Posted by Soo2610 on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:59 PM The Illinois Railroad Museum acquired a locomotive and several cars from this railroad several years ago when Lake Shore Drive was rebuilt by the art institute. They were found parked in the tunnel where they were left when the railroad shut down. The musuem is in the process of restoring the equipment and plans to put it on display Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:01 PM Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Have fun with your trains Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:05 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Friday, April 8, 2005 2:42 PM The railway is not by any means intact anymore. The railway ran into the basements and sub basements of many high profile Chicago buisneses. When the Randolph building was torn down a few years ago access was easy to the tunnels and we found that the basements have been bricked shut. The ones that weren't blocked off suffered when the tunnels flooded . The story of the tunnels is a fasinating story of Chicago corruption and politics with the sole purpose of the railway to break the back and the strangle hold of the teamsters union on the city. Randy Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 3:32 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Have fun with your trains Reply martin.knoepfel Member sinceDecember 2003 400 posts Posted by martin.knoepfel on Friday, April 8, 2005 5:35 PM I wonder why it isn't possible to use the tunnels for passenger trains. rolling stock would have to be custom-built, with low-slung cars the same way as cars used in mines for bringing miners to their workplace Reply Wdlgln005 Member sinceApril 2002 From: Nashville TN 1,306 posts Posted by Wdlgln005 on Friday, April 8, 2005 8:31 PM The "railroad' would be too narrow for use as a modern passenger or freight railway. As far as I know, it had few connections to the outside world. It even predates the 2 CTA subway lines built in the 50's. There have been plans made to build a cross loop subway or surface transit system, but nothing has happened. Seems to me when the tunnels flodded, part of the subway lines also flooded, due to power routing & other utilities. You may find some excellent books rprinted about the time of the floods. Forty Feet Below by Bruce Moffat is the best. Glenn Woodle Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 10:28 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Hey vsmith-- Sure you're not just spending a year dead for tax purposes a la Hotblack Desiato????[xx(][xx(] Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 9, 2005 2:26 PM thanks for the web page link thats really COOL man[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D] Reply Edit CSSHEGEWISCH Member sinceMarch 2016 From: Burbank IL (near Clearing) 13,492 posts Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 11, 2005 8:02 AM The freight tunnels lost their reason for existence when trucking deliveries developed in the 1920's. The tunnel service continued as a way of delivering coal and removing ashes from buildings that still had coal-fired boilers. Some of the ash cars were left in the tunnels with loads of ashes when the system was abandoned in 1959. When the State Street and Dearborn Street subways were bored, they were at the same level as the freight tunnels and gutted the system since the freight tunnels lost access to the buildings that fronted on those streets. Also, the tunnels received some publicity when Geraldo Rivera was looking for Al Capone's vaults in the Lexington Hotel at Cermak Rd. and Michigan Ave. He described it as a "secret" railway system that came within a few blocks of the Lexington Hotel. The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 2:29 AM Further Trivia.... Part of "The Blues Brothers" was filmed in the tunnels. The scene where Carrie Fisher is threatening Belushi with the M-16 was shot there. You can see the rails in the floor behind both Akroyd and Belushi in parts of the scene. Reply Edit Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Originally posted by CShaveRR
Originally posted by CShaveRR [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Soo2610 Member sinceJanuary 2001 From: US 354 posts Posted by Soo2610 on Friday, April 8, 2005 12:59 PM The Illinois Railroad Museum acquired a locomotive and several cars from this railroad several years ago when Lake Shore Drive was rebuilt by the art institute. They were found parked in the tunnel where they were left when the railroad shut down. The musuem is in the process of restoring the equipment and plans to put it on display Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:01 PM Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Have fun with your trains Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Friday, April 8, 2005 1:05 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe Reply Randy Stahl Member sinceJune 2004 From: roundhouse 2,747 posts Posted by Randy Stahl on Friday, April 8, 2005 2:42 PM The railway is not by any means intact anymore. The railway ran into the basements and sub basements of many high profile Chicago buisneses. When the Randolph building was torn down a few years ago access was easy to the tunnels and we found that the basements have been bricked shut. The ones that weren't blocked off suffered when the tunnels flooded . The story of the tunnels is a fasinating story of Chicago corruption and politics with the sole purpose of the railway to break the back and the strangle hold of the teamsters union on the city. Randy Reply vsmith Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Smoggy L.A. 10,743 posts Posted by vsmith on Friday, April 8, 2005 3:32 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Have fun with your trains Reply martin.knoepfel Member sinceDecember 2003 400 posts Posted by martin.knoepfel on Friday, April 8, 2005 5:35 PM I wonder why it isn't possible to use the tunnels for passenger trains. rolling stock would have to be custom-built, with low-slung cars the same way as cars used in mines for bringing miners to their workplace Reply Wdlgln005 Member sinceApril 2002 From: Nashville TN 1,306 posts Posted by Wdlgln005 on Friday, April 8, 2005 8:31 PM The "railroad' would be too narrow for use as a modern passenger or freight railway. As far as I know, it had few connections to the outside world. It even predates the 2 CTA subway lines built in the 50's. There have been plans made to build a cross loop subway or surface transit system, but nothing has happened. Seems to me when the tunnels flodded, part of the subway lines also flooded, due to power routing & other utilities. You may find some excellent books rprinted about the time of the floods. Forty Feet Below by Bruce Moffat is the best. Glenn Woodle Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 10:28 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)] Hey vsmith-- Sure you're not just spending a year dead for tax purposes a la Hotblack Desiato????[xx(][xx(] Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 9, 2005 2:26 PM thanks for the web page link thats really COOL man[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D][8D] Reply Edit CSSHEGEWISCH Member sinceMarch 2016 From: Burbank IL (near Clearing) 13,492 posts Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, April 11, 2005 8:02 AM The freight tunnels lost their reason for existence when trucking deliveries developed in the 1920's. The tunnel service continued as a way of delivering coal and removing ashes from buildings that still had coal-fired boilers. Some of the ash cars were left in the tunnels with loads of ashes when the system was abandoned in 1959. When the State Street and Dearborn Street subways were bored, they were at the same level as the freight tunnels and gutted the system since the freight tunnels lost access to the buildings that fronted on those streets. Also, the tunnels received some publicity when Geraldo Rivera was looking for Al Capone's vaults in the Lexington Hotel at Cermak Rd. and Michigan Ave. He described it as a "secret" railway system that came within a few blocks of the Lexington Hotel. The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 2:29 AM Further Trivia.... Part of "The Blues Brothers" was filmed in the tunnels. The scene where Carrie Fisher is threatening Belushi with the M-16 was shot there. You can see the rails in the floor behind both Akroyd and Belushi in parts of the scene. Reply Edit Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. 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QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith Heres a webpage devoted to the subject and there is a book out on it too... http://users.ameritech.net/chicagotunnel/tunnel1.html Vsmith, I know this sounds wierd, but I am so glad to hear you are alive. Two months ago I noticed an obituary in Trains Magazine for a railroad enthusiast Victor Smith (or something like that). I thought it was you and was really bumbed out. Umm . . . Glad to see you are alive. Keep up the good work . . . . Gabe "The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated..." Mark Twainn[:0] "I am dead, I just haven't stopped moving yet..." Zaphod Beeblebrox THHGTTG[;)]
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