mrail.jpg (53488 bytes) 

               The decision to build a railroad through Bensenville, Wood Dale and Itasca may have been influenced by production of dairy products in these communities. By 1874, the railroad was hauling 300,000 gallons of milk a year from Bensenville to Chicago. The local farmers had to get up early to milk their Holstein cows and strain the milk into eight gallon cans. It was taken to the depot to be loaded on the 9:00 AM train to Chicago. At 3:00 PM the train from Chicago returned with the empty cans to be used the next day.

                   This photo shows the Milwaukee Railroad roundhouse in 1941. The roundhouse was used  for maintenance of the steam engines.   After the fire died out, the ashes were taken out, then the front of the engine was opened so it could cool down.  Heat from the firebox ran through hundreds of tubes used to heat the water to make the steam.  Soot from the burning gases collected in these tubes.  The railroad men used 30 foot long brushes to clean out every pipe.  It was a messy, dirty job, but was one of many jobs necessary to keep the railroad running.

                  For more information and photos about the railroad, go back to the Main Menu and click on Businesses.  One of the photos you will find is a picture of the day maintenance crew taken in the Bensenville yards in 1938. 

P121

 

 

 

                                      


WB01337_.gif (904 bytes)
Back to Hisorucal Quilt