Midwestern where is it

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

This midwestern town was once served by 5 railroads, it is now down to 3. Only 1 of the three left have not changed names in the last 15 years.

2 of the railroads had very good passenger service to the big city not that far away, one took you to its very own passenger station in the big city, the other to a station where all was well.

One of the railroads has a branch that leaves the mainline at this town, the branches main cargo was at one time named after one of the things that Las Vegas is famous for, but has since changed to the size of a bullet.

Bert

2

I think I know.

Important number today: 30

Does George Washington still work here? Or did he retire?

3

Would it be Aurora, Il?

ed

4

I’m thinking a little north and east of there, at the other end of a CB&Q branch.

The town’s original claim to fame no longer exists, but they celebrate Railroad Days every year.

Town is also the source of a lot of “dirty dirt”.

All of these are true only if my guess is anywhere near accurate.

How about it?

5

Sounds to me like you have it. Wow I thought this would go on at least a couple of rounds.

Bert

6

I was trying to give it to somebody else. I can wait…

7

OK, then I will give another clue.

The town has a yard at one end of town, and part of the yard changed functions at the start of 2006.

Bert

8

Did it become an intermodal load/unload facility? (Sorry-don’t know the exact terminology)

9

You are close.

Bert

10

does elgin joliet eastern go there? joliet?

11

Since Bert knows that I know the answer, I’ll respond to these responses. No, the part of the yard wasn’t changed to an intermodal facility, though TTX cars would be very common there now.

Yes, EJ&E is one of the railroads, but no, it’s not Joliet.

12

Thanks for helping, I have been busy this weekend and not able to get to a computer.

Bert

13

Another clue,

The town changed its name in 1896 to its current name.

14

I’m going to guess Rondout, IL, but only because I haven’t been able to verify any of the clues.

15

Turner Junction… er, West Chicago.

Home of the Thorium Fiasco.

16

Yep.

The junction for which it was named is no longer there, as the BNSF line stops short of the EJ&E now.

I’ll bet the new junction (just north of the diamonds) is busier, though!

17

The CB&Q stopped using Turner Junction with any regularity in the late 1860s when it constructed the “Racetrack.” Some of the rails are still there between the junction and General Mills, now the north end of track. The diamond has been removed. The EJ&E told BNSF it had to pay for the maintenance of said diamond, so it went bye-bye.

I don’t know if there was a tower where the CB&Q tied into the at-that-time Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. Anyone?

18

I believe I’ve heard references to NI Tower there. That’s one control point that UP did a good job of renaming: from NI Interlocking to Turner!

The last physical connection I remember there was a sort of switchback affair–the CNW switch faced their yard, and it was actually closer to the J crossing than it was to NI.

19

Good job PZ!!!

And Carl, thanks for looking out while I was away.

Bert