Illinois Central Story

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I recently signed up for this forum and have been amazed at the knowledge and history that you can learn here. I would like to relate a story from my childhood railroad life if it’s ok.

I grew up about 500 feet from the Illinois Central Main Line in Riverdale, Illinois. My Father was an Engineer for the IC and when we were kids he told us if we ever got caught up on the tracks he would be fired. (Yes, it worked for a while) When I was a teenager the trestle over the Little Calumet River made for a great short cut to my High School in Harvey. One day when I was about to cross the trestle I saw a train coming at me with a familiar silhouette in the cab. I couldn’t let him see me so I decided to take the route under the tracks using the girders to cross the trestle as I didn’t want to be late for football practice. While crossing, I could see through the ties above that I was right, it was my Father in the cab. I didn’t wave, but I also didn’t get caught, so my Dad got to keep his job.

Proud son of an Engineer

Mike Redican

2

Great story! Did you ever relate the story to your dad?

3

Yes I did, After he retired we had a weekly card game at his house. He took our money and we drank his beer. He ended up ahead and many stories were told.

4

That’s a great story! I hope you find a way to get it into a film or play. It sure knocks the trestle scene from “STAND BY ME” on its a$$.

PS: [#welcome] [#welcome] [#welcome] !

5

Mike,

I grew up in Homewood about 500 ft from the lead tracks at the south end of Markham Yard. Like you I attended TTHS but didn’t walk the tracks from Homewood to Harvey. I rode the old green IC MU cars with the wicker seats.

Mark

6

Mark

My Father worked for a long time out of Markham Yards, and now my neice works there. Back when it was allowed, we would go to work with my Dad. I still tell people that I got to run the train from Hazelcrest all the way to Homewood, leaving out of the story, the actual distance of about a mile (no turns).

7

[#welcome]