With Chicago's massive skyline towering above at its back, westbound Gary, IN to Waterloo, IA mixed merchandise train M33791-13 creeps out the city past the grounds of Ping Tom Memorial Park at the start of Canadian National's Freeport Subdivision. A pair of the railroads' General Electric wide cab products, the leader of ex-ATSF heritage, lead the daily freight beneath the 18th St overpass on predecessor Illinois Central trackage. The lift bridge off to the left carries the tracks of the St. Charles Airline over the Chicago River and is used by Amtrak and occasional Union Pacific and BNSF freight trains. The bridge was masterminded by chief design engineer Leonard O. Hopkins and constructed by the American Bridge Company in the year 1919 with an original span length of 260 feet. Holding the world record for longest bascule-type span, it was later shortened by 40 ft as a result of the river channel being straightened. The structure sits immediately adjacent to the B&OCT bascule bridge which now permanently remains unused and in the lifted position after having the tracks that once crossed it torn out. Being one of only three regularly scheduled trains per day (M337, M338, L536) to use this section of track, I was more than satisfied to get this shot.
