Transfer arriving from Barr Yard
Date: 06/04/2011
One of the Dolton Industry Park Transport's GE70s, number 59, arrives at the park with a transfer from Chessie's Barr Yard.
Yard office and surrounds
Date: 06/04/2011
Dolton Industry Park Transport's 2 GE70s, one with an arriving transfer, and the other waiting near the yard office.
A small industry
Date: 06/04/2011
This small industry sometimes ships freight by rail via the team tracks.
Tank car at Midwest Foods
Date: 06/04/2011
Midwest Foods is one of the major industries in Dolton Industry Park. Tank cars are unloaded via hose to holding tanks down the side of he building. There are plans to build a bulk unloading shed at the end of this spur and the spur next to it to facilitate faster unloading of covered hoppers and tank cars.
Closeup of one of the Ge70s
Date: 06/04/2011
No 59 refueling
Date: 06/04/2011
The refueling spot is actually on the same spur as the team tracks, and receives tank cars of deisel fuel as needed. So it is effectively an industry! Most of the fuel comes from railroads operated by members of the virtual interchange group I am in.
An industry building
Date: 06/04/2011
This low relief building was once Bluwall Printers, and was used on the C&SFT and P&RR layouts as a printers industry. when I built thr Dolton Industry Park, I decided to change the color scheme and add some extra details. As at June 2011, I haven't decided what this industry actually does. it currently rarely sends or re eives freight via rail, unless it goes via the team track. Many years ago, before the yard office was built, there was a spur serving the loading bay. No evidence of the spur exists today.
No 58 at the Flour Mill
Date: 06/04/2011
A grain box car is moved into position near the flour mill so it can be unloaded. The South Chicago Flour Mill Co was once the Chatham Specialty Flours industry on my Chatham layout. As the Chatham layout is being rebuilt to fit a 6x1 feet space, I decided to use the silos and building on the Dolton Industry Park layout.
The track to Dolton Junction
Date: 06/04/2011
The track to 'the rest of the world', via Dolton Junction. Dolton Junction is one of the busier junctions in the south Chicago area, and so was the perfect place to 'locate' the park as it can receive trains from a variety of railroads. Currently only Chessie, IHB and C&NW run transfers to / from the park, but there is always the possibility of other railroads running the occasional train to the park, especially those that use the IHB main between Blue island yard and points east as the park's tracks diverge from the IHB trackage near Dolton Junction.
Train leaving for Barr Yard
Date: 06/04/2011
Number 59 departs the Dolton Industry Park with a transfer to Chessie's Barr Yard. Most of the traffic to / from the park goes through Barr Yard, but the IHB Blue Island Yard is also the source of a considerable amount of traffic for the Dolton Industry park.
Between the Flour Millspur and the main track
Date: 06/04/2011
Panorama view
Date: 06/04/2011
West is left, east is right. Dolton Junction is west of the park.
All the industries are visible in this photo.
* Midwest Foods is on the back right.
* South Chicago Flour Co is back left.
* Team Track is front right.
* Petra Aggregates and Fuel is front left.
The small industry building in front centre provides a scenic break. The two buildings on the far left provide a way of hiding the track to Dolton Junction.
Angle view from east end
Date: 06/04/2011
IHB transfer from Blue Island
Date: 06/12/2011
Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) is a major source of traffic for the Dolton Industry Park. Here, an IHB transfer arrives from Blue Island Yard in Riverdale.
Eliana switching
Date: 06/12/2011
My youngest daughter switching near Midwest Foods.
Eliana switching
Date: 06/12/2011
Moving a fuel tanker that has been sent from the SECV in Pennsylvania to the Loco Refuel Point after spotting a corn syrup car near Midwest Foods.
Eliana switching
Date: 06/12/2011
Close up of yard office
Date: 06/12/2011
The yard office also acts as a place for storage of spare parts, a place to make minor repairs to cars and locos, and the railroad management offices.
The building itself is a Lima prebuilt model at least 30 years old. On the C&SFT layout it was part of the RIP facility.
The engineer looks over his paperwork
Date: 06/12/2011
The engineer looks over his switchlist anf waybills before he starts the first switch run of the day. At some point during his shift a transfer from B&OCT's Barr Yard will arrive and depart and he will need to switch out cars in that train and prepare outgoing cars for the transfer's return.
Chessie Barr Yard transfer
Date: 06/12/2011
A Chessie transfer arrives from Barr Yard. Because of space constraints within the industry park, there is no space for a runaround track, so the DIRT switcher is used to moves cars in the train so the loco can escape.
For this train, it will be even more difficult to do that as the train will need to be cut to allow the switcher to get out it's track so it can switch the cars in the Chessie train.
Chessie Barr Yard transfer
Date: 06/12/2011
A Chessie transfer from Barr Yard enters the Dolton Industry Park 'yard'.
A WM GP arrives with a transfer
Date: 06/18/2011
Grain unloading shed
Date: 06/18/2011
Looking through the grain unloading shed at South Chicago Flours and Grains. This industry has 4 silos, and a flour mill building.
Flour Mill and Silos
Date: 06/18/2011
Chicago South Flours and Grains.
Industrial clutter near Silos
Date: 06/18/2011
Some old freight car trucks, an old container and plenty of weeds gives a neglected look.
Wire reels, crates
Date: 06/18/2011
Old truck, weeds
Date: 06/18/2011
Flour mill surrounds
Date: 06/18/2011
Looking at scale persons eye level, looking east from the Petra Aggregates spur. The South Chicago Flour and Grains complex is in the foreground, with the yard office in the distance.
Lots O Weeds
Date: 06/18/2011
A small layout gives lots opportunity to add extra details. The layout has a lot of foliage and ground covers, including sand, commercial clump type foliage like that shown here, a few trees, and some foliage purchased from a florist.
Apart from foliage, other details in this photo are a fork lift, power poles, and a person at the refuel point.
Barrels near the water tank
Date: 06/18/2011
Near the yard office
Date: 01/18/2011
Because the refuel point is quite a distance from the yard office and involves crossing two tracks, the ever obliging and safety conscious management of Dolton Industry Park Transport installed a walkway from the yard office across the two tracks.
Silos and grain unloading shed
Date: 06/18/2011
Wire reels, crates
Date: 06/18/2011
Freight at Midwest Foods
Date: 06/18/2011
Lots of freight to go out. But the reefer that will transport these goods better get delivered to the loading bay in a hurry as this stuff requires refrigeration!
Freight at Midwest Foods
Date: 06/18/2011
Looking through the trees
Date: 06/18/2011
A railfan shots Western Maryland 3976 arriving from Barr Yard with a transfer. A Milwaukee Road 40 foot hi-cube box car waits in the team track to be unloaded.
The outdoor 'conveniences'
Date: 06/18/2011
Taking inspiration from an Australian employee's vivid description of the classic outback 'dunny', the management provided this ultra-inconvenient convenience for anyone willing to experience the best of Aussie bathroom-ery. Beware the redback under the seat!
It's going to be a busy day!
Date: 06/18/2011
Two transfers have arrived - one from IHB Blue Island and another from Chessie Barr Yard. The switch crew will be busy for a while with these two! Space will be especially tight with the two trains (one train at a time is the usual), so the switch crew will need to be on their toes, thinking ahead to work out the best way to switch all these cars to their industries and get all the outbound cars put into the two outbound trains.
Tank car at Midwest Foods
Date: 06/21/2011
DIRT GE70 number 58 pushes a car to the entrance of the Midwest Foods bulk unloading building. From there Midwest Foods will move the car inside the building, unload it, and return it to the spur so a switcher can pick it up again later.
Departing for Barr Yard
Date: 06/21/2011
GE70 number 59 departs the Dolton Industry Park for Barr Yard. Two employees of the flour mill have an animated discussion in the background.
Covered hopper being unloaded
Date: 06/21/2011
A 40 foot covered hopper being unloaded in the South Chicago Flour and Grains unloading shed.
Number 59 passes the silos
Date: 06/28/2011
Not long after passing through Dolton Junction, the Dolton Industry Park Transfer passes the silos with number 59 on the point.
A short covered hopper waits to be picked up from the Petra Aggregates spur on the left.
Picking up an empty from the silos
Date: 06/28/2011
A 40 foot covered hopper full of grain has now been unloaded and has been picked up by the switcher.
Picking up an empty tanker from Midwest Foods
Date: 06/28/2011
The switcher picks up an empty corn syrup tanker at the Midwest Foods Bulk Unloading Building. This building is used to unload all bulk tanker and covered hopper freight. The Midwest Foods freight platform sends and receives palletted and crated freight.
In June 2011 I added an ultra low relief bulk unloading building to the eastern end of the layout.
Midwest Foods - Bulk unloading building
Date: 06/28/2011
Looking west from near refuel point
Date: 06/28/2011
This photo gives a good view along most of the layout from the perspective of a 1:87 scale person, from near the refuel point / team track spur.
Weeds around the Midwest Foods freight platform.
Date: 08/24/2011
BN Cicero Local departing
Date: 08/24/2011
Since setting up the operating sessions, I have added C&NW and BN trains to the roster - I had the locos in my collection, I might as well use them!
Old machinery near aggegate spur
Date: 08/24/2011
Vegetation around the silos
Date: 08/24/2011
Clutter near South Chicago Flour and Grains
Date: 08/24/2011
Old machinery near aggregate spur
Date: 08/24/2011
Weeds at the end of the aggregate spur
Date: 08/24/2011
Railroad junk covered in weeds
Date: 08/24/2011
Details near South Chicago Flour and Grains
Date: 08/24/2011
BN Cicero local heading west
Date: 08/24/2011
Two employees continue their discussion, hardly noticing the train passing on its way to Cicero, Illinois via IHB rails.
Details near team track
Date: 08/24/2011
The rails sitting on the ground in a heap were used on the CSFT layout, and another layout before that.
Boxcar awaiting loading at team track
Date: 08/24/2011
Damage Free (DF), SP 127430.
Petra Aggregates
Date: 03/20/2012
Petra Aggregates
Date: 03/20/2012
Team Track Platform
Date: 03/23/2012
As a result of some re-development of the Team Track spur, this platform was added. I see those who did the re-development didn't remove the weeds between the tracks!
The brickwork is brick paper, the surface of the platform is balsa painted with a combination of grey and silver paint, and the wood looking bits are --- wood!
Team Track Platform, close up of end.
Date: 03/23/2012
As this end was easily visible, it was decided to have a finish different to the track side of the platform. So it was made to look like it was a wooden end. The wood is coffee stirrers cut to size.
Hoppers for Petra Aggregates unloader.
Date: 03/23/2012
GE 44 tonner Number 3 eases 2 open hoppers onto the 'new' Petra Aggregates unloader. Before the hoppers can be unloaded someone will needs to move the piles of aggregate that are sitting under the trestle!
No. 3 Picks up 3 tanks from the Team Track.
Date: 03/23/2012
2 of the cars had Anhydrous Ammonia, which was transferred from the tank cars to raod tankers for transfer to CHICAGOLAND FER-T-CHEM, and the other tanker was a filled with fuel for the refuel point near the end of the platform.
From inside the Flour Mill Unload Shed
Date: 03/23/2012
Some smarty thought he would set up a ladder inside the Chicago Flour and Grains Unloading Shed and take a photo looking towards Midwest Foods. This is the result. He would have taken more but the boss wasn't happy and told him to get back to work immediately.
Petra Aggregates unloader.
Date: 03/23/2012
View from near where the Petra Aggregates spur diverges from the thoroughfare track looking west.
Petra Aggregates unloader
Date: 03/23/2012
Crane being repaired
Date: 03/26/2012
The crane has had a pulley failure and is waiting for a new hook to be added before the chain is put back in place.
Petra Aggregates unloader
Date: 03/26/2012
Petra Aggregates unloader
Date: 03/26/2012
Looking east past Cook Country Freight Forwarders
Date: 03/26/2012
An employee of Cook County Freight Forwarders watches the sun rise just before he starts work for the day.
Abandoned building
Date: 03/26/2012
Looking east past Cook County Freight Forwarders
Date: 03/26/2012
Vegetation and other scenic details
Date: 03/26/2012
Dolton nameboard
Date: 08/28/2012
The Dolton letters are MDF purchased from a local arts and craft shop, the grey nameboard is 3mm Ply, and layout fascia is 3mm ply stained with a dark wood stain. The fascia ios the same material as the fascia for Illinook, so they match.
Workmen on the Office roof
Date: 02/13/2013
The workman trying to get out of the vent is going to have a sore back.
An accident at Petra Aggregates
Date: 02/13/2013
Exactly how two people were injured is still being investigated, but it seems that the height of the trestle or the lack or adequate fencing could be contributing factors.
Box car awaiting loading at American Electric
Date: 04/13/2014
Switching this industry fouls the single slip which provides access to South Chicago Flour and Grains, Midwest Foods and the run around track!
South Chicago Flour and Grains building (after re-development)
Date: 04/13/2014
The old plain looking South Chicago Flour and Grains factory building was replaced with this building built from a modular kit package. Some extra trimming and detailing was added. The top of the building was not quite finished at the time this photo was taken.
Human activity at the Yard Office
Date: 04/13/2014
Cook County Freight Forwarders
Date: 04/13/2014
This industry is on the thoroughfare track at the west end of Dolton Industry Park so when it is receiving or sending deliveries it makes for some interesting operating as trains cannot access the rest of the industry park when there is a car waiting at this industry.The divider between the Dolton and Illinook modules can be seen in this photo, as well as some of the Illinook trackage.
Old abandoned factory
Date: 04/13/2014
This old factory serves a very important purpose - it hides the hole in the divider between the Dolton and Illinook modules!
Accident at Petra Aggregates
Date: 04/13/2014
Foreign transfer job switching at Dolton Ind. Park
Date: 04/13/2014
Even though there is only one train in this scene, there is a lot of implied activity with cars at various industries.
Foreign transfer job switching at Dolton Ind. Park
Date: 04/13/2014
Lots of tank cars today!
Date: 04/13/2014
It is a fairly rare occurrence to see so many tank cars at Dolton at the same time. The two at the team track platform have chemicals in them as do the 2 in fron of the caboose in the train. The black tank car immediately behind the loco has corn syrup for the Midwest Foods bulk unloading spur, and the shell tanker in the bulk unloading spur is empty and awaiting movement out of the industry park.
American Electric - freight platformAmerican Electric - freight platform
Date: 05/11/2015
American Electric - freight platform
American Electric - freight platformAmerican Electric - freight platform
Date: 05/11/2015
American Electric - freight platform
American Electric - freight platformAmerican Electric - freight platform
Date: 05/11/2015
American Electric - freight platform
View looking 'west' from eastern end of Dolton Industry ParkView looking 'west' from eastern end of Dolton Industry Park
Date: 05/11/2015
View looking 'west' from eastern end of Dolton Industry Park