THE RANDOLPH STREET SPECIAL

FROM: JOHN CHUCKMAN
THE RANDOLPH STREET SPECIAL (NOTE: THE ROLLER SIGN IN THE WINDOW). FOR MANY IN SOUTH SHORE THESE WONDERFUL, HEAVY OLD TRAINS WERE THE MAIN CONNECTION WITH DOWNTOWN.
IT WAS QUITE A THRILL TO STAND ON THE PLATFORM OF WINDSOR PARK STATION, WATCHING ONE GLIDE TOWARDS YOU FROM 79TH, THE LARGE OVERHEAD LIGHT BOBBING WITH DIPS IN THE TRACK. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE FRONT END GREATLY RESEMBLED A FACE. PERHAPS THIS DEVELOPED FROM THE WELCOME ARRIVAL AFTER WAITING ON WINDY, COLD DAYS EITHER OUT ON THE PLATFORM OR IN THE NARROW, SOMEWHAT SMELLY STATION HOUSE OVERHEATED BY ITS LITTLE STOVE.
AS A BOY, LOOKING EAST AT STREET LEVEL WHEN A SOUTHBOUND TRAIN CROSSED 75TH, AFTER THE GATES WENT DOWN, IT LOOMED INTO VIEW FROM BEHIND THE CORONET RESTAURANT AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF
75TH AND EXCHANGE, LIKE A GREAT IRON BEAST. QUITE MEMORABLE.
PICTURE FOUND ON SITE FOR ILLINOIS RAIL MUSEUM. IT HAS BEEN CROPPED AND ALTERED SLIGHTLY.