This is the one and only example of a Bobtail swing plate girder bridge in the world. It was included in an article about Chicago's movable bridges in Railroad Model Craftsman many years ago.
I went over this bridge numerous times mostly as a Soo Line, locomotive engineer. Once while working the "Bloomingdale job," I had a student engineer run through the switch short of the east end of the bridge bending the throw rod. The "old head" conductor on the job, John S. (aka "bulldog"), threw a fit upon seeing this. Thankfully, there was a track foreman present, and he laughed it off saying he'd fix it by the next day. No one got in any trouble as a result, but John made sure only I ran the engine for the rest of the shift!
Could make about 5 bad comments to this video, but it being the season, have A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! First time to watch this but stay safe! 👍👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
uhlijohn, Would you be able to help me identify a building circa 1930 which is right next to the Chicago & North Western rail line? I believe it might have been taken near North Ave and the river in Chicago. Thanks
@@MilwaukeeF40C I'm sure it's a possibility. Also, i found from one of my senior conductors that this short line has a few ex-up guys and it was started by them. I see one of those engines whenever i go to elk grove village to yard an inbound Wisconsin train.
Something to do with the rotation. Although both ends rotate 90, well 82.5 degrees, the far longer span needs the rails jacked, while the shorter end doesn't.
No. Chicago Terminal went out of business. Most of its customers either shut down or moved. The remainder like General Iron quit using rail. The City of Chicago filed an adverse abandonment against them. And their parent company. Iowa Pacific went bankrupt.
Throw in some MOW too. Must give the local union reps a coronary, aneurysm, and ulcers crossing that many trade boundaries...would hate to see the agreement to cover that position...and what happens when HE is on vacation, 3 people to fill in?
This is the one and only example of a Bobtail swing plate girder bridge in the world. It was included in an article about Chicago's movable bridges in Railroad Model Craftsman many years ago.
I went over this bridge numerous times mostly as a Soo Line, locomotive engineer. Once while working the "Bloomingdale job," I had a student engineer run through the switch short of the east end of the bridge bending the throw rod. The "old head" conductor on the job, John S. (aka "bulldog"), threw a fit upon seeing this. Thankfully, there was a track foreman present, and he laughed it off saying he'd fix it by the next day. No one got in any trouble as a result, but John made sure only I ran the engine for the rest of the shift!
Excellent video really enjoyed watching it thanks for sharing it with us thanks again and hope you have a great day
Thx for sharing, I was a bridge inspector in Chicago in the late 90 on the UP....
That was pretty cool. Thanks for sharing.
This is super cool! I have a feeling this will probably be some of the stuff I do when I start on the railroad.
Really cool. Great catch
Great video
awesome video never knew about the chicago terminal rr
Very cool! I would have loved to see the bobtail bridge at north avenue swing.
Awesome , Thanks
There is something very cool about this video
Glad you liked it.....
Could make about 5 bad comments to this video, but it being the season, have A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! First time to watch this but stay safe! 👍👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Ty
Bobtail Bridge . Nice Video
kennedy expressway in background location near cortland st
was this shot in 2013? The rail jack operation seems super sketchy.
What a job to have. Freeye in the winter. Roast in the summer.
But if he works for the railroad he's paid well. Union job with benefits and everything
hold up,,,was the bridgetender also the conductor? sheeeit thats a claim
Are you still in the area? Do you go on the tribune anymore, not out of north avenue, but out of proviso?
Kooks a bit shonky with that jack, block of wood, and crowbar operation! But how does he get across to the cabin in the first place?
Probably drives.
That is probably the most intelligent question I've read in a YT comment this year.
Nice!
I'd be afraid that rickedy little shed would fall into the river. It looks very old.
That’s referred to as ‘The old man’s bridge ‘.
Hey, who is the guys name who was controlling the bridge?
very cool! in the heyday of the MILW (?) did they have to jack the rails or was there machinery in place?
I do not know.....this was my first ride on the swing bridge.
There was an electric motor on the end that drove a geared mechanism to lift the rails.
that's it, this is the most ghetto railroad in chicago
uhlijohn, Would you be able to help me identify a building circa 1930 which is right next to the Chicago & North Western rail line? I believe it might have been taken near North Ave and the river in Chicago. Thanks
If I can...do you have a photo of it?
OK Denise...I just sent an e-mail to your denise.schodowski@yahoo.com address.
Does anyone know if this line is still in use?
Its last use was circa 2017.
That's good stuff.
Glad you liked it....
He's a CP Rail employee,i can tell by that vest. Trust me I'm a UP Conductor and our vests give us away too😂😂😂
Former CP line, maybe they're still moonlighting here. This railroad can't be their only job.
@@MilwaukeeF40C I'm sure it's a possibility. Also, i found from one of my senior conductors that this short line has a few ex-up guys and it was started by them. I see one of those engines whenever i go to elk grove village to yard an inbound Wisconsin train.
Do they still use it?
Yes, the rails lead to a scrapyard right next to it.
No it was abandoned 2 years ago anad the city plans on turning it into a rail trail
Why is that jacking process needed on only one end of the bridge?
Something to do with the rotation. Although both ends rotate 90, well 82.5 degrees, the far longer span needs the rails jacked, while the shorter end doesn't.
Someone really messed up the design,just sayin'
There's mechanized ways to handle all this, I don't think any investment is in this bridge's future.
are these rails still in use ?
No. Chicago Terminal went out of business. Most of its customers either shut down or moved. The remainder like General Iron quit using rail. The City of Chicago filed an adverse abandonment against them. And their parent company. Iowa Pacific went bankrupt.
):
So he's a Bridgetender AND a Brakeman?
Throw in some MOW too. Must give the local union reps a coronary, aneurysm, and ulcers crossing that many trade boundaries...would hate to see the agreement to cover that position...and what happens when HE is on vacation, 3 people to fill in?
@@timothybarney7257 Yeah when I saw that I was really surprised he was permitted to do all that stuff.
Do they call him a Bridgeman, or a Braketender ?
To bad General Iron Closed in 12/31/20 Now with Finkl steel sims metal mangement A Lakin&sons gone etc
Might want to throw some grease on that big gear ring. Just sayin'.
Good, rail buried in sand.
Needs 1000 cans of WD40
No. 2 grease would be better.
@@MilwaukeeF40C I think that actually might be fun to grease that bridge except maybe for the tight spots.
@@pdxrailtransit Go do it. I don't think anyone will say anything.
@@MilwaukeeF40C It is a bit far from me. Maybe will make it a point to visit the bridge next time I make it to Chicago.
@@pdxrailtransit Bring more than one tube of grease and be careful around the river.