It appears there's a marina there now, near Burnham Park (which was just north of the Fair site). I think most of the site has been returned to lake shore parkland.

Regarding an earlier question whether it was possuble to get to the Fair by rail, the IC electric line was just the other side of Lake Shore Drive. Whether there was a station there, and whether there was a way to cross Lake Shore Drive, is another question for research.

From the first post in this thread:



The caption says that the location was Burnham Park between 23rd and 31st streets. Also a bridge is visible across Lake Shore Drive, but I don't see a depot there.

Steve

Richard -

There was a spur built off of the Illinois Central across Lake Shore Drive that reached into the Fair. That track was also used for another exhibit (not all rail oriented in the 60's or 70's) and remained in the L.S. Drive pavement for some time before it was removed.

In addition to the IC commuter stop at 23rd Street, the Chicago Surface Lines (later the Chicago Transit Authority) had a trestle over the IC tracks for streetcars that reached to Soldier Field, but not sure if that was used for Chicago Railroad Fair visitors or not. I can recall crossing that trestle on a CTA "Red Rocket" (streetcar) for the Chicago Prep Bowl at Soldier Field in 1953 and I'm not sure just when that streetcar trestle was taken out of service.

Steve -

In the photo of the site, you can almost see the spur that crossed over Lake Shore Drive at the very bottom of the photo on the left side. There was no IC Electric depot at 23rd Street, but you can see the station platform and the steps from it leading up to the 23rd Street bridge. They are just to the right of the large, low, 2 or 3 story wedge shaped building shown in the photo.

Les

From the Chicago Tribune archives 9/5/1948 the same issue that the photo is from: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1948 ... 2-no-title

I don't know if more information is in here (my son infected my computer and it is bogging down).



This little article is on page 6.

Steve

All images from September 1948.

Steve

Steve, thanks for posting these images. I have added some of your previously posted images to my Railroad Fair site, in two sections (1948 and 1949).
http://www.railarchive.net/rrfair/rrfair_photos.htm

You are very welcome. Love your site also. It is very well done.

Steve

From September, 1948

Steve

Photos from September, 1948

Steve

Steve -

Dang! Wish that post wouldn't have gotten in the way of your Dad's shot of C&EI 4-4-2 #222. There was some talk about the C&EI preserving this Atlantic, but unfortunately, it didn't happen. BUT, the drivers and valve gear were saved and put on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry where, with a push of a button, the drivers and valve gear would rotate! Wonder if that is still on display there?

Les

Les,

We visit the Museum fairly regularly. The machinery from the 4-4-2 was still on display, within the last one or two years. However, the mechanism to turn the drivers was not working at that time.



Steve,

Thank you for making the effort to post those images. Really enjoying them a lot.




JR

I took Steve's dad's image, removed the post, and rebuilt the 222's front end using parts off a couple of C&EI Pacifics on the Internet, using an image of sister 221 as a guide. (Had to use Pacifics since there wasn't a broadside of a 4-4-2 available.) Are you happy now, Les?

Richard -

YES! I've seen photos of the 222 with the headlight centered like that. I've also seen a photo of her with the headlight raised up on the boiler, which may have been the way she looked at the Railroad Fair. I actually like the centered headlight look and glad that's the way you depicted her. You the man!!!

Les

Was that really NYC 999 under steam?

It appears to have been quite a spectacle!

Here's a shot of C&EI 222 on display at the fair. The "backdating" done to the engine looks to be minimal.