I have made several auto trips down I55 this summer and will see intermodal trains on the UP (former GM&O) line. A few years ago there were few freight trains scheduled on this line, today I saw a SB international container and a NB domestic container plus a grain train loading at an elevator.
Obviously their logistics park south of Joliet has prompted these intermodal trains...does anyone know the frequency and origina/destination of the intermodals running on this line?Ed
Can't help you with that any more, Ed.Did you ever notice, while coming north on 55, my favorite sign, somewhere between Pontiac and Odell, a UP speed reduction sign (yellow chevron pointing downward), telling passenger trains to reduce their speed to 100 m.p.h.?
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
UP indicated that as their line was improved, they would use it more. Not sure Amtrak was expecting that.
MidlandMike UP indicated that as their line was improved, they would use it more. Not sure Amtrak was expecting that.
As long as UP plays fair, it should be OK.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Is there a reason why that line has been overlooked by the UP for so long? Seems up to now, they have favored some roundabout routings over this one. Or is there just not that much business between Chicago-St. Louis anymore? GM&O used to run some hot freights on the line back in the day.
I queried a UP official about 8 years ago what, if anything, UP was thinking about this line once improvements were. He said they were looking at up to 12 trains each way per day, mostly intermodal from the Gulf Coast to the new Global facility south of Joliet.
I have been told there is s rather detailed contract between the 3 parties relating to use of the line after the upgrades are complete. I'm sure UP had to include their intentions so I doubt if this was a surprise to Amtrak.
BLS53 Is there a reason why that line has been overlooked by the UP for so long? Seems up to now, they have favored some roundabout routings over this one. Or is there just not that much business between Chicago-St. Louis anymore? GM&O used to run some hot freights on the line back in the day.
One reason is that the line does not have easy access to a major UP yard on the Chicago end (Proviso or Dolton). In the ICG days some freights went north from Markham to the Air Line to gain access to former GM&O rails.
I ran some blocking models for the ICG just after the merger. At that time GM&O didn't know what a hot freight was. Everything was switched at each major intermediate point. ICG did attempt to run the Slingshot intermodal trains, but they never generated much business.
Buslist BLS53 Is there a reason why that line has been overlooked by the UP for so long? Seems up to now, they have favored some roundabout routings over this one. Or is there just not that much business between Chicago-St. Louis anymore? GM&O used to run some hot freights on the line back in the day. One reason is that the line does not have easy access to a major UP yard on the Chicago end (Proviso or Dolton). In the ICG days some freights went north from Markham to the Air Line to gain access to former GM&O rails. I ran some blocking models for the ICG just after the merger. At that time GM&O didn't know what a hot freight was. Everything was switched at each major intermediate point. ICG did attempt to run the Slingshot intermodal trains, but they never generated much business.
Agreed on the hot freights. I was talking 1960. By 1970 it was a different story.
Just seems UP has all these complicated routings to get from Chicago to the Chester sub in southern IL, which much of the traffic to Texas uses. Most involving the old C&EI thats runs down the Indiana border, where they have to run across the state to reach the Chester sub. I suppose all of them are quicker than navigating Chicago to get to the GM&O. Also, I don't know how difficult it is on the east side of St. Louis, to get from the GM&O line to Dupo.
Thanks for the replies.
Carl, I did not see the "Reduce to 100mph" sign on the return trip.
However, the return trip was late afternoon/early evening Monday and while I didnt see any intermodal trains I was following Amtrak 304 between Bloomington and Dwight. It had private car "Promentory Point" on the rear. I couldnt catch up with it until it had a slow order around Pontiac and could then identify the car.
I was running pretty fast on I55 trying to catch the train but it took the slow order for me to catch it.
This line should be a good revenue generator for the UP. While there is not much on line business (except grain), it is in great condition and accesses the Joliet complex.
I do not think there is an easy way to get thru St. Louis.
Also spotted a SB UP coal train on the former C&EI at Livingston where the line crosses under the I55.
ed
Ed, I just read an article that mentioned that the line has reverted to 79-mph operation for a time, in preparation for the new locomotives and more track being brought up to standards (PTC-wise, I presume). They may have removed the sign...I didn't see it on my return from Peoria last weekend, either.
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