HI once again

[railfan619]

Hey everyone,


I was down in Highland Park Illionis last night at the ravina music festival. It was pretty cool and I was right on the metra line that runs between Kenosha and Chicago. it was really cool because. I never got to see metra trains up close like that before and boy do they really pack in those people onto the trains. I got to see a bunch of trains pull up to the platform and unload hundreds of people from the 6,7 and 8 car trains. Also the engines are really loud when they come down the tracks. But anywho at the crossing that leads into the park has a bell and gates that two park employees open and close when ever a train comes though. Also I found out that they can open the control box to the bell and stop the bell from ringing which I thought was well stupid but I asked one of the guys and said they do it for considartaion of the band that is playing. Also what I found out was that the gates come down and the lights come on about 3 minutes before the train is even near the crossing. Also what. I though was cool is that they have wire all between the tracks like if you have a double main line a wire runs down the middle with signs saying danger do not cross until train has stopped and also at the crossings when the gates come down to stop traffic gates also come down to stop people from crossing in front of the train. But any who I also found out that was a frieght line but in the entire time I was sitting there. I did not see any frieght trains. So was it just a joke or do the frieght trains detour during rush hour so the metra trains. Can run pretty much on time. Thanks for any imput.