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[Anonymous]

Just restarting this place because the old place was locked...

 

Old Thread

And an old photo to kick off the fun...

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1317508

Enjoy the new place everyone!

[nssr9169]

so how many threads have been started now?

[FranklinC55]

Right, well there was lots of neat talk of the J so lets start that up again. I shot the 322 and 306 switching Joliet 2 weeks ago. Who knows where all of the EJE freight cars, MOW equipment, and switchers will be heading on the Gary RR?

[wctransfer]

Robby, Ive been on Mapquest for a while and found Blue Island Jct, where all of the bridges are, but cant find Barr Yard. If I found it, it wasnt labeled so Im not really sure. Can you link me a mapquest aerial of the yard?

Alec

[ns3010]

I just found out that NJT has two jet powered snow melters. I never knew they had them, and I've never seen them before. Let the hunt begin!

Saw the weirdest thing today... The battle of the Class Is/Shortlines/Trucking. There is a local Toys R Us warehouse over in Flanders, that is served by the Morristown & Erie. A truck marked for TRU was pulling a CSX intermodal container, on a BNSF trailer. Bizarre, especially for a BNSF trailer to be out in Jersey. Then again, BNSF locos (GEVOs) are not that rare on NS trains in Jersey, but I have yet to see one because they are not in my area.

[EJE818]

Franklin, . It's good to have another J fan on here, now I'm not the odd one out from all the WC fans that we will be joining under the CN umbrella on Sunday. My bad, CN only gets 4 SW1200s and two slugs, not half of each, and CN also gets the SW1001s Gary Railway will own the EJ&E trackage east of Buchanan Street in Gary.

Alec, I'll try looking for a map of Barr Yard when I get the chance. I can tell you a very important street to remember, Halsted Street (IL Route 1). Halsted goes over IHB's Blue Island Yard and Barr Yard within a half mile of each other. To get to these yards take I-80 or I-294 to the NB exit for Halsted Street. Going northbound on Halsted, you will first pass over IHB's Blue Island Yard. Shortly after going over Blue Island Yard you will go over Barr Yard. Halsted goes over the two yards and there are sidewalks on both bridges to stand on, allowing for one to legally get photos without going onto railroad property. I strongly discourage attempting to go into either yard, as IHB and CSX police both are known to be very aggresive.

Also of interest is Homewood Yard, which is easily reached by taking I-80 or I-294 to the SB exit for Halsted Street, then turning right at the next traffic light after getting off. This will take you directly towards Woodcrest Shop. You can then turn either way on the street just before the yard and explore the area. All three yards are better in the AM hours. What I like to do is visit the three yards in the morning, then go to Blue Island or Dolton Junction in the afternoon.

Also if you want to know where NRE Dixmoor is just let me know and I'll PM you with the address and directions on how to get permission to take photos in the yard. That yard again is located practically next door to Blue Island and Barr Yards and again is best in the AM hours.

[Railfan Alex]

Well I'm out railfanning tomorrow, and so I will take pictures!

Now back to video editing...

[wctransfer]

Robby, Ive been up and down Halsted St. but Im not sure of where these yards are. Am I close?

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Blue+Island&state=IL&country=US&latitude=41.6572&longitude=-87.68&geocode=CITY#a/maps/l:::Blue+Island:IL::US:41.6572:-87.68:city::1/m:hyb:13:41.690891:-87.638013:0:::::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e

[SD60M]

Well heres probably the best 70MAC shot i have ever taken! Also the last time i have seen a BN logo on the nose of a MAC too!

[EJE818]

Alec, here is a map I got of the area. I looked up the map to a nearby golf course. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Joe+Louis+the+Champ+Golf+Crse&city=Riverdale&state=IL&address=13100+S+Halsted+St&zipcode=60827&country=US&latitude=41.656173&longitude=-87.64118&geocode=ADDRESS

For some reason the yard doesn't show up, but it is right below the star. It would be between Forestview Avenue and Blue Island Road. Just a bit below that yard is IHB's Blue Island Yard, but the map has it labeled as a line owned by the Soo (???). Forestview Avenue/Jackson Street appears to follow Barr Yard most of its length, so that is probably something to keep in mind.

[EJE818]

Well, if today is the last day of the J I went out in style, just the way I wanted to. Caught a eastbound manifest heading through Joliet in run 8 with SD38-2s 672 and 673. Let me tell you, if that ends up being the last real J train I ever see then I am very satisfied. I chased it through New Lenox and Frankfort and got three vids of it. The sound in these vids is amazing to say the least. Now however, I am hearing rumors the deal will close at 11:59 Sunday (tommorow) so if thats the case I'll probably catch JSW1 and if it is the first day of CN I plan to catch JSW1 anyway.

Of course I'll say it once again, the J will not change overnight. I'll be watching for J trains (I will NOT call them CN trains if they have J power) for the next few weeks and months. I know CN power won't provide a loud motor sound that can be heard 5 miles away, cause thats exactly what the J train did today.

[WCfan]

Well I better post here so I have it in "My Forums".

Can't wait to see pictures and vids Robby!

Is anyone planning on going to the Mad City Train show in Madison this year?

[Noah Hofrichter]

Looking forward to the J videos Robby.

I'll be at the Mad City show as usual this year all weekend, and the model railroad club I'm with will be displaying our layout again. If anybody is going, feel free to stop by the Southern Wisconsin Sandhouse Crew layout (the big layout in the upstairs section with members running around in orange shirts), and ask somebody for Noah. If I'm not around, chances are good I will be if you stop back in 30 minutes.

Noah

[EJE818]

Well, this is it, the J will cease operations at 11PM tonight. CN operations will begin at 2AM after all the J's computers are linked up to CN's system. Here are the three vids I got. The sun didn't really cooperate but I can care less.

 Joliet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My-eYM32qso&feature=channel_page

New Lenox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDO75HWYdeU&feature=channel_page

Frankfort: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8skbTNih9U&feature=channel_page

Unfortunatly this was the only J train I got to see today, and one of only three that ran during daylight, the J has been quite dead, no doubt due to getting things ready for the transition tonight. Hopefully traffic goes back up to normal tommorow for some good J shooting. I am very happy with the run-bys I got today, but it is still a sad day for my railfanning career, the loss of my favorite railway and a company that has been operating for 122 years.

 

[BNSF & DMIR 4Ever]

After some time, the drought is over!! As I was returning home, I happened upon a westbound coal train. I quickly whipped a U-turn, and headed to the best available spot. I got there a few minutes early, so I had plenty of time to get prepared. The pics aren't too great, but that's because I capped them from the video I took.

 

First off, BNSF ES44AC 5954 leads the train around a corner 

 

 

Next, a close up of 5954

 

BNSF ES44AC 6029 is stuck in the middle

 

Next up, the gem of the bunch. BNSF SD70MAC 8987 is trailing. This is the first 70MAC that I've seen in H3 paint, and I'm led to it's believe one of the few(if not the only one) around.