BNSF "Argonne" Spur

[Green Bay Paddlers]

One of my favorite places to hike (and railran) is "Waterfall Glen" Forest Preserve surrounding Argonne National Laboratory in southeast DuPage County, IL. Mostly intermodal freight (and AMTRAK) flies through this area quite often. However, there is a spur line that winds its way through the forest preserve to serve some industries west of Lemont Avenue.

My question is - how often does the local service this area? I would love to time a hike in the area with the local coming through so that I can photograph it with some beautiful scenere around it!

[eastside]

I used to fly out of DuPage County Airport frequently. Whenever I had a passenger I made sure to overfly the Fermilab accelerator, which is a mile in diameter -- an awesome sight. Never did see a train using the spur however. Several members of this NG live nearby. Perhaps they can help.

[Anonymous]

Argonne & Fermi are two different places. I'm not sure about the local, but these days you have to be careful taking pictures around the labs. Last fall I was told to "move on" by Lemont police while train watching on the CN/UP joint line by the big refineries on New Ave. just west of downtown Lemont. Fermi was closed to the public after 9/11 and I believe public access is still restricted or tightly controlled. Waterfall Glen should be OK, but keep a copy of Trains in the car just in case.

[Green Bay Paddlers]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, Argonne labs are pretty blocked off and I really don't want to photograph those. I have noticed in recent hikes that security has increased. The spur runs through a deserted part of the forest preserve and it's a beautiful area. Such a lonely place in the woods with a single track spur slicing through the foliage. Would be fun to see a local working through there....