Rail customers on CP

[northwesterner]

Does anyone know what rail customers are served by the Canadian Pacific in north suburban Chicago from Metra's Milwaukee North line? I am often stopped at Dundee Road by freight trains on this line. They are usually long (60+ cars) so I have assumed they are coming to and from the Bensenville or other yard farther South. But, last night I was stopped by a short train (25-30 cars) many of which were flat cars with what appeared to be steel car or truck chassis. Here is the crux of the question: this train was being PUSHED north, the front of the train was a covered hopper with a man standing on the frame or on a ladder with a red light or a flare! Where were they going, why being pushed and that must be cold and scary to be on the front end like that. Look forward to replies, please.[?]

[CShaveRR]

I'm wondering whether he had to set out a bad-order car or something (any short spur would do for that--is there one nearby?), and you caught him when he was backing up toward the rest of his train.