Sunday fun day

I have been busy traveling this spring, so much that I've neglected my railfan responsibilities in my home area. I was able to rectify that to some degree with a long holiday weekend trackside around Chicago, hitting up a number of the popular train-watching locations with my friend Duane. We visited Naperville, West Chicago, Blue Island, Dolton, and other locations throughout the weekend. Sunday, July 3 was particularly fortunate:

Soon after arriving in Dolton late morning I photographed the westbound "bottle train" on the Indiana Harbor Belt, moving molten steel from the blast furnace to the mill at nearby Riverdale. The train takes the former Pennsylvania Railroad "Panhandle" route from the IHB Dolton up to the mill.

While in Dolton, we were discussing what to do next and decided to set out to the south to look for Norfolk Southern train 37K, which operates from Elkhart, Ind., to Kanakee, Ill. After consulting with a friend at NS who told us the train was in the area, we decided to make our way south.

On our way south on Illinois Route 1, we crossed the Union Pacific main line in Grant Park and spotted a headline down the main line. With little waiting, I was able to photograph his northbound train passing the grain elevator there. The line is operated jointly with CSX Transportation, which routes its Chicago-Nashville traffic this way.

We arrived in Momemnce, Ill., a few minutes later. There, the NS line to Kankakee crosses Union Pacific line south of Chicago to Danville. Soon after arrival, a headlight appeared in the distance and I photographed train 37K passing the former New York Central station in town. BNSF Railway and NS maintain an interchange in Streator, Ill., which accounts for the train's orange leader. The eastbound counterpart is 10R.

I had been to Momence before, but never before photographed the former NYC station. It is located near the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and North Street. The speeder out front is painted for nearby shortline Kankakee, Beaverville & Southern.

After departing Momence, we headed west to Kankakee for a late lunch. On a whim we decided to return north on Illinois Route 50, which closely follows the Illinois Central main line, instead of nearby Interstate 57. Just as we crossed under the highway, we spotted a northbound freight running parallel to us. With little effort, we were able to race ahead of it, setting up for a shot on the south side of Peotone. What luck to have both a new, clean ET44AC "Tier 4" locomotive and a relatively clean former BC Rail cowl unit!

This odd load caught my eye as the train passed; anybody know what it is?

We ended the day where we had started it, at the new Matteson train watching platform. There, the Illinois Central main line crosses the former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern. As the day's light faded, I photographed this relic of Midwestern railroading: Grand Trunk Western GP9R No. 4610 helping out on a transfer run between Kirk Yard in Gary, Ind., and Markham Yard in nearby Homewood.