Chicago Railfanning from actual Chicago railfans?

[techguy57]

Beside for the Illinois Railway Museum and Rochelle, what would you recommend as places in Chicagoland to go? I live in the Far NW burbsand I'm planning on visiting Deval tower and East Troy, WI. I've been to the IRM, to Joliet (I have family nearby), to the trolley museum in Elgin and I've seen the list from Trains Magazine. The list in the magazine is great but, what I'd really like to know is:
Where other people recommend going (especially other Chicagoans)?
Where can I go for good photos, especially up close ones?
Are there any places I can tour or at least get a great view of?
Any good places to view crossings and especially yards?
Where can I go or who can I talk to so that I can get information for the
actual companies ie UP, BNSF, CSX, etc that run through Chicago.

All right so there are a lot of questions there but Chicago has such a great rail history there has to be some folks who can give me some more ideas. I've just really been bitten by the bug and not those darn ladybugs either! Thanks for all of the help!

[northwesterner]

You have the list from Trains Magazine, which is super. If you want close, try Metra- UP anywhere along the line. Clybourn is especially busy a.m. and p.m. because this is where the North line and Northwest line diverge. During rush hour, there is a train through here every five minutes or so. For the Class 1s, anywhere along the BNSF racetrack to Aurora is good. For fun, stand at the Western Springs north platform on Sunday afternoon, when Amtrak comes through at 70mph. Hold on to your hat!

[Anonymous]

It gets fairly short shrift in Trains magazine, but definitely try LaGrange Crossing. If you are there from noon to 3 PM, you will easily see 10-11 trains an hour. You can walk to the nearby Metra LaGrange Rd stop for close-up shots of BNSF action. If you stay on Tilden St., you get can get close-up shots on the very busy IHB.

If you're willing to drive for about 2 hours, then absolutely go to Dolton Junction. The action is intense!

Brighton Park is also one of my favorite spots.

Use the excellent Chicago Area Rail Junctions website for more detailed information. The URL is: www.dhke.com/CRJ

[kschmidt]

If you like history I would agree with bearclaw36 Brighton Park is a great spot. It features working semaphores controlled by a switchtender in a small building. I have been there several times and the train action can get pretty heavy.

Along the BN Triple track mainline I would recommend Highlands. It is a suburban stop so not all of the METRA trains stop there. There is a road bridge just west of the depot. The platforms are nice and long and trains can be seen approaching for some distance.

On the UP Triple track mainline, I just recently was at Elmhurst. There is more freight traffic on this line than commuter trains. Also there are some nice curves on line near Lombard.

Also one of the busiest spots I have been to is Hayford Junction. I believe it was talked about in TRAINS. There is almost always something moving at Hayford.

Keith

[Wdlgln005]

If you like electric railroading I'd recomend the Orange Line of the El. Starts at Midway Airport, follows mostly RR right of way until about 18th street where it joins the Green Line. There it loops around the downtown area before heading south on Wabash back to Midway. In the loop area you can transfer to northside brown & other trains. The CTA has a good guide to attractions & other sites you may want to visit. For $1.75 it's a good ride, and a transfer is only .25.

[dknelson]

Brighton Park for sure .... it would be a bit of a drive but I like the west end of Eola (Aurora is visible to the west) because in addition to plenty of BNSF freight, Amtrak, and commuter trains you also see the switchers work the west end of the yard.
The last time I was there the old turntable was still near the enginehouse.
This is on the old CB&Q main, just before it splits off into two lines, one down to Galesburg the other north thru Rochelle.
Dave Nelson

[CShaveRR]

I believe this site has links to the major railroads, so you could contact them that way.

I'm heavily prejudiced toward Elmhurst, as the trains usually move slowly enough to be photographable, and there are good places to eat and a hobby shop nearby. LaGrange has similar amenities, but the trains seem to move through there faster.
Franklin Park won't be as busy, but you'll get variety there.

There's no way I'd attempt to shoot down anyone's recommendations on this thread. All of them have been good, and visiting the web site is a definite must. There are enough sites (and sights) to keep you busy for months' worth of weekends!

[Soo2610]

You might give West Chicago a try. Lots of UP action and if you are really lucky you may catch an EJ&E crossing the diamond.

[eolafan]

Come join us BNSF fans at the spot where McClurg Road crosses the BNSF main line at the Eola yard office in Aurora. There are usually a few of us (to as many as ten or so on weekends) hanging around watching trains, which sometimes come in really BIG BUNCHES. About a hundres movements a day including Amtrak (six trains), Metra (dozens) and freights of all kinds (many dozens). Hope to see you there. Jim

[kwboehm]

I was wondering if anyone had any information as to the status of the Metra ex-MILW / NWSMTD F40C's that were being retired. I know the one caught fire, but I never heard a final status on it. Also I was wondering if anyone knew the fate of the units once Metra does retire them, i.e. if any other commuter markets were looking at using them, or if nay were going to museums.

[Anonymous]

This is probobly a little late but La Grange Illinois is the best spot in all of Chicagoland. Very Very Busy and Very safe. I saw 5 BNSF, 4 AMTARK, and 5 Metra trains today (saturday) in just 2 hours!

P.S. Ive seen F-40C's operating on the Milwaukke Distric North as usual for the past two months so as far as I know none have been retired

[kwboehm]

Thank you. Glad to hear that the F40C's are still alive. I'd like to make it back to the area and see them running before they go.