I also ran across some maps from 1953 of the Markham Yard.

http://www.illinois-central.net/markham.php

Between the North and South classification tracks a 760car/8 track repair yard existed with several buildings at about 165th street. I’ll bet this is where the original photo was taken. Looks like it was the Markham Wheel shop for both car and locomotives. Further IC history from archives could confirm that.
Kind of an upside down map view, North is to the lower left. The Roundhouse location near 175th and Ashland can be located on current maps. Using existing street names you can guess at former locations using Google Maps.
This is interesting stuff, it would be nice if some history of this shop were on a marker or something.
May be that railroad viewing park they just built near the Mattson Metra station.

Buzz -

That's the map I mentioned in my post above. Thanks for posting it.

Your mention of the viewing platform at the Mattson METRA station is interesting. I just saw a construction photo and wondered if that's what it might be. This will make two viewing platforms in fairly close proximity to each other. The other one being just to the south of the Homewood METRA/Amtrak station, also on the old IC. This has to be the record for closeness of viewing platforms. Or are there two that are closer?

I think that the platform at Mattson has to do with the realignment of the CN (ex-EJ&E) with the fprmer Illinois Central (now also CN) in that area. I think I heard that they even put a former J caboose on display there. Do I have that right? If I do, I would hope that they do something about the Illinois Central Iowa Division caboose that is on display in downtown Mattson. That caboose was horribly vandalized and is a real eyesore.

Les