How did trains get turned around to back into the Lasalle street station (Stub end station). I see photos of the NKP and NYC backing into the station, in addition to those famous shots of 20th Century departing to the south with downtown in the background.
Did arriving trains pull in engine first (northbound) and then after pax departed back out and turn around or did trains turn around at a wye and back into to Lasalle on arrival???
Thanks for any info!
Didn’t you start a similar thread on another forum?
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/207478.aspx
LaSalle Street Station did not use a wye to turn trains. They entered forward. Servicing was done south of the station in coach yards and engine servicing facilities. Then, passenger cars and locos backed into the station to load passengers and prepare for departure. The same was true for nearby Dearborn Station and Grand Central Station.
Rich
Yea, trying to see if the non modelers had any more info. Specifically does anyone know of a link or source of photos or track diagrams of the coach yards and freight yards adjacent to Lasalle Street station.
Thanks!
IN general, the turnables were used to turn single-end passenger equjipment, including obs and dining cars (as well as the locomotives). Other cars were not turned, just switched to the proper order. However, the CB&Q, PRR, and GM&O did use the wye south of Union Station to turn complete trains. I think IC had a wye wih the St. Charles Air Line that was used to turn complete trains at Central Station. Corrections may bein order and I;ll be glad to hear of any.
The St Charles Airline connection just to the south of Central Station was never a wye. Originally the connection turned to the north allowing direct movement of Iowa Division passenger and freight trains. Iowa division freight trains were made up in the yard to the north of Central station. With Amtrak, passenger service out of Central Station was ended. About the same time the St Charles connection to the north was abandoned and a new connection to the south was built. Freight trains to and from the Iowa Division were then made up in Markham Yard in the South suburbs. As I recall the north connection was torn out about the same time as Central Station was demolished.
Prior to all that, the IC had an engine service facility at 27th St, as I recall a roundhouse and turntable. The IC had a loop track down around 87th St., and it was used to turn passenger cars-including entire train sets that used round end observation cars.
This link is to an excellent power point showing the history of rail lines in Chicago. http://ctr.ra.utk.edu/LRRFT/cmte_activities/presentations/TRBAM07/TRBMYM%2007A-Blaszak.pdf
One page includes details of very old trackage to the south of the LaSalle Street and other stations on the south side of Downt