An Arturo Gross Flickr 1994 photo of a westbound intermodal at 25th Avenue was linked to from Facebook.
I'm learning that there were steel plants all around the Chicagoland area. From the comments on the Facebook posting, I learned about a plant that straddled the boundary between Bellwood, and Melrose Park. Latrobe Steel & Coupler was purchased in 1909 by National Malleable, which later changed its name to National Malleable & Steel Castings. (It also had a plant in Cicero.) [ChicagoHistory]
Jerry JacksonGroup Admin There used to be an 'armstrong' switch tower in the left-hand corner or the N/W corner of 25th ave and the tracks, shown here. I've been looking for someone to verify this info. I was in the tower many times as a youngster. My Grandfather was a long time CGW employee and he knew everyone.
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| Jerry Jackson commented on Arturo's posting It was in the spot with the red X. The steel company on the north side of the track had an in-house track that crossed 25th ave that was embedded in the street. It paralleled the CNW main. There was also a large second story connector from building to building that was enclosed and had a pitched roof. In this picture, it looks like that is that dark dash across 25th , but it's also at the spot where a street ends that parallels the building on the east side. The smell of molten steel, smells like pure iron, hard to describe, but I'll never forget it. Every time I drove across those tracks and I did that thousands of times in the 50's-60's. The tower was gone by the time I graduated from Jr High (61') that was just a block down 25th ave. Roosevelt Jr High. |
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| Jerry Jackson commented on Arturo's posting Jerry JacksonGroup Admin When they were working, you could see blast furnaces going in the building to the left. It was like driving through the plant. Here is a shot of the place from the IHB crossover. They had a 44 tonner too! [The blue locomotive above the white trailer.] |
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| 1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP |
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