Railroad History of Franklin Park

Henry Kirchhoff allowed the railroad passage through his land, so long as there would always remain a railroad station to serve the people residing in the community near Mannheim road.

This is an early railroad station, c1900, along the Milwaukee Railroad. It was located near where the existing station stands, however, it stood on the south side of the railroad tracks.

This is the Milwaukee Railroad station that immediately pre-dates the existing station.

There is little information available on this picture, but we believe that this building was used as overnight lodging for railroad workers at a turnaround point on the railroad.

Caboose #990075, given to the Village of Franklin Park in October 1975. Now displayed at Tower Park.

The B-12 Tower originally stood at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Soo Line and the Milwaukee Railroad Line.

The interior of the B-12 Tower. The B-12 Tower controlled the trains coming onto the Milwaukee Road tracks from the Harbor tracks. The levers you see in the front center to front right corner of the photograph pulled to allow and prevent trains from entering the Milwaukee Road tracks.

These boxcars have been loaded and are being transported on the Milwaukee Railroad, which passes through Franklin Park.

Pictured are the Soo Line tracks crossing over Grand Ave. The view is looking north. The photograph was taken in the early 1940's.

This is an aerial view of the railroad terminal, located at 10800 Franklin Ave. Notice the railyards in the upper right-hand corner of the photograph.

As you can see, this is an early steam engine which ran through Mannheim, IL (the area where Mannheim Road is located). Mannheim later became part of Franklin Park.

A photograph showing a Union Pacific Railroad train stopping in Franklin Park. It appears that one of Franklin Park's finest is looking for something, down the tracks, or perhaps beneath the train.

Union Pacific Railroad Engine #104 is pulling into Franklin Park. Note the differences between the engine shown and the engines which serve the railroads today.