1977 - A Teen Explores Chicago's Railroads

Before exploring the world, as a teen my travels were more local. Before having a drivers licence it was all only possible by other modes. This is a slideshow detailing how this was done. Photos by Steven Brown www.photosbystevenjbrown.com

[@jimmorelli2478]

Super-touching. The simple joys of being a kid in the 70s. I love it.

[@paulhare662]

A bicycle and a 9 volt transistor radio. Life was good.

[@conservative599]

@@paulhare662 True Dat. I still have my Radio Shack 9tr radio I modified to get Air Band, and made a bracket to fit on my bike where I used it a lot, listening to WABC, being a teen in NJ. Kudos to this great photo history and concise narration, from GA, CSX and NS Land!

[@Blixt1000]

This just shows how important, Catching the Moment really is.

[@mathuetax]

I love seeing shots from the 1970's, it was so gritty. I remember how the railroads looked in Minneapolis during this era.

[@glengebert]

Extremely well done! You took high-quality photos. The wealth of railway history you've presented here is nothing short of amazing. Give your younger self a big pat on the back.

[@randyoehling6010]

If it

[@ctatrains]

I'm 67 years old, always loved trains and have seen a bunch of assorted train videos but there's something about this video that is freakin cool! On second thought, EVERYTHING about this video is freakin cool!

[@snug-fibbage7441]

Me being born in 2004, I've only seen Metra and their f40ph's my entire life, these pictures really enlightened me as a railfan on how diverse Chicago's railroads used to be. your very lucky to have experienced this

[@Halofan830]

Fuck I’m old

[@jacksonk5326]

Oh man. As a current teen of the western suburbs of Chicago, It would be a dream come true to go back in time to see Chicago in the 70s. There was just so many different railroads with different liveries and even different locomotive liveries within the same railroad. All you see now is UP & BNSF with the occasional foreign power. On top of that, the muscle cars of the late 60s-mid 70s looked so awesome and the music was good too.

[@patrickrichardson1036]

As a professional voice over announcer and TV producer, I seldom pass out kudos for YT productions, but I am delighted to compliment you on an exceptional post here. As a railfan of over 60 years I am compelled to applaud your ""snags"" from those years. Absolutely wonderful in any number of capacities Steven.

[@stevenjbrown1697]

Thanks! High praise indeed considering I have no idea what I'm doing lol!

[@LSVIDEOSFIRE]

I just want to say this video is one of the best I have ever watched. Your knowledge, narration and photos was absoulelty incredible. Thanks for taking me back when things were much easier and bring back the old railroads and once again Thank you, you should be proud of this footage!!! Larry Smith

[@stevenjbrown1697]

Wow, thank you!

[@HenrikSweden1]

Ah love your photos. I just finished scanning my slides from Chicago in 1979. If i could go back in time. At that time you could go everywhere and lots of old equipment. And no grafitti. This is why i i am stuck in the 70s even in my Model railroad. Great show ! Thanks !

[@cehayes74]

Thanks for the memories, as a railroader I do appreciate all the rail fans (including myself) who have taken the time to preserve this ever changing industry !!! As a fan of the CRI&P, I never imagine when I younger that the line wasn’t gonna be around forever & I appreciate you capturing this history 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 !!!!

[@kirbyellis4337]

Man one thing I loved about the era was that there was so much difference in everything. Boxcars were adorned with HUGE logos of their home roads, Alco locomotives looked different the the General Electrics and so forth, Cabooses were a staple and common site, so many roads with different colors doing their own things often in the same towns and more importantly the crews and companies embraced rail fans. With no dash cams and GPS systems a rail fan could easily end up scoring a lucky ride in a remote yard doing switch work and kids could wait on the trains to tie down or sit in a yard where their crews would come and tell them all about the trains. So much has changed for the worst as far as getting to enjoy the trains on a spring or fall day compared to what it was.

[@Apocalypse_Cow]

DIFFERENT & BEAUTIFUL TIFUL. We need to come together over our differences, not oppose each other. ✌️🙂👍

[@MurakamiTenshi]

The algorithm brought me here, and I ws not disappointed. This is fascinating ☺

[@michaelsmith9034]

I lived in Dolton for my entire childhood. It was possible to get stuck by the same train twice, at two different crossings if you can believe that. Trains were part of life. My dad was an engineer for the Pennsylvania, Penn Central and Conrail. He was their last steam engineer. You’ll never see more trains in your life living on the south side of the city. Great video.

[@simonmoore748]

I don't often like photostreams on here but this is one of the best videos I have watched. A superb, informative story. I'm from England & I enjoy American railroads & this was a very enjoyable watch. I wish I had documented my railway experiences like this.

[@culcune]

I grew up off Lunt (Bell Ave) between Western and Ridge not too far from Evanston. We moved to L.A. in 1979, but all my relatives on my mother's side were in Chicago, and one of my aunt's moved to Skokie in 1989. They are still there, and I was lucky enough to visit this past late July to attend the final mass at the church we attended, St. Ignatius, which was on July 31 (the diocese has been closing churches down and consolidating the parishes). A few times, my sisters and I took the bus down Lunt to the L station at Morse and got off at Loyola where we attended St. Ignatius during the mid to late 70s. I recall fondly the Chicago and Northwestern double decker trains that ran along Ravenswood. My wife and I visited Chicago in 2002 with our then 2 year old son, and I rode on the Skokie Swift for the first time in my life (had seen it growing up but never rode it) to Howard to the Red Line to downtown. To this day, I have never ridden the commuter train (I believe it is called the Metra nowadays) although me and my two younger kids almost did this past July/August (my oldest couldn't get time off work). One thing I recall was a rail line that crossed Devon in, I am guessing Lincolnwood. I cannot remember if it was there in 2002, but I did notice the line is now long gone and replaced with a park along the right of way. I only lived in Chicago for 10 years (0 to 10 years old), but it STILL feels like home from the Northside where we lived to the suburbs where all my relatives and the family friends who lived in the condos off of Lunt now live. I recall most, if not all of the Chicago trains--thanks for the memories!

[@honeychops5918]

This is a criminally unknown locomotive masterpiece. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@toddtreaster1224]

AWESOME, just simply AWESOME. You done a great job with this.

[@mikebob4195]

What a priceless yet very nostalgic clip you've just shared with us.

[@josephmartino9958]

The tracks criss crossing Blue Island and surrounding areas with wayside equipment, bridges, CPL's, searchlights, semaphores, diamonds, culverts...marvels from the past, even to kids playing there in the '70s...!

[@k.p.schuster8498]

What a great way to remember your friend! 💕

[@MilePost106]

Those were the best years of railroading! I miss those days

[@jorgesabater8640]

Great! I lived in Chicago in the 70's where I was Consul General of Costa Rica. I did a lot of railfaning at the time. Love Chicago. Wonderful memories.

[@bigdmac33]

A priceless snapshot of another era.

[@panoramix3192]

Amazing stories. Nowadays kids have no idea. I'm a 1979 and I'm lucky to also have lived many many railroading adventures. Thank you sir :)

[@jamesthecatholic6339]

This video is so wonderful! It's perfect. You are so brilliant to have taken these priceless shots. Bravo!

[@davidgarrett9711]

I greatly enjoyed this wonderful history of Chicagoland railroads . Thank you.

[@silverado5469]

Great video. I live in Niles, Ohio and we had the Erie Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, B&O in Niles. I grew up with some great rail roads and modeled the EL. God, how I miss the EL I lived next to their main East -West Line. I could watch the EL from my house. Youngstown, had the repair station for the EL locomotives and my wife and I got a tour of the engine house. I miss all the older rail roads very much. Thanks. John. I am 67 years old.

[@davidw5266]

I normally do not care for videos which are comprised entirely of still photographs. However, the photographs in your presentation are excellent. Thank you for compiling this presentation and sharing it with us!

[@joeskubisz9436]

Very well done! I was at Navy boot camp Great Lakes in North Chicago in early 1976. Loved seeing the C&NW commuter trains powered by F-7s on the east side of the base while on the west side was the EJ&E which was extremely rare to spot . Did get to ride up to Kenosha on the C&NW once - a great memory!

[@spaceghost8995]

Yes! We sailors used to ride the Chicago North Western down to the old station on Monroe St. in Chicago! The conductors would order all of us onto the rear cars and the weed and the whiskey would flow openly. The RR didn't even bother to care. You can't do that now.

[@sideshowbob]

Good Stuff! Thanks! I was born in 1960, grew up poor in row house Philly, very much a Train Nerd / "Foamer" from the get go (figured out I have Asperger's Syndrome in 2005 - natch), used to take the Reading / Pennsy / Penn Central, then newly formed SEPTA commuter trains, & "El" / bus transit, first with my mom, & as I got older, on my own or with the few friends who would do such things. We'd ride to the ends of the lines at West Trenton, Norristown, Lansdale, & many others, & visit freight yards. I'd ride my bike to many of the railfanning hot spots on the northeast side of Philly near where I lived, such as the "Trenton By-Pass". As an older teen we'd get away to Wildwood NJ for decadent party weekends on the "Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line" which ran Budd single car units. Now only NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line remains. I took some primitive pictures with basically a toy Kodak camera, probably at my Dad's house, who I am sadly estranged from over politics now. Glad you are able to share your archives!

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

These pictures will be a part of Chicago" history in the years to come. At least the railroads as they were.

[@icindric]

Amazing pictures! Boy, the 70’s were full of grime, dust and grey.

[@AKawalski]

Oh my the joys and delights of your youth fill me with awe. Thanks so much for letting us in to your amazing world. 😮

[@stevenjbrown1697]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wazza33racer]

Chicago in 70'a sure does look grimy. Excellent time capsule of a time and place.

[@BOBXFILES2374a]

I lived in Chicagoland from 1976-80. I used to ride the C& NW from Wilmette toRavenswood stop, changing at C& NW Station downtown. Those yellow F-3 (?) Diesels were great! Thanks for posting the Evanston shot. C&NW Forever!!

[@aceadman]

This was extraordinary. Riveting beautiful work. THANK YOU for posting it. 😊👍👍

[@NYMR-Pacific-6323]

Im In Rodgers Park So All These Photo's Feel Like They Are Right There. A Few Of The CTA Heritage Units Come To The Howard Terminal A Block Away. It So Cool Seeing Those Compared To These Photo's

[@SebastianBaptisteHuydts]

What a wonderful time capsule. Thank you so much for creating this and sharing!

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

With the gumption of youth and incredible foresight, dedication to craft and history, your exquisite narrative producing a visual gem. Where have todays youth’ natural curiosities gone?

[@vanyac6448]

Parents and teachers don’t let their kids out anymore because in the 90’s, the media created a pedophile scare. So video games arose to take the place of going outside. This isn’t the case everywhere: in the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan, kids still go out on their own.

[@Hail2Pitt412]

Enjoyed the show Steve. The dedication and attention to detail you all had to have as a kid to get to places is nothing short of dedication and commendable. That era seemed so much more innocent to today’s scared of our own shadow society. Can you imagine doing half the stuff you were able to do without anyone thinking twice as a kid today? The show included a great variety of power and photos.

[@stevenjbrown1697]

I think it is a misconception to think that it was so innocent in the past. It was just as rough then as it is now. My opinion.

[@linesided]

So cool. Those small trips stitched together take us on a wonderful journey....

[@klbird]

Great Photos Steve: I lived in the area 1975 -2005. Was President of The Illinois Association of Railroad Passengers. Your photos brought back many memories.

[@ryandavis7593]

The shear amount of leaked oil on the ground is shocking. We have equipped every locomotive with oil retention tanks to prevent this at every railroad I have worked for. These tanks were often made of scrounged materials like damaged traction motor gear pans. They were ugly but did the job well. We now are diligently cleaning up any oil that is spilled. Back then they didn’t and it showed in your photos. I can’t imagine how much oil they tracked home? We in locomotive maintenance still track a lot home and our facilities are pristine compared to those. Excellent video. Greetings from the high plains of Texas. TXNW.

[@ambientstereorecordings3528]

When I was a kid, my dad had a drawer in the kitchen full of folded up maps, and I would frequently grab the 1967 copy of the Chicago city street map and take it to my bedroom to look at all the streets and railroad tracks, and I remember all of these companies.. EJ&E, RI, CRI&P, B&O, etc... but was sad to learn that by then (in the mid 80's), many of them were defunct or abandoned. I would have loved to have been 10 years older and gone to see all of these sights myself!

[@old_bear3546]

May you make many more videos of this high quality. Those who saw this video should consider themselves extremely fortunate. Thank you for the effort.

[@uk-martin4905]

That was fascinating! Well put together and with touches of humour too. Thoroughly enjoyable!

[@ronaldhodierne546]

Steven, I am enjoying your posts. I was raised in Evanston and became a serious railfan with the demise of the North Short in 1963. I and friends biked and walked along its old tracks (especially exploring the old shore line route), from the window of my high school I could watch the daily freight on the ;Weber line taking freight north to connect with the CNW main line; then when friends had drivers licenses we made our way into chicago and the south side, we traversed the South Shore in detail and many other spots inbetween. Unlike you, I did not have a good camera, and mostly took what were known as black and whites, so I greatly enjoy and appreciate your photos of the old stomping grounds. A friend and I watched the last Twin Cities 400 as it sped through Evanston on its way to ;Chicago; the parlor car on the Broadway Limited -- wow!

[@stevenjohnson7086]

I got to watch this again today. Never gets old! PB&J clumps… ha!

[@stevenjbrown1697]

Yum

[@elizabethstopard]

These photo's have really shown me what the 70's where like in america, before I even existed, I've only seen film representations of american railroads during that time period. And its suprising for how high quality some photos where considering it was the 70's, Good Job!

[@straightto8]

Great work Steve, always enjoy your presentations.

[@RandymanB]

This is awesome! I'm a few years older, by '77 I was driving but I was on the west coast, in LA, watching trains there in Pasadena, Taylor yard and downtown LA. Thanks for sharing!

[@noelhass3712]

A most enjoyable video! Probably one of my biggest regrets, that I never had a camera till much later in life! That same time (1977-1979) was time of great change on the railways in my home state of South Australia, would,ve been great to have had a camera back then...

[@deetjay1]

My Great Aunt lived in Blue Island...Saw many of the scenes you depict with all the times we visited...RIP Rock Island...1980...

[@jeremiahhamilton6840]

Around1980 I rode out to Geneva on Chicago + Northwestern from Wheaton green and gold what a beautiful train.

[@tvviewer4500]

Those photos are wild. Really great stuff. Shows how much hasn't changed.

[@squalli1297]

Loved the video! I lived in the L.A. area since the 50's, but would visit my Dad in Evanston every summer during the 60's who would let me catch commuter trains just for the fun of it. I wished I lived in the area since it was a hub for trains going in every direction. I used to hang out around Union Station in L.A. on weekends as a teen. Too bad I didn't own a camera until I was in my 30's.

[@romie1967]

Great, historic footage of some wonderful, long-gone railroads and liveries! Thanks for the memories!!

[@stuffandjunkanduhh5049]

Great photos great video! I was BORN in 77 its cool to see the railroad earth how it was back in the day

[@ianrx122]

So glad you took the time to grab photos of a rapidly changing scene. The maps showing the effort you had to put in to get around show how keen you were. We have a couple of guys here in my home state in Aus who did a similar thing and went out and photographed stuff before it disappeared. Thankfully for us they have shared it on their website's.

[@ncgreg231]

Links to those websites, please. Or another way to see those?

[@kh7cz]

Holy Crap, so in the 1970s I wasn't the only kid out photographing trains!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for a truly fabulous video. Glad you were able to see so much in that amazing era !

[@christophernoto]

Great stuff, Steven. Many thanks! I was born in Chicago in 1950, at Cicero and Armitage at the time. There was a trip to Colorado by rail when I was about 6. I remember shiny streamliner passenger cars, and the classic sea of grain by moonlight out on the plains, seen from a dome car. No photos, though. I'm glad you took yours, saved them, and made these very cool videos!

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Thanks for sharing. I was a college student in Chicago in the 70s and remember seeing some of these trains.

[@ChIGuY-town22_]

Grew up on NW side not far from your neck of the woods, hopped a few back in the 80's in DesPlains. The memories...Thanks for your hard work, and dedication.

[@danielparent9702]

Love this. I too was out photographing trains as a teen in 1977, but living in northern Vermont, all I ever got to see was Central Vermont geeps. Thanks for sharing!

[@boogeen1]

Excellent presentation of what to me is the most fascinating period in railroad and American history in general. I was 8 years old in '76 living in Toledo, Ohio and didn't realize how dismal things were until later in life. There's just something about the malaise era in the rustbelt that's very interesting. When you showed the housing projects in the background, I was imagining the Good Times sitcom from the same period. I look at the mid to late 70's as the transition from the old days to the modern days we know now. There was so much soon to be gone history to capture back then and you did so in spades. Subscribed!

[@mattberg916]

I've worked for the EJ&E, Chicago rail Link and briefly for the CN out of Markham. I've been alot of these places. The Rail Link in particular was quite an experience. The had Rock Island trackage rights so we went all over the place. A few old heads from the Rock were still there and a few from the BRC. Quite an interesting experience. We did contract switching for the UP at Canal St., IMX, and CSX Bedford Park with all the interchange moves that went with those yards. Saw a lot of really cool stuff!

[@georgelamore2140]

you brought back some good memories for me when i was a young buck and hired out on the rock island as a fireman in 1972..i retired in 2016 as the last rock is. trained engineer still working the rock island (metra now) district in chicago..

[@johnstudd4245]

You should be just about ready to hang up the spurs for good!

[@saltman9584]

I would love to see a second video of this. You did a great job explaining everything you did at that time and I found it very interesting!

[@stevenjbrown1697]

A sequel is in the works. Subscribe!

[@saltman9584]

@@stevenjbrown1697 have bin subscribed for a long time can't wait!

[@Reading3412Studios]

There’s something so soothing about these videos. The amount of nostalgia in the narration combined with the detail gives within said narration and the amount of railroads featured gives a feeling I can’t explain.

[@ProfessorPille]

One of my all-time favorite railroad videos

[@michaelbell6443]

This is awesome. The best thing I’ve seen all week.

[@copper7136]

This amazing how much you were able to document! I would kill to have gone back in time and do what you did! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

[@RobertLock1978]

My dad was born in Beverly and my mom raised in Park Ridge. If they had stayed in Chicago I would have been born there about the time you took these pictures. Dad was of course a rail-fan with tracks just a block away (Beverly Blvd). Thank you very much for sharing these pictures and your stories - sounds like you and your pals had a lot of fun B)

[@davidremy4470]

You got yourself a sub Steven, really great pics man, I enjoyed them. Im 56, born in 1964 , so I have fond memories of 1970's railroading. I grew up in Stamford Connecticut on the New Haven line and my dad was a cab driver, and the cab stand was at the train station. Needless to say I spent hours at the station watching trains go by. GG1's , the Amtrak Turbo train, assorted E and F unit EMD's, as well as tons of New Haven "washboard" MU's. It was a real schmorgesborg. Unfortunately I didnt take any pics so I just have the memories. Thanks for posting.

[@michaelperkins5858]

Fantastic pictures. You, your bike and your shoes did some travelling!

[@alex-pd9bb]

I could rewatch this video dozens of times

[@owenlaukkanen]

Absolutely priceless. Thank you for sharing.

[@Jerry-hp5sf]

Thanks for walking me down memory lane. I’m from Palos Heights and being a big rail fan (my Uncle was the official watch repairman for the Chicago & Northwestern and had a jewelry shop in their terminal downtown) I’d take the train from Blue Island to Downtown Chicago to play in the Chicago Youth Symphony and have rehearsals. This would have been 1977-1980.

[@furfman]

I was 7 in 77. Very lucky for a kid in central Maine. Thanks for these videos, the pictures take me back to a much better time.

[@josephagnello9335]

Thank you for providing us with your amazing video.During the mid 1960s in metro-Detroit , my best friend and I explored our Independence via our bikes and the DSR bus system .We had a tree house about 25 yards near the GRAND TRUNK railroad tracks in nearby city, Ferndale. I love your shots of early diesels --fs and alcos and the 1920s passenger cars. We loved the rails ever since we could breathe ; especially the Steam Locomotives.

[@philipashbourn1538]

Excellent photography. Even made diesels watchable. Sadly when I was in Chicago in the early 60s steam had gone but I did meet my fellow Brits, the Rolling Stones, strolling down the street.

[@owboky102050]

I was a conductor For the Indiana harbor belt From 71-74 At the blue island yd. Some of those locomotives we rode on were from 1949 and we still had fireman riding along. In 71 they were still iceing the box cars At the blue island yd. We would be doing a transfer from the blue island yd to the bar yd and we were run out of hours because they wouldn't let us through They would have to cab in a fresh crew in and send us back to the yd which was about 10 minutes

[@b3j8]

Loved this! I must've put a 1000 miles on my old Schwinn Varsity 10 speed trekking to different area railroads! You took great photos!

[@williamschlenger1518]

Great photos.Thanks for the memories.

[@LordCarpenter]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing these historical photos along with your memories of what must have been absolute fun times. :)

[@johnpaul2285]

Beautiful work Great history lesson Thank you Sir Trains have always been an amazing machine

[@nscalestation]

What great foresight you had as a young fellow to capture this history while it was still there. Very well done and I really enjoyed it.

[@Mrruneight]

Simply awesome! Like so many have said here, I love the Midwestern paint schemes. Went to Chicago for the first time last year (2019) and though I know it's way different now, I loved all the Railroad action. Your pictures tells me I'm going back to Chicagoland just as soon as this COVID thing is over. Thank You for sharing this.

[@j2themac778]

Great video. Enjoyed all the photo slides and narrative. The memorial to your friend at the end was a nice touch.

[@rjb5847]

I really enjoyed this video. I'm a retired railroader living near Toronto & I wish I had taken more film during my career. Two shots in particular were interesting for me. 1st, the child (you? ) on the carnival handcar ride reminded me of my youth. When I was about 5, I rode on one of those at a local fair & I think that's where my love of trains started too. 2nd, the Toronto streetcar photo was taken about a block from my late in laws home on Pape Ave in Toronto. Thanks for an enjoyable video, the 70s & 80s were my early career & the old equipment brings back many memories.

[@stevemehl469]

I too am originally from Skokie and I enjoyed the video. Well done! I now live in Baltimore and have enjoyed the great B&O Railroad Museum.

[@charlescorey184]

Loved the video. I grew up in St. Louis and was a big rail fan as a kid about the same time, when all the passenger trains were being discontinued. It was nice you documented the era of the changing railroads. Thanks.

[@rimodeler7963]

Hi Steven - This is a very well compiled slide show of your railfanning experiences in the Chicago area. Your photos are excellent quality and the narration is top notch. I really enjoyed this and thank you for sharing! Mike

[@CycolacFan]

Excellent photos and great commentary, really enjoyed that and learned a lot.

[@renegadetenor]

What an incredible year! (even if sad for the railroads). I had to stay on the North Side due to being only 9 yrs old. I too would ride my bike to Morton Grove and spend hours. For a while there was an old Milwaukee Road baggage car parked there. I'd wander as far north as Rondout. My house was very close to Techny, tower A20, which had a short platform that midday 'scoots' would stop at-- a single F and a single bilevel and/or former MILW intercity coach painted yellow.

[@tomy.1846]

Blue Island Crossing looks awesome! What an assortment to see! 😎😀

[@juliustoth1172]

Nice trip back in time. I grew up on the north side of Chicago and remember many of these trains.

[@ryangrimm9305]

Thanks for the video, I grew up in the poorer section of Sauganash (surrounded by freight tracks, we had to cross them every day going to/from school), and then at age ten moved to Niles. I spent what time I could exploring on my bike, and occasionally getting to ride the EL to Cubs games, and later in life both commuting and going into Skokie and Evanston, and lived near the Morse Ave. EL stop right on the waterfront, on a dead end street where the next stop was Lake Michigan.