Chicago Rail Points of Interest

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be in Chacago in late June and will have some free time to wander the city. I would apprecciate any advice on what to see concerning Railroading.
Thanks John

[CShaveRR]

John, there is SO much that can be seen around here! Help us out and be more specific...

Are you coming in by train? Where are you staying? What are your interests (mainline freight? Amtrak? commuter? electric [South Shore]? transit? industrial? any particular railroad[s]?)? Are you here over a weekend or just midweek? When you say "wander", would that be with or without a car of your own? I'm sure that with more information from you, somebody on this site will be able to give you a very satisfactory response!

[eolafan]

John, may I suggest any one of the three following sites: First (because I am prejudiced) may I suggest you visit either the Naperville or Rt. 59 stations on the BNSF main...a WHOLE LOT of trains (approx. 80-100 per day) including commuter, freight and Amtrak. My second choice would be the Elmhurst station on the UP-West main line...lots of trains including commuter and UP freight but no Amtrak. Last would be the Blue Island station on the old Rock Island (now Metra) Blue Island station (or the Blue Island station on the IC electric line would be o.k. as it is only a block away)...fewer trains and include commuter and IC freights. Any of these are accessible by Metra commuter lines. If you are not able to get out of the city, may I suggest the Roosevelt Road overpass over the Union Station lead tracks...lots of commuter and Amtrak action. Hope this helps. Jim Shaw, Aurora, IL

[Anonymous]

Carl, thanks for the reply! I will have a car and can go most anywhere. I have a fondness for Museums and structures. Amtrak and newer commuter types are ok as well. No particular ry. Not sure where I'm staying have'nt finalized plans yet.

John

[Anonymous]

Jim, Thanks!! Your information is a very good starting point. I will have to figure out where these places are but I'm sure I can find them.

Thanks again,

John Newton, Cincinnati,OH

[Soo2610]

For active running mainline freights, the diamond in Rochelle is a must. Plenty of BNSF and UP activity with lots of parking and photo ops. If museums interest you, I would strongly recommend the Illinois Railroad museum in Union. Check out their web page for what equipment will be running when you are in town.

[eolafan]

John, Len took the words right out of my mouth...if you have a car Rochelle is a real gem to visit...a railfan's paradise if you ask me...also totally agree with Len regarding the Illinois Railway Museum in Union...huge amounts of displays (Big Boy, DDA40X, F7, E8-9, F45, etc, etc, etc, etc)literally hundreds of pieces of equipment from locos to cars to maint. of way, etc. both freight and passenger, including a CNW/Metra bi-level car/F7 set of equipment in fully operational condition. You can spend a full day in Union and not see everything. Jim

[CShaveRR]

Thanks for the clarification. I'd say that you'd probably want to stay west of the city somewhere, and that LaGrange (BNSF/IHB/Amtrak/Metra) and Elmhurst (UP/Metra) would give you the best train-watching (with amenities such as restaurants and hobby shops nearby). The postings below that suggest that you go to Rochelle and the Illinois Railway Museum are also good if you have a day to head west.

Structures? There are drawbridges over the navigable rivers just about anywhere in the area, and unique station buildings along many of the commuter lines (I nominate the BNSF route between Chicago and Aurora as the best in that regard). Interlocking towers: not many any more, but one very accessible one in West Chicago (same line you'll see at Elmhurst; it crosses the EJ&E at West Chicago).

I'd also suggest a look at:
http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/index.html

Have fun! (Any more questions, we're all here!)
Carl

[Anonymous]

Thanks Carl, Looks like I'll be at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel. Is this in a nice part of town, (safe to walk after dark)? Seems I'll have to do some driving to get to Elmhurst but that looks like it's the place to go!!! I'm going with my family to a volleyball tournament then it looks like we're going to Minn. to visit the Mall of America in Bloomington, (ugh) ;-). Take care and thanks again for the info.
Regards, John

[Anonymous]

Tahks Len, I don't know where Union is, YET. If it is nearby I will surely check it out, I really enjoy the museums. Thanks again, John

[CShaveRR]

I wouldn't want to wander too far from your hotel (no reason to walk anywhere, really). I'm not familiar with where it is in relation to McCormick Place, but Metra's Electric line (ex-IC) isn't far away.
Elmhurst won't be hard to get to...take I-290 west from Chicago, exit at St. Charles Road, go west to Poplar Avenue (second light), and north (right) on Poplar to just before the tracks, and west toward the station (the hobby shop should have brochures on either Rochelle or the Illinois Railway Museum, should you need them).
You'll find Union 'way out west of Chicago, along I-90, this side of Rockford. It's a trip, but definitely worth it. Rochelle would also be easy...take I-290 west to I-88, and take that out to I-39 or Illinois 251, and head north on those.
An alternative, closer to the tracks between Geneva and Rochelle, would be Illinois 38 (two-lane for the most part, but highly recommended!).

[Soo2610]

It is about 55 to 60 miles northwest of Chicago between Crystal Lake and Marengo. Easiest way to find it is off of Route 176 or route 120 and follow the signs. DON'T try finding your way through the back roads or you may never be seen again. Even some of the locals have gotten lost on these roads.

[Soo2610]

OOPS.......correction! Make that route 20 NOT route 120. Sorry about the typo.

[James35]

I visited Chicago without a car about two years ago and here's my list: Ride the Metra electric electric line for the fun of it. Take a few photos of the South Shore Line MU's. I found them stored after 3 PM one station south of Randolph Street Station, just south of the Mueseum. (You will need a ticket to get on the platform.) Visit the old C&NW station in the evening commuter rush hour. (the lighting is perfect in the evening. And the station at Downer's Grove on the BN Aurora line is a good place. Just my thoughts from an out of state visitor. I do wish I had ridden the South Shore line. Feel free to update this list as my info is two years old

[Anonymous]

john if your driving in from the south side of chicago try to stop at dolton, blue island
and work your way north
and dont forget the souther lake shore under the chicago skyway
hammond In., state line crossing,
what about the good old IHB
theres so much to see on the south side
have fun and be safe
it is the south side
Scott

[Anonymous]

To All, A big THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! I now have a good idea of what to do and see while I'm in the Windy City. I am very appreciative to all of the replys and directions I have recieved. It makes me very happy to know there are Railfans and just plain good folk that enjoy the same things as I. Again, Thanks for all of the suggestions and information provided. I hope to return and post a short blurb on my adventures. John

[dknelson]

Perhaps others have already suggested this ....
I strongly advise tracking (no pun intended) down the July 1993 issue of Trains -- devoted to railfanning Chicago with a useful map and lots of good photos
Also, John Szwajkert has published a Train Watcher's Guide to Chicago as well as a Train Watcher's Map of Chicago. Strongly recommended.
Dave Nelson

[CShaveRR]

If you buy the book, the map is supposed to come with it. As an area resident, I'd like to see the book updated to reflect BNSF, UP, and the post-Conrail era. But I remember the first edition and what a neat idea that was back in the 60s!

John, when are you planning on coming this way? If I'm still on vacation myself, I may see you trackside at Elmhurst!

[Anonymous]

This is coming from a rookie railfanner from Iowa, but here are a few of the places I enjoyed while I was out there:

Naperville Station-Very beautiful station, lots of traffic. I especially like the tunnel underneath the tracks

Glen Ellyn Station: I was staying here, and I took the Metra into the city. It's on the same line (UP-West, the Main to Denver) as Elmhurst. Nothing like standing 4 feet away from an Autorack at full speed. Word of note: On the UP lines from Chicago, trains run on the left-hand side.

Chicago & North Western Station: It's now the Ogilvie Transportation Center, but the locals still call it Noth Western Terminal. The Citicorp tower was built right on top of it. There's a really cool sign above the skywalk from Riverside Plaza that says "To C. & N.W. Rwy. Trains"

The "L": One of chicago's trademarks. You can walk from North Western Terminal to the Clinton St. station. I reccomend riding the Green Line to Clark/Lake, then taking the Orange or Brown Line around the Loop. The Green Line even crosses over the UP tracks coming from the Terminal.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone who responded,

Thanks very, very much!!! I just got back from my trip and had a very good time. I have to admit that I did not make it to Elmhurst or Rochelle. (Big Loss On My Part. Did'nt have the time.) But all is not lost. I had a room that overlooked the MARTA yard on Lake Shore Drive right next to the Convention Center. I had a view that had the perspective of looking at my layout and got a very good idea on how fast to run my trains. I want to thank everyone who posted sights to see in Chicago. This is to Radiodude1460, I agree. I had a great time in Chicago. I had the misfortune of going to the Mall Of America in Bloomington, Minn. People in Minnesota are not very friendly. At least not as friendly as in Chicago. Thanks Again for all of the posts to my original question.

John

[Anonymous]

Carl, I wish I would have had the time to meet you. I had alot of things to see and also had a alot of things to do. I had the best time in Chicago. I had to go to Minnesota. What a drag. If I ever have to go back to Minn I hope it is only to work, people there are not the very friendly. I hope I never have to go back to Minnesota. I mean that with a passion.

John