Chicago drowning in trains

[Chris30]

Quote by CShaverRR:

However, I believe that trains are made in Global III (Rochelle) that go directly to NS (Ashland Abenue) or CSX (59th Street).  These were intended to reduce the amount of highway interchange.  I don't know how well they're succeeding.

As far as I understand it, all EB stack trains on the UP Geneva Sub stop and drop cars/blocks/containers at Global III which are not going to the same terminal as the rest of the train. In the past a stack train for Global I in Chicago would take its entire train to Global I and the CSX and NS blocks would be trucked accross town. Now, like Carl said, Global III sorts out the blocks and makes-up transfer runs to NS Ashland Ave (IG3AH), CSX 59th St. (IG3CH) and Global II (IG2G3/IG3G2 turn). Is it working / reducing the number of trucks making transfer runs? I don't have any numbers in front of me but I would say the answer is yes. A good indication is the new Edelstein connection that was just completed to allow UP stack trains access to the old SI Line and Global III. The new connection allows UP stack trains on the BNSF that used to go straight through to Global I or IMX access to Global III where they can be sorted.

CC

[woody9]

There's also a grain elevator just to the east that gets cars several times a week and used to be switched by a CSX GP-40.

 

Woody 9

[woody9]

The other real problem is the Illinois legislature. The RTA act only covers the six counties around Chicago and the grandfathering of service to Kenosha. The governor and the legislature can't currently agree on anything much less approving a .25 increase in the current RTA sales tax to take care of today's business much less trains to Milwaukee. It will take some interesting taxing and funding to get folks in Carbondale (far southern Illinois) or anywhere else, to much care about Metra service to Wis. All politics are local and that's not a train reference.

 

Woody 9

[daveklepper]

Step by step improvements are being made and will continue to be made in handling Chicago's freight traffic.  We have read about up-to-date interlocking replacing stop and proceed at one major crossingm a grade crossing elimination project completed, and incrementally these will have a positive effect.  Fast enough to accommodate traffic growth?  Probably not in itself.  But as traffic grows we will see more and more run-through trains that bypass Chicago, not only on the "J", but through Memphis and Shreveport.   Money is being spent on terminal operations, and look at the Long Beach - Port of LA trench, the restoration of freight service to New York's Staten Island, etc.

 

[KCSfan]

The other real problem is the Illinois legislature. The RTA act only covers the six counties around Chicago and the grandfathering of service to Kenosha. The governor and the legislature can't currently agree on anything much less approving a .25 increase in the current RTA sales tax to take care of today's business much less trains to Milwaukee. It will take some interesting taxing and funding to get folks in Carbondale (far southern Illinois) or anywhere else, to much care about Metra service to Wis. All politics are local and that's not a train reference.

Woody 9

Woody, that's precisely what I was referring to in my last reply where I said, "Springfield likely sees it as Chicago's problem. I moved away from Chicagoland 46 years ago but some things never change. The legislators from downstate were reluctant then to appropriate a dime for anything that was unique to Chicago. Always has been and likely always will be that way. You'd almost think Illinois was two distinct states with the boundary line runnning E-W about where Will County meets DuPage.

Mark

[MP173]

Joe:

Thanks for the update on teh Wabash.  Did you ever see the big article in Trains back in the 90's on the NS Wabash line?  It was really a great article.  Almost as good as the one on the Nickle Plate line.  So, is it correct to assume there is no coal traffic on the Wabash?  If not, that would tend to keep things fluid, particularly around the river crossings with a little grade.

Regarding the attitudes towards Chicago from downstaters...I recall as a kid growin up in Southern Illinois (and I do mean Southern Illinois) the attitude of the locals towards the city and the politics involved.  Looking at it now as an adult living just outside of Chicago, I would say those attitudes towards Chicago were correct.  It is a drain for $$$.

ed

[homedelete]

Random railway question:

Does anyone know the name, history or ownership of the abandoned tracks clearly depicted in the link below?

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=41.988269~-87.730594&style=h&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=11368301&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1 

I discovered the tracks while in LaBagh woods.  They're unusual because they run from southwest to northeast which is not often seen in Chicago.   The line appears to intersect with existing Metra tracks around the Mayfair stop.  The trainline extends northeast to the edge of the City before they disappear, although remnants of the former right of way still exist.  I saw the line on a map of Chicago rails from 1928 but it didn't say much about that line.  I ask this because this abandoned railway would make a great rails to trails project.   Thanks for anyone who has any information!

[nanaimo73]

Random railway question:

Does anyone know the name, history or ownership of the abandoned tracks clearly depicted in the link below?

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=41.988269~-87.730594&style=h&lvl=14&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=11368301&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

That would be the former Chicago & North Western's Weber Subdivision, which ran from Mayfair to a connection with the Kenosha Sub. at Canal.

[Modelcar]

.....That satellite image is nice and clear.

[Chris30]

Also, the line continued south of Mayfair as the CNW Cragin Sub to Harding Ave and the 40th St. Yards - @ 5.5 miles. Most, if not all of this track is now gone.

CC

[gradyo54]

Last week’s Economist had an article on Chicago bogging down with 1,200 trains a day, a third of the nation’s rail traffic. It can take days to get freight across town. Unlike airlines, or any efficient logistics operation railroads have no intermediary to route shipments from one carrier to another. Railroads just fax news of arriving trains.

The Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO) wants to fix this and a planned Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program is waiting for federal funding (which they’ll never get from Bush).

I’d imagine anyone planning logistics at FedEx or WalMart would look at this and wonder why railroads have neglected hubs that connect carriers.

This looks like an obvious business opportunity for logistics entrepreneurs to save railroads and customers a huge amount of time and $ nationwide. Why aren’t railroads a lot more interested.

That article sounds like something CNN would run "This economy is grinding to a halt"  Yea I guess they think all those containers are empty, trains running all over America just to give rail fans something to ooh & ahh about! The comment about FedEx I can understand, they use a lot of air planes to move most of their shipments, WalMart is another story!  JB Hunt, Schneider, a lot of those tofc cars are loaded with WalMart junk from China, Go to Rochelle IL and see for yourself! Also the endless Government economic reports mean very little, Does any one really know what .02 of 1% is " it ain't much" Also 5% unemployment is considered full employment in this Country! I've said here before and I will repeat "The only people not working in the USA are the ones that don't want to work" Railroads make money when trains move, not setting in Chicago! Get the Government and the "Enviro-wackos" out of the picture and let the Railroad companies"Get er Done"

[Murphy Siding]

     Yes- I resurrected a 5 year old thread that has been dead for 7 or 8 months.  Sue me.

     Reason being,  this thread has so much info about Chicago, and CREATE.  So,  I wanted to ask if CREATE shows up on the radar of any of the stimulus money things being bandied about?

     If, we are going to spend funds as investment for the future of our economy, (not just to debate whether we should or shouldn't), wouldn't this project be a worthy infrastructure investment in our transportaion system, and our economy?

[Anonymous]

As I understand CREATE, it is for rail improvements in Chicago, but is intended to be a template for a similar program extended nationwide in scope.  Apparently that was the theme of the PBS piece last night.  If this vision were suddenly fast tracked in the spirit of economic stimulus, is it a forgone conclusion that all the private railroads would take the money?

[CNW 6000]

Murphy Siding

Reason being,  this thread has so much info about Chicago, and CREATE.  So,  I wanted to ask if CREATE shows up on the radar of any of the stimulus money things being bandied about?

     If, we are going to spend funds as investment for the future of our economy, (not just to debate whether we should or shouldn't), wouldn't this project be a worthy infrastructure investment in our transportaion system, and our economy?

There was much talk of 'shovel ready' projects getting first crack at that funding.  How close to that is CREATE?  According to the CREATE website (http://www.createprogram.org/PDF/2009_4_CREATE_Timeline.pdf) there was 30 millino in federal funding released in '08 and it looks like a bunch of projects are completed and more in the works.

In addition the site (http://www.createprogram.org/PDF/Economic%20Recovery%20Package%20one%20pager%201.pdf) mentions the stimulus package and give some numbers regarding what effects may happen upon completion.

I also wonder about how the potential Olympic bid impacts this all too.  Quite a complicated web this is!

[CShaveRR]

I've heard it mentioned that the availability of viable transit alternatives is currently a factor working against Chicago's bid for the 2016 games. I suspect that if the Midwest High Speed Rail Network gets "stimulated", a lot could be done in time for the Olympics--of course, there has to be come concrete planning done by next year when the venue is decided.

As for CREATE's role in all of this, I suspect that it's somewhat limited. About the only CREATE projects that affect high-speed routes would be grade separations at Brighton Park (if that's still being considered) and Argo, and the already-completed improvements at Corwith crossing.

[Murphy Siding]

     I was thinking of stimulis funding independant of the HSR proposals.  As I understand it, most states are trying to push for funding on infrastructure projects that are well into, or beyond the planning stages.  Presumably, to get the money *stimulating* things sooner, rather than later.  A water pipeline project in my part of the country just got some additional funding in this way.   Seeing how railroads play such a big part in our economy, especially in the Chicago/midwest area, shouldn't a lot of politicians be playing cheerleader for CREATE right about now?

[jeaton]

Murphy Siding

     I was thinking of stimulis funding independant of the HSR proposals.  As I understand it, most states are trying to push for funding on infrastructure projects that are well into, or beyond the planning stages.  Presumably, to get the money *stimulating* things sooner, rather than later.  A water pipeline project in my part of the country just got some additional funding in this way.   Seeing how railroads play such a big part in our economy, especially in the Chicago/midwest area, shouldn't a lot of politicians be playing cheerleader for CREATE right about now?

This report seems to be the latest on CREATE  http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm? ArticleID=46866

[CNW 6000]

I couldn't make your link work Jay.

[aricat]

What I'm amazed with is that the NS's ex- Wabash line between Kansas City and Detriot is not the hottest piece of railroad in the country. Is avoiding Chicago really that important? The trucking industry sure thinks so. They have I-74 and I-39 to miss those imfamous manual lanes on the Tri-State!