| Posted by on December 18, 2016 | |
The building seen on the far left of the photo where all the pipes come from was the power house. The power house generated all the steam for the heating systems and provided all the electricity for most of the shop complex....at one time the West Milwaukee shop complex was completely self sufficient. The building on the far right was part of the locomotive back shop.Some of the other buildings were the Black Smiths shop and the Carpenters shop. The light colored building(I believe it was sandstone or cream city brick) was the SMP building. The SMP office building was where the brain trust of the entire 10,500 mile CMStP&P had their offices. These were the mechanical wizards and all the boys with the college degrees that created and designed all the things that the Milwaukee Road was known for. The 8th floor in Chicago Union Station may have had all the big dogs and the guys that handled the finances but the SMP Office building was where the REAL brains of the RR was. The last building with the platforms was the stores department where all the shops shipping and receiving took place for the entire shop complex. Greg...as sad as this picture makes me feel as all of my family at one time or another worked in these many buildings as all except me were non-operating people....I want to thank you for these photos into the past. I remember what my Father said to me after I came home to tell him I hired out on the RR....."Kid..at least you were smart enough to hire out in the operating department and not spend your life in the shops like the rest of the family did." Thanks anyway Dad...I know you wanted me to go to college and not hire out but I had a GREAT life and a GREAT career..........
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| Posted by Marc on December 18, 2016 | |
Thanks Greg and Tom for the look inside.
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| Posted by Mordy on December 18, 2016 | |
Agree with Marc: thanks to Greg and Tom for the history. Great stuff.
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