Chicago train-watching spots

[CShaveRR]

For the past several years I've been past, but not stopped, at places like Blue Island, Dolton, State Line, Willowcreek, and Porter. Years ago these were great places to see a variety of trains, but I know about how we fans were banished from Porter (and I also know where in the area to go). But how about some of these other places? Would I get hassled if I parked where everybody used to park, and watched from public property and without crossing tracks at other than street crossings? And (perhaps more importantly), are these locations still worth spending time at?

I'm hoping to introduce some friends (young and not-so-young) to railroad operations, and would like to avoid any potential unpleasantness. If these sites are no longer safe for fans, are there alternatives?

[Anonymous]

I was at Dolton a couple of times last year and had no problem--although it was before 9/11. In any case, there is a little park about a block east of the crossing next to the Public Library and along side CSX - IHB. No one would hassle you there and you get still get a decent view of the UP / CSX to the west.

John Timm

[Anonymous]

Another good place in the general area is the Amtrak depot at Hammond near the casino. Lots of trains, with a nice restaurant nearby. Signals in both directions. CSX / NS / CP / AMTK / CSL.

John Timm

[Anonymous]

Blue Island is still a busy spot, and its relatively safe. Plus, the variety of railroads and types of trains make it a tough place to beat anywhere in the country.

[CShaveRR]

Thanks for the responses so far. I know about the Hammond station (and Phil Smidt's!), but have never stopped there for train-watching, per se... sounds like it might be worth it, for a change.

At Dolton, is the "parking lot" behind the village hall still hassle-free?

On Trainorders.com, someone mentioned Pine Junction. It's been a good 25 years since I've gone in there...is it still accessible, and would it be hassle-free?

[Chris30]

Chicago is great city if you are a rail fan. You have so many choices. My personal favorite is anywhere on the UP Geneva Sub west of Proviso Freight Yard... it's the busiest mainline in the Chicago area. Best time is Friday/Saturday between 10:00 to 15:00 hours. Heres some good locations if you, or anybody else is interested:
Elmhurst - just west of Proviso freight yard... not uncommon to see three trains at a time here.
College Ave - s-curves
Turner Jct (W Chicago/east end of WC yard) - mainline moves, yard moves, commuter, & the EJ&E. Many intermodal trains stop at WC to set out cars destined for the CSX 59th St yard (cars are set out due to congestion... Up runs a daily transfer symbled IPRCH(Proviso-Chicago)).
Kress Road (west end of the WC yard) - Some WB trains hold here as the tracks are reduced from 3 to 2 at this location. Mainline, yard, local, & commuter movements. Most EB trains go by at a reduced speed as the short grade up from the Fox River levels out just west of Kress Rd. Approx 4 EB/4 WB coal/hopper trains go into/out of the yard on their way to/from the "J".
Rochelle-great spot... enough said. Busy (sometimes too busy) on Saturdays.
It helps to have a scanner to know what's coming & going. Road channel is 161.89 & UP Ds11 handles everything west of Proviso from Omaha, NE.
Hope this helps,
Chris

[Soo2610]

Whoa! I'm confused. Where is Turner Junction and Kress rd? AT first, I thought you were referring to the town of West Chicago. I know the EJ&E crosses the UP there just west of the station but I'm not familiar with any WC yard there. I know they have one in Schiller Park and I don't know if the one off the Eisenhower is theirs or the NS. If my memory serves me right there is a small yard west of the EJ&E crossing in West Chicago but I assumed that it belonged to the UP.

[CShaveRR]

No, Chris, you didn't help at all!

That's because I work for UP, live around there, and am a frequent visitor to all of those places!

Glad to hear that someone else realizes their worth!

Carl

[CShaveRR]

WC=West Chicago, in this case.
Kress Road is the road at the west end of this yard (which is UP's), now crossing the tracks on an overpass.
Turner Junction is an old name for West Chicago; Turner is the new name for the interlocking just east of the West Chicago station (used to be NI).

The yard by the Eisenhower still belongs to CSX (B&OCT).

Carl

[Soo2610]

Thanks for the response. Thought that was where you mean't but your use of the WC symbol threw me off. Thought you mean't the Wisconsin Central. Think we have a tendency to use railroad symbols on this forum. Since you work for the UP do you know where they are locating the new intermodal yard in Rochelle? East or West of town?

[CShaveRR]

West.

Haven't seen much myself, but at least one road has been closed off already.

[Soo2610]

Must be just past the DelMonte complex then. Haven't had a chance to get out there since last spring. Thought maybe it would go in between 39 and the cold storage warehouses.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

I discovered a good train waching spot by accident last October. Rondout, IL. There is a bridge over the CP, Ex Soo, ex Milwaukee tracks that is now a hiking and biking trail called the North Shore Trail. The bridge is north of the crossing of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern, (the "J")and it is south of the junction with Metra's line to Gray's Lake. I think the North Shore Trail was formerly the North Shore Line's branch to Libertyville and Mundelein, IL. You will see Amtrak and Metra trains as well as CP freights; I have been told the "J" runs at night or in the wee hours of the morning. IL 176 crosses both the CP and the "J" at grade, and you can drive approximately 1/4 mile west of the junction youmcan find on the street parking in an office park.

Somebody already mentioned Rochelle, IL. We were there in early October last year on a Tuesday, and stopped in for 45 minutes in the early afternoon. Only two trains passed during that time: a westbound BNSF and an eastbound UP just as we were leaving. I commented to one of the railfans there about the lack of traffic, and he told me the Union Pacific might have been having a work window at the time we visited.

[Soo2610]

Rudy, you are right about the North Shore line in Rondout.

[Chris30]

Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse anybody, but it looks like I did a good job at doing just that. I abbreviated a few things to save space and should have realized that "WC" would be mistaken for Wisconsin Central instead of West Chicago. But hey... don't kill a guy for trying!

[Anonymous]

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