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historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ9A_early-railroad-signals_Union-IL.html
In the earliest days of railroading, train movements were controlled by flagmen, station agents, or other workers alongside the tracks, using flag or lantern signals to stop or start trains as needed.
The first practical mechanical wayside sign…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ99_railroad-rails_Union-IL.html
The first rails for horse-drawn tramways and gravity-powered railroads were simple wooden stringers. Later, wrought-iron straps on top of the wood stringers, and then cast iron rails, gave greater durability. The predecessor of the modern "T"-sect…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ98_railroad-standard-time_Union-IL.html
Before 1883, clocks were set to local "sun time," where noon was the time when the sun was highest in the local sky. Use of sun time meant that each town's time was different; Chicago would be nearly 5 minutes ahead of Rockford, or 15 minutes behi…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ96_spaulding-tower-towers-and-interlocking-plants_Union-IL.html
Spaulding TowerFor over 90 years, this classic Midwestern interlocking tower protected the junction of the Milwaukee Road and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern at Spaulding, just east of Elgin, Illinois.
Originally built around 1890 when the EJ&E ext…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ95_chicago-railways-company-date-stone_Union-IL.html
This date stone came from the Chicago Railways Company "West Shops" complex located in Chicago at Maple and Harding Ave. Streetcars were built there and the shops survive to this day serving the Chicago Transit Authority. This stone was part of a …
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ8X_chicago-and-north-western-9933_Union-IL.html
The self-propelled Rail Diesel Car (RDC) was introduced in 1949 as a low-cost alternative for branchline and commuter runs, available in five combinations of coach seating and baggage and mail space. Power was provided by two diesel engines and a …
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ8N_chicago-milwaukee-st-paul-pacific-37a_Union-IL.html
Along with long-distance passenger service from Chicago to Milwaukee, the Twin Cities, Omaha, and the Pacific Northwest, the Milwaukee Road also ran an extensive commuter service to Chicago's Western and Northern suburbs.
Electro-Motive's strea…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ8M_tcax-thrall-car-co-20306_Union-IL.html
Boxcars made up the largest portion of most railroad's freight car fleets until nearly the end of the Twentieth Century. They were used to carry almost any type of non-perishable solid cargo, ranging from cartons, crates, and bags of merchandise t…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ8E_soo-milwaukee-road-x-5001_Union-IL.html
This caboose was built in 1929 at the Milwaukee Road shops, in Milwaukee. It was originally numbered MILW 01612, as part of an order for 15 drovers cars. They were the first steel cupola cabooses built by the Milwaukee.
The car was rebuilt in t…
historicalmarkerproject/markers/HMQ8D_union-pacific-18_Union-IL.html
Early diesels had relatively low power (800-2000 hp). Beginning in 1948, the Union Pacific and GE developed alternatives for heavy freight. The resulting 55 units replaced the usual diesel prime mover with an aircraft gas turbine.
The last thir…