Everyone intersted in how frieght was handled in the tranition era needs to watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcqQUsZiksU
We see cars being humped at Proviso; the handling of LCL freight in a gigantic freight house; the icing of refers (including packing produce with a “snow blanket”); the operations of a produce yard; and the handling of livestock at a feedlot and the Union stockyards.
(Edit note: updated video URL.)