{"product_id":"postcard-illinois-bloomington-il-chicago-alton-c-a-shops-aerial-1910s-unposted","title":"Bloomington Illinois Chicago Alton C and A Shops Aerial 1910s Postcard Unposted","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"175\" data-end=\"417\"\u003eThis 1910s postcard presents a bird’s-eye view of the Chicago and Alton Railroad shops in Bloomington, Illinois, documenting one of the principal industrial complexes that supported Midwestern rail operations in the early twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"419\" data-end=\"825\"\u003eRailroad shops such as those operated by the Chicago and Alton served as repair, maintenance, and construction facilities for locomotives and rolling stock, anchoring local employment and shaping the physical growth of railroad towns. Bloomington’s yards became a defining industrial feature of the city, with branching tracks, roundhouses, and service buildings forming a dense transportation landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"827\" data-end=\"1348\"\u003eThe image looks down over multiple parallel rail lines filled with freight cars and passenger equipment, converging toward large shop buildings with smokestacks rising above the complex. Smaller service structures, lumber stacks, and rail materials occupy the foreground, while residential neighborhoods extend into the distance beyond the yards. The printed caption at upper right reads “Bird’s Eye View C. \u0026amp; A. Shops, Bloomington, Ill.,” identifying the site and reinforcing its role as a major railroad installation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1350\" data-end=\"1641\"\u003eThe item shown in the listing is the exact item the collector will receive. We have tens of thousands of items to choose from. Shipping will always be combined (or refunded) to save you as much money as possible. Please contact us with any questions, or visit our store page for specifics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Everything Ephemera","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52871492141240,"sku":"20231101c","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/8740\/6008\/files\/57_a0db52e0-478b-4000-84ac-01a32f40f83a.jpg?v=1771636377","url":"https:\/\/everythingephemera.com\/products\/postcard-illinois-bloomington-il-chicago-alton-c-a-shops-aerial-1910s-unposted","provider":"Everything Ephemera","version":"1.0","type":"link"}