Chicago-Root St. Yard Chicago, Ill.

Mid-century blueprints of a ‘lost’ railroad yard in Chicago.

This interesting pair of plans was prepared for use by the New York Central Railroad. A faintly visible date in the lower left corner reads 1960, the probable year of printing. The image presents the massive NYC Root St. Yard, located on Chicago’s South Side at 43rd and St. Street. The large scale (1″ = 40′) allows for the transmission of fine details like building outlines, utilities, and railroad infrastructure. Manuscript annotations can be seen in graphite and colored pencils; noting updates to fencing, sewers, water lines, etc.

Most traces of the Root Street Yard have been totally obliterated. Though still bisected by tracks, the area is now occupied by a residential neighborhood, Metcalfe Park, and the Dan Ryan Expressway.