Recent Digital Photos
by Mike Condren

Why a commuter should use CTA. A view from the Kennedy "Parking Lot". CTA is moving, cars are not!

After dropping Matt, Virginia, and Jeremy at the Field Museum to see "King Tut", Jan, grandson Shawn, and I headed west to Riverside to watch trains. Here we see the water tower across the tracks from the station with its Christmas decorations.

Our first train was this inbound commuter train with cab car first , powered by Metra MP36 #404 pushing. The triple tracked "race track" was reasonably busy during the 1 hour of our visit. Two freights, one each way were not photographed while I made a potty stop at the Public Library across the park from the station.

Just inside the open-air waiting area of this former CB&Q station was this GM&O baggage wagon.

This image of the signal bridge west of the Riverside station shows a clear on the right track for the next west bound commuter train.

Looking east, we see the commuter train approaching on the far track with a westbound freight on the center track.

The Metra F59 #195 is slowing for the stop at Riverside with the freight visible in the distance.

Following the Metra down the center track is this freight led by NS SD70 #2725.

The last train that we saw was the westbound Amtrak #5 the "California Zephyr" at speed as it blows thru Riverside.

As we were leaving Madison to take the Reasons to catch the City of New Orleans in Chicago, I heard the local coming in from Praire du Chien. It was setting out its train at the siding alongside of Campus Drive before picking up empty coal hoppers at the "Heater", 12/22/06.

CB&Q #9900 Pioneer Zephyr on display at the entry to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, 12/22/06.

Here are some scenes around the Great Train Story layout at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.