Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
January 1943. "Nelson, Illinois. Chicago and North Western Railroad freight en route from Clinton, Iowa, to Chicago. Stopping for coal and water to give passenger trains the right of way." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size.
This train appears to be eastbound. The junction with the C&NW's "SI" Line is back where the signals are in the distance. Going east, the train would likely take the Nachusa Cutoff to avoid the fairly stiff eastbound grade through Dixon. Nelson tower would be to the right behind the locomotive.
If only we could go back to that. I can't tell you how many times I've been delayed on Amtrak outside the Northeast Corridor because the train had to yield right of way to a freight train.
I think the global temperature rose a degree while I looked at this image.
The powerhouse that America was during those war years.
A limited production run of O scale models of CNW Baldwin 4-8-4 3016 was released back in 2012 for around $1400 a copy http://www.pwrs.ca/view_product.php?ProductID=200150
The wooden coaling tower at Nelson IL was eventually replaced with one of concrete, which still stands, but the diesels that run under it today don't stop (though some may toot in tribute).
The wooden towers and skywalk look so Dickensian. Such an awesome pic.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5