Just got back from 5 days at a conference in Chicago. I took advantage of better hotel rates to stay outside of the city and commute in on the BNSF from Brookfield. Some observations:
It was a fun week.
Kevin, glad to hear you got out my way to see the "parade" at least once while you were here...where was your conference (Aurora???). Yes, the dinky parade can be quite a show...especially in the evening rush hours which are shorter than the morning rush. The first train from Aurora to CUS leaves Aurora (IIRC) at about 4:30 a.m. and the first limited stop express leaves Aurora at about 5:25! The evening rush seems to be much more compacted to me. Glad to have had you out this way...y'all come back now...hear?
Before he comes back, the ol' wallet needs replenished....
South Shore has had bi-level gallery MU coaches for a few years now, numbered in the 300 series. The roster has become increasingly varied, although most of the differences in the various single-level classes are not obvious.
South Shore has operated bi-levels in the past. Prior to re-equipping in the early 1980's, they leased a six-car set of coaches plus an F40PH from the RTA to ease winter equipment shortages.
eolafan Kevin, glad to hear you got out my way to see the "parade" at least once while you were here...where was your conference (Aurora???). Yes, the dinky parade can be quite a show...especially in the evening rush hours which are shorter than the morning rush. The first train from Aurora to CUS leaves Aurora (IIRC) at about 4:30 a.m. and the first limited stop express leaves Aurora at about 5:25! The evening rush seems to be much more compacted to me. Glad to have had you out this way...y'all come back now...hear?
My conference was at the Fairmont near Millennium Park (my gosh, how it is built up-I remember when it was all IC yards & warehouses...now you have to look to find the Tribune Tower hunkered down in amongst everything!), which gave me a chance to hang around Randolph Street station while eating lunch/dinner. I knew of a hotel in Lyons, about 6 blocks from the Metra in Brookfield so I used the rate as an excuse to stay and commute in. Mornings came kinda early for all that...maybe I'll set my sights on the evening rush next time. I keep thinking of making a short trip to Chicago every year but never get around to it.
Otherwise, I usually take the California Zephyr every spring so I get to see (and experience) the racetrack from the "inside". So, one way or the other, I'll be back!
mudchicken Before he comes back, the ol' wallet needs replenished....
The South Shore has some single-level trailers. Are they "blind" trailers or "control" trailers?
Can single-level and bilevel cars mu?
daveklepper The South Shore has some single-level trailers. Are they "blind" trailers or "control" trailers? Can single-level and bilevel cars mu?
South Shore's trailers (200 series) are blind, which is the only giveaway that they are trailers. They are equipped with pantographs to provide HVAC and lighting. South Shore also has single-ended motors (not married pairs) in the 100 series.
Single-level and bi-level cars cannot run in multiple with each other.
Robinson's Ribs isn't all that spectacular, but it's probably the best place (only place?) for ribs in the station. If you want good barbecue, you need Uncle Bub's in Westmont (a walk of only a few blocks from the Metra Station), which is good for anything but the ribs. The best ribs (my opinion) in Chicagoland (and this may shock a few people) are served up by Portillo's, a hot-dog chain!
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
CShaveRR The best ribs (my opinion) in Chicagoland (and this may shock a few people) are served up by Portillo's, a hot-dog chain!
The best ribs (my opinion) in Chicagoland (and this may shock a few people) are served up by Portillo's, a hot-dog chain!
While I'm not a big fan of ribs, I will add that Portillo's also makes a killer Italian Beef sandwich and super great chili dogs as well. I just answered my own question as to why I weigh 250 lbs.
I tend to stay away from Portillo's and the other hot dog/beef stands in the city. I did have a 12 inch Italian sub yesterday at Fiori's Deli yesterday...outstanding.
Carl, I was thinking of you yesterday while in Northlake. I was driving south along the yard and OOPS...there was a pileup of about 6 cars by the office. I quickly pulled in and took a few photos and then got out of town. The remote control operator was walking around along with supervisors and no one looked happy.
Several of the cars were listing severely so this was going to be a fun day at Proviso! Probably shut the hump down, unless there are other paths to the top of the hill.
Ed
Kids will be kids some days, Ed! They'll probably be put in time-out for that one.If the cars were on the hump lead "by the office", the "side of the hill" track was probably blocked, too. I just hope the other hump lead wasn't.And I was thinking of you today, while sitting at that crossing west of beautiful downtown Porter, watching an eastbound train of crude.
I'll second that about the Portillo's / Barnelli's ribs. (Technically, it's Barnelli's which shares space with most Portillo's restaurants but the sign always says Portillos). There's a Portillo's about a half mile south of the Rt 59 station. I've never been there. Okay, maybe just a few times... this month.
Anyone who thinks that Portillos makes the best ribs is not a native of Chicago. There are tons of places in and around Chicago with better ribs than Portillos, whether you travel from the city north, west or south.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain Anyone who thinks that Portillos makes the best ribs is not a native of Chicago. There are tons of places in and around Chicago with better ribs than Portillos, whether you travel from the city north, west or south. Rich
eolafan richhotrain Anyone who thinks that Portillos makes the best ribs is not a native of Chicago. There are tons of places in and around Chicago with better ribs than Portillos, whether you travel from the city north, west or south. Rich Rich, I don't recall seeing anybody here express an opinion that Potrillo's makes the best RIBS in the Chicago area...THEY DON'T....I only expressed my opinion about their Italian Beef sandwiches and chili dogs...otherwise I agree with your opinion.
LOL
I was referring to CShaveRR's personal opinion that Portillo's makes the best ribs.
Oh, I see...everybody is entitled to their opinion but in this case I'm not qualified to offer my own since I don't care all that much for ribs. My wife thinks Portillo's makes the very best chocolate cake in the area.
Great. Now I can't read my own thread without ending up in the refrigerator...so, a non-food question. The South Shore bilevel m.u.'s...They appear to be identical to the regular gallery cars in use all around Metra's non-electric lines, except that the very end of each car has an additional door/vestibule with the pantagraph/electrical equipment above it. If that it the case, what is the seating capacity of these cars? For that matter, what is the seating capacity of Metra's regular (not cab) gallery cars? I have seen sources that say anything from 148 to 159. I know there is some variation in the seating arrangements.
eolafan While I'm not a big fan of ribs, I will add that Portillo's also makes a killer Italian Beef sandwich
While I'm not a big fan of ribs, I will add that Portillo's also makes a killer Italian Beef sandwich
Agreed. Hard to find a better Itailian Beef sandwich.
While the landscape has changed quite a bit from the good old days, a worthwhile train trip is on the Metra Rock Island out of LaSalle Street Station to Joliet.
As you leave the station, you can glance east down Polk Street and still see Dearborn Station and the faded Lee Jeans sign on the building facing the station. While Grand Central Station is long gone, its empty train yard is still visible.
Crossing under Roosevelt Road, the double bascule bridge over SCAL comes into view and, although the excavation is now filled in, the bridges are still there crossing over the old 4-track C&WI mainline on which the Santa Fe Super Chief came into town at Dearborn Station. The ICRR tracks still cross the old Rock Island at this point.
Then, the PRR lift bridge at Alton Junction comes into view at 21st Street.
As the PRR tracks turn east and cross the Rock Island tracks at 63rd Street, the vacant land where Englewood Station once stood is visible at the northeast corner of the interlock.
Right beyond Blue Island at 127th Street, the maze of railroad bridges crossing the Cal Sag Channel come into view below where 5 different mainlines once traversed the channel.
Then, onto Joliet Union Station where the ATSF and C&A lines crossed the Rock Island tracks.
Best Beef sandwich is The Beef Shack on the west side of St. Charles il on rt 64.
was the been vila for years but has changed hands and now you can't find andy better
condi
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