Our vacation (Friday through Monday) consisted of two days of driving and two days of fun in Chicago. Forum member Carl Shaver and his wife Pat were kind of like our tour guides - keeping us busy and out of trouble. We really had a great time in Chicago and I know we could have spent much more time there and not have run out of things to do.
On Friday I got to see some ICE action in Davenport, Iowa. Otherwise, the drive to Chicago was fairly dull (except for getting lost two times).
On Saturday we rode Metra into Chicago with Carl and Pat. We visited Navy Pier and took an architecture cruise on the Chicago River. After that, we headed back to Lombard and had dinner and waited for some trains that never showed up. That was ok though since the next two days would make up for the lack of trains.
Sunday featured a tour of Proviso Yard for my dad and I while my mom and Pat did whatever it is that women do when they don't want to train watch. I think they went on a tour of some old houses or something like that.
Carl has quite the job at the hump yard at Proviso directing the cars into the correct yard tracks and keeping their speed under control. I doubt that I could ever do what he does without making a really big mess of things. Later on Sunday we saw several trains back in Lombard and then we went into Chicago on Metra. I was able to get a quick look at the CNW Heritage Unit and one of the unpatched CNW locomotives from the Metra train when we passed Proviso Yard. While my parents shopped I rode the Orange Line with Carl. I also got to ride Metra on the BNSF racetrack.
Monday was another travel day, but we stopped at Rochelle on the way out. I saw five trains in Rochelle and also waved to Mookie while she was watching the webcam (Isn't technology great?). After that, we saw more trains in Princeton, Illinois (including Amtrak) and then headed home.
In total, I saw locomotives from all of the Class One Railroads except for the Canadian railroads on this trip. The weather was absolutely beautiful with highs in the 70s, light winds, and lots of sun. Really, the only thing that I can complain about is not getting to spend more time in Chicago. However, that just means that I'll be headed back in the future.
Thank you Carl and Pat for being our tour guides and keeping us from getting hopelessly lost!
Below are two pictures. The first one is of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa:
Part of the Chicago skyline with the Sears Tower:
Willy
Willy! I am glad you are home safe and sound. I must say - I had to have BC wave so I would know which one he was.
Chicago is a fun place and Northern Illinois is a beautiful place to travel. I hope we can go back again before too many more years. Just too much to see and do in a short period of time.
Mook
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Sounds like you had a great time . I hope I can make it there someday for that tour..
And great pictures, especially the Sears tower one.
Glad you all had a good time, Willy. When did you get home last night?
It was fun for us, too--with the exception of our between-station dashes on the trips to and from St. Louis last week, that was the first time we'd been in the city since we took Mookie and Driver last year. Oh--I went down last winter to deliver Joe and Matt to their train, but Pat wasn't with us.
Sorry you missed the CN locomotives on a train alongside us while we were on the Orange line. By the time I could have said anything, they were gone.
And all of us absolutely agree that more time is needed--time to see the BNSF Racetrack in the daylight, and to get to places like Eola, Blue Island, etc., etc.
Don't forget whose track gives the smoother ride!
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)
Willy:Did you have an Italian Beef sandwitch? or a hot dog?
It truly was a great weekend with fantastic weather and blue skys. Sounds as if Carl has quite a job!
ed
I can personally attest to that as well, as I served as Carl's chauffeur one day.
Willy, too bad you didn't have enough time to swing up into Cedar Rapids- with alittle luck, I could've shown you a couple of CN engines!
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
Why, SJ! You know I was the short, dumpy one!
No time to take them to Portillo's, either, Ed--they did like the pizza-with-a-view that we had in Elmhurst (Brian, you remember that place).
And if you get up this way anytime soon, Chad--no problem! We owe you one!
CW - I didn't get any train pictures, which I regret. I guess I just didn't want to look at them through the camera. That's the one thing about taking pictures that I don't like. I can't see the train as well.
Carl - We got home around 11:00 PM last night.
Ed - Nope, I didn't have an Italian beef sandwich. However, the pizza I had was excellent.
Brian - We would have liked to have made it to Cedar Rapids, but there just wasn't time. There was so much to do in Chicago and then my parents both had to be back to work today. I think we'll get to your area sometime in the future - perhaps on a railfanning trip.
Dan
Thats one of the few reasons I like running to Chicago. Portillos for the trip home and that wonderful skyline.
Glad you had a good time. Youll note that just a few blocks west of where you took the pic is one of the best places to watch a ball game.( if you sit high on the bleachers along the third base line youll see some baseball and trains) Glad you had a fun time.
Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train
Willy,
I'm glad you and your parents had a great trip. Isn't Carl a great tour guide?
Hope someday you'll get the chance to head west a bit!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Carl:You should have turned him on to a beef sandwitch, dipped and with giardinara! Nothing like a beef hot and wet. Do you run over to the Portillo's on North Avenue by Proviso Yard for lunch? What a place. We have one out in Merrillville now.
Personally, there are places I think are better, but for the consistancy of product at multiple locations it is hard to beat. Ever go to Ricobene's for a breaded steak sandwitch?
Ed, I never heard of Ribocene's. The guys at work were raving recently about a hot dog place in Franklin Park that always has long lines; I don't get out that way very often at all.
What "lunch"? I work a solid shift, and grab a bite or a swig between trains--sometimes between cars of the same train. I'm familiar with the Northlake Portillo's, but if we go to one, it's usually closer to home. My Portillo's-loving daughter has moved to California (they have one out there, too, in Buena Park), and Pat isn't as crazy about their cuisine as Linda or I.
Willy glad you had fun with Carl and Pat,Matt and I did too.You could spend a week in chicago and still not see everything.carl I still would like a year down in your dungeon sometime too.You guys had no time for 2 toots?? thats too bad.next time we come over we are bringing the mattmobile.
stay safe
joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
You were so close and didn't stop in at Eola!!!!!! ...oh the pain.
eolafan wrote: You were so close and didn't stop in at Eola!!!!!! ...oh the pain.
I really did want to stop at Eola and say hello, but there just wasn't time. The next time I come to Chicago, Eola will be my number one priority for train watching so I make sure I get there. It would also help if I'm in Chicago for a week the next time and not just two days!
Willy2 wrote: eolafan wrote: You were so close and didn't stop in at Eola!!!!!! ...oh the pain.I really did want to stop at Eola and say hello, but there just wasn't time. The next time I come to Chicago, Eola will be my number one priority for train watching so I make sure I get there. It would also help if I'm in Chicago for a week the next time and not just two days!
Great, hope to see 'ya there!
Willy.
I'm glad you enjoyed your Chicago trip... There is lots of things to see around here. In addition to the BNSF "racetrack" the UP's ex-CNW Geneva Sub, and Blue Island, there is also the IHB in LaGrange, and the BNSF line through Joliet as well.... I just love hearing about forum members and trips out here, and how much they enjoyed themselves.
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