Calling All Chicago And NorthWestern Fans!

[Anonymous]

Thats understandable daschilling, but why would the agent for the car be another railroad, especially a competitor like the Milwaukee?

[daschilling]

re: Does anyone know why C&NW had some auto parts box cars with full C&NW markings but had stenciling instructing the cars to be returned to an "agent".

CNW had serveral series of "Equipped" box cars assigned to automotive service. A number of these were assigned to the Chrysler plant at Belvidere Illinois, and the GM palnt at Janesville Wi. These would commonly interchange with the Milwaukee road, et. al. for shipments to other Chysler and GM plants. As these were specially equiped to handling particular auto components, CNW would especially want these cars returned promptly, and not held until a load to be delivered to CNW was contracted.

CNW obtained a fair number more of "equiped" cars from Rock Island when the Rock reached its end. See the Final Freight Car Roster book by Joe Pierson, published by CNWHS. Hope this helps... [:D]

[Anonymous]

Oh, man, I know what you mean. I wish I was carrying my camera around back in the 60's and 70's and shooting pics around Chicago...

Paul

QUOTE: Originally posted by raynbecky
I now wish I had rode the train less and taken more pic's.

[Anonymous]

The new Kato commuter cars a very nice. I have three of the Amtrak bilevels now. Easy to detail and the dry transfer car number are a great addition.
Now a new question. Does anyone know why C&NW had some auto parts box cars with full C&NW markings but had stenciling instructing the cars to be returned to an "agent". The agents I know of were the Milwaukee Road and the New York Central on 60' and 89' box cars. What was the purpose of this system?

[raynbecky]

Another die-hard C&NW fan here! I'm a native New Yorker, but moved to Chicago when I was 10. The first time I saw the C&NW bi-levels and elegant E's and F's I was hooked! My model railroad still features heavy passenger operations. I model 1982 so the RTA is there too but C&NW paint still rules the day on this line. I lived in Palatine and rode the train at least once a week during the summer months for at least 6 years. I was also fortunate to work right across the street from the mainline. Back then I didn't have much money so pictures were not an option for me. I now wish I had rode the train less and taken more pic's.

[ac4400fan]

By The way ,Anyone see Katos line of C&NW Commuter Trains on the back cover of July's ussue Of MRR ?? thinking getting some of those

carl.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that is what I remember reading too. Thanks much for the information.

Paul August

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw8835

Its working as far as I can see it. C&NWs predecesor layed a second track to the present City of Chicago limits in the 1850's. All of the stations had been built on the north side of the tracks to help keep the stations warmer in winter. The second track was built on the south side because of the station location. Inbound morning trains were then run on the north track so that passengers could remain inside the station in the winter until the train was almost right at the station.
European investors at the time would not risk their money in such an "uncivilized place"
Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Its working as far as I can see it. C&NWs predecesor layed a second track to the present City of Chicago limits in the 1850's. All of the stations had been built on the north side of the tracks to help keep the stations warmer in winter. The second track was built on the south side because of the station location. Inbound morning trains were then run on the north track so that passengers could remain inside the station in the winter until the train was almost right at the station.
European investors at the time would not risk their money in such an "uncivilized place"
Hope this helps

[Anonymous]

Your link is not working. Please elaborate on the reasons.

I always thought it was due to double tracking occurring after the depots were already in place...

Thanks,

Paul August

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw8835

I'm going to stop this before it starts all over again. We had this discussion for 2 weeks over on trains magazine forum a couple of months ago. Left hand running does not come from European investors. Heres the link, look in the second paragraph.

http://www.cnwhs.org/ch_cnw.htm

Long live C&NW

[Anonymous]

Here's a pic I took of a fairly unblemished Hopper I caught up in Chetek, WI on the Wisconsin Northern RR this past week. With the exception of the emblem being painted over, it looks to be in good shape 25 years after it's build date...



Paul August

[Anonymous]

I'm going to stop this before it starts all over again. We had this discussion for 2 weeks over on trains magazine forum a couple of months ago. Left hand running does not come from European investors. Heres the link, look in the second paragraph.

http://www.cnwhs.org/ch_cnw.htm

Long live C&NW

[daschilling]

I've been a member of the CNWHS for almost 15 years, and no one has ever come accross any official reason why CNW was left handed. The european influence has been mentioned, as well as the side of the track for "in-bound" commuters.

Running left hand allows the stations to be on the north side of the tracks to provide protection from winter weather for commuters wating to catch in-bound trains. Out bound passengers could de-train and immediately go to their cars. The fact is that nobody knows "the" real reason, and all quesses are equally right.

It is just another reason to enjoy CNWRR.

[Anonymous]

Since all my Locos have controll stands on the right i'm gonna run mine right handed. its to much work to change the postion of the controll stands. I'm not that expericed with detailing. I am starting a small N scale laoyut that is a freelance CNW line in Michigans Upper Penn. got my first ore car today.

[ac4400fan]

I Just stumbled on to something,I herd long ago that the C&NW was started by europeians,,And thats y The trains ran on the opposite sides of the tracks

carl....

[Anonymous]

Hello fellow CNW fan and welcome!

Paul

QUOTE: Originally posted by daschilling

Hey, this is great! I just stumbled on this thread, and love it! I grew up in Chicago, and when I was in grade school, I was a crossing guard at the Gladstone Park station on the Northwest line. I'm modeling CNW in S gauge, and have a 12' x 22' layout in progress. (It was highlighted in the Nov/Dec 2004 S Gaugian magazine.) I mainly have 1st generation diesels, and rolling stock of 60's era & earlier.

I now live in the heart of the "evil empire," Omaha, NE, (UP's home.) It does have the advantage of lots of friends who work for UP.

Love CNW & S gauge.

[daschilling]

Hey, this is great! I just stumbled on this thread, and love it! I grew up in Chicago, and when I was in grade school, I was a crossing guard at the Gladstone Park station on the Northwest line. I'm modeling CNW in S gauge, and have a 12' x 22' layout in progress. (It was highlighted in the Nov/Dec 2004 S Gaugian magazine.) I mainly have 1st generation diesels, and rolling stock of 60's era & earlier.

I now live in the heart of the "evil empire," Omaha, NE, (UP's home.) It does have the advantage of lots of friends who work for UP.

Love CNW & S gauge.

[Anonymous]

John,

You can find out some information about it by Googling PLZ&W. Here is a little:

http://www.eapl.org/localhistory/burgess/railroad.asp

The Lure of the Railroad

When Henry David Thoreau spoke of the railroad in 1854 he said, "We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us." Never were these words more true than in the creation of the Palatine, Lake Zurich and Wauconda railroad (PLZ&W).

The PLZ&W officially rode into Lake Zurich on August 25, 1912, the result of a dream of Robert D. Wynn, and Justin K. Orvis. The original plan was for an electric rail line spanning 75 miles of Lake and McHenry counties and connecting other commuter lines. The result was an 11 mile stretch of steam-run railroad from Palatine at the Chicago Northwestern station to the resorts in Lake Zurich and Bangs Lake in Wauconda. The Lake Zurich connection would help deliver mail between the communities and transfer freight to the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) freight line.

Railroads were important in the area because the countryside was dotted with newly forming communities with little connection to each other. Railroads provided access to the rest of the civilized world, and brought the rest of the world to the small community. The automobile was still a novelty during the early l900s, and railroads added a prestigious reputation to communities along the line.

Unfortunately, the PLZ&W, sometimes referred to as Old Maud after its most famous engine, suffered many setbacks from its conception. The initial problems of raising funds to operate continued to plague the line, and it passed in and out of receivership several times during its troubled existence, in part due to the lower economics of the communities it served.

Establishing the rail lines through the countryside was also a great challenge. Rights-of-way often required bargaining with landowners, and even organizations like the Lake Zurich Golf Course who established a graveyard on their property to "foil the vile machinations of a huge and heartless railroad corporation who, through the iniquitous law of the right of eminent domain had thought to seize this beautiful spot for its own fell purposes."

Other problems occurred due to the use of second-hand equipment. The PLZ&W was dubbed the Palatine, Lake Zurich and Walk railroad at one point, because the engines had trouble pulling the load if there were too many passengers while on a steep grade. The trestle in Lake Zurich built to cross the EJ&E tracks was one such spot. The riders would sometimes be forced to exit the train, walk across the trestle and then meet the train on the other side.

Mother Nature was also an important factor in the ultimate demise of the PLZ&W. Before the tracks were laid in Lake Zurich they had to be built around a stubborn sink hole. The Great Blizzard of 1918 left the 42" of snowfall in 10-20 foot drifts which halted the train's progress, literally. Local volunteer crews of 75- 1 00 men hand shoveled the snow to clear the tracks while local women provided hot coffee and chocolate for the tired workers.

In 1920, there was a tornado that swept through Lake County touching down in Wauconda and destroying the engine house. Known hereafter as the Palm Sunday tornado, its effects were crippling to the little railroad.

1924 saw the final run of the PLZ&W shortly after a cold spring and unsuccessful July 4th holiday turnout. The legacy left behind was the purchase of some of the land by the Lake Zurich Lions Club, who built Lions Park and Lions Drive along the railroad's right-of-way.

Richard Whitney, a Wauconda resident, researched the railroad for 30 years and wrote the book Old Maud, available through the Ela Historical Society. He passed on in 1994, shortly after completing his life's work.

(This is a must-have book - Paul)

The future may see the return of the passenger train to Lake Zurich along the EJ&E lines which form a large loop around the Chicago suburbs from Waukegan down to Gary, Indiana. This line formed in the late 1800s has been primarily used as a freight line, but connects to every major passenger line in the greater Chicago area. It's future as a commuter line, however, will depend on the support of the residents of Lake County, and their willingness to forgo the automobile.

Paul August

QUOTE: Originally posted by jaretos
... i would be inteested to know more about the PLZ&W. thanks for the info!

john

[Anonymous]

You are correct. I looked up in my PLZ&W book (Old Maud) and see that it was dismantled in 1929.

Paul

QUOTE: Originally posted by AltonFan
Actually, I don't think the PLZ&W made it to the depression...

[Anonymous]

i had a great Holiday. i got 25 bucks out of it! money for my CNW bi-level cab car.

[ac4400fan]

I hope everyone had a great holiday!!!!

carl...

[jaretos]

Paul:

sorry i was out the last few days, but I was unaware of the line you were talking about. I am 37 yrs old, so that was before my time. I used to take the old CNW into Chicago with my mother for lunch, etc when i was a child. I still occasionally use metra to get into the city, but my business forces me to be in my car more than i would like. i would be inteested to know more about the PLZ&W. thanks for the info!

john

[Anonymous]

I just got my new issue of NorthWestern Lines. Great pix lots of info. but the Riders Hobby shop in Lansing has closed[:(]

[WEUSANDCORR]

G'day all looking for any info or pics about Union on Rockford line. Regards Les

[ac4400fan]

As in downtown Elgin there is a couple od abandon lines ,no tracks but was C&NW,,Love To get some pics of those old spots

carl

[AltonFan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by paugust
Are you familiar with the Palatine, Lake Zurich & Wauconda? The PLZ&W met the C&NW at the Palatine Depot, and headed out thru Lake Zurich and ended at Wauconda. Died off in the Depression, but there is still a ROW in certain places.

There is a narrow street that starts at Miller Road in Lake Zurich, that ends at a Forest Preserve driveway. This road was part of the PLZ&W right of way.

I haven't been to Lake Zurich in about fifteen years, so I'm not sure how it is today. (There was a lot of construction out there in the mid-1980s, and it hasn't stopped.)

Actually, I don't think the PLZ&W made it to the depression...

[Anonymous]

ANy more CNW fans out there? anyone with any questions about CNW?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by paugust

Okay, here is a scan of the April 1981 cover of North Western Lines, which has been long out of print. It shows it as double tracked.

I didn't scan too well, but I can send you Xerox copies of the article, chock full of pictures, measurements, scale drawings, etc. email me your adress and I'll get them out to you next week some time.



Paul August

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNW Jay

I looked at those paugust. I need to see if its Double track. and i need a good picture of the whole bridge.

Thanks alot paul. i emailed you my address. those Pictures and drawings and stuff will really come in handy.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the Kate Shelly High Bridge at Boone: Paugust said, "I think it was double tracked, but I think they stopped running two trains at once over it after a while, if memory serves."

Yes and no... it is double-tracked, it DID have a "one train at a time" restriction...but the UP spent a bunch of bucks to reinforce key parts of it a few years ago, and it's back to "normal" traffic.

Hope this helps, stay safe...

CUFFEMTP

[Anonymous]

Okay, here is a scan of the April 1981 cover of North Western Lines, which has been long out of print. It shows it as double tracked.

I didn't scan too well, but I can send you Xerox copies of the article, chock full of pictures, measurements, scale drawings, etc. email me your adress and I'll get them out to you next week some time.



Paul August

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNW Jay

I looked at those paugust. I need to see if its Double track. and i need a good picture of the whole bridge.

[Anonymous]

May I suggest posting your question on the CNW Yahoo group?

I think it was double tracked, but I think they stopped running two trains at once over it after a while, if memory serves.

Paul

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNW Jay

I looked at those paugust. I need to see if its Double track. and i need a good picture of the whole bridge.