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CP 4611 |
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LCEX 123 |
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My first encounter with Canal Street was in the early 1980s, when my father worked for Peck Meat Packing Company just south of Canal Street on Emmber Lane (formerly Muskego Avenue). I remember being amazed at the industrial buildings in the Menomonee Valley, and excited that there was a train track running through there!!
When I was older, I came down to Canal Street to Potawatomi Bingo^ to play the slot machines, but I never saw a train run on the tracks that the street twisted and curved and split around. Later, as I learned more about Milwaukee, I would occasionally venture down in the valley to check out what was along Canal Street. I got several pictures of covered hoppers at Lonestar Cement, but still, no train!
Finally, as I was coming over the High Rise Bridge (I-94/43), I spotted some activity along Canal Street; at last, a train!!! My friend, Karen, was riding along with me, and I got a few GREAT pictures of CP GP40 #4611 in the rare "no flags" paint scheme, including one of the 4611 and Karen.
Unfortunately, the days are numbered for Canal Street's current configuration. The City of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin DOT are planning a full rebuild and expansion of Canal Street, which will separate the railroad tracks from the street and extend Canal Street all the way to Miller Park's parking lot.
In the very near future, I plan to take pictures of and along Canal Street, to preserve the memories of this unique street. Once it's gone, it will be too late. My new digital camera that is on its way to me as I type this will be "broken in" preserving the memory of Canal Street.
-Mark |
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