Chicago Trainspotting: Metra 16th Street Tower and AMTRAK #64 & #592

Weather beaten and worn, I submit to you today the defiant structure that is Metra's 16th Street Tower.  I caught a glimpse of it from Clark street and I had to drive up the service road to have a look.



Evidently it is still in some sort of use as the METRA pickup, recently redone roof and air conditioners seem to indicate.  The various Chicago towers have been falling into disuse and disappearing over the years so seeing one is not as easy as it once was.   Very interesting post about this particular tower HERE.



Just look at that skyline!  Unfortunately I couldn't reach a point to photograph the other sides without leaving the vehicle.

However, as penance for the limited perspective on the tower, and the middling-quality phone pictures here's a couple of things I photographed the same day during a quick drive-by of the AMTRAK yards at Roosevelt Ave just about a quarter mile west.

AMTRAK 64, a P42DC. Dating to 1997, 22 years on it appears to be going strong.

AMTRAK 592.  This throughly modern MPI MP14B "Genset" diesel switcher carries the same number as one of AMTRAK's ill-fated SDP40F locomotives. They couldn't be more different and let's hope the current 592 has a more successful term of service!




And to round things off, a lovely pair of bridges, the "St Charles Air line Bridge"  which is near the end of this portion of the yards and just down the tracks west of the 16th Street Tower.



I promise to rephotograph these bridges with better framing and resolution. They're just too cool to not have a great picture of.

Happy Trainspotting!

-Karl