| Amtrak SW1 732 at Canal and 16th Street in Chicago, Illinois on June 7, 1982, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. On a hazy Chicago day, Amtrak SW1 732 is about to wye a train through the Union Avenue interlocking. It appears the number 732 was built in May 1949 as NYC SW1 605 (c/n 6411) on EMD Order E999, later became NYC 8431, then PC 8431, then AMTK 245 (2nd) then AMTK 732. In the background is BN NW2 543, delivered to the CB&Q in August 1946 as 9246 (c/n 3642), awaiting its turn through the interlocking. Overhead is a C&NW transfer on the Saint Charles Air Line. This was the Illinois Central's (by this date, the ICG) westward main line through Illinois and Iowa. The name "Air Line" denotes that the rails ran as straight as possible, as if a line was drawn in the air, avoiding as many curves as was possible. The caboose (#12557) was a Rock Island wide vision, but has acquired steel plating over the cupola windows, likely in conformance to FRA glazing regulations. |