QUESTION - CHICAGO TO GALESBURG RUNS

[Anonymous]

Hey all, this is my first post. I 've never been to Galesburg, Illinois before but grew up on the racetrack and am planning a trip out there this weekend. Any advice on sights to see, good spots for train-watching, good diners?

Also, the chicago to galesburg runs - do they take the old BN line through aurora or the santa fe out of corwith? I know there's a BRC train that comes up through cicero, but isn't galesburg off the santa fe? Where do galesburg trains come to in chicago? Corwith or the old Western AVenue yard? Well, any advice and info would be appreciated. Thanks.

-joe

[eolafan]

Galesburg is at the junction of the old ATSF and BN and the only dedicated and regularly scheduled trains I am aware of that go between Chicago and Galesburg on hte schedule are BRCGAL and Eola-Galesburg trains which travel this way daily (and of course run round trip). I am sure there is some switching of trains on the old ATSF line through Galesburg but I know of no dedicated scheduled trains on that route like BRCGAL

BY THE WAY...WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!

[Anonymous]

What's BRC?

[nanaimo73]

Ironken-Belt Railway of Chicago.

Green Machine-Most of the ATSF traffic to Chicago switches over to the former BN about 8 miles west of Galesburg so it can go through the yard.

You can scout around on Terraserver.
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=14&Z=15&X=225&Y=1416&W

[Anonymous]

Ahhh......

[artpeterson]

Hi Greenmachine -

The connection between the former BN and SF lines is at Cameron, just west of Galesburg. You take US34 west of Galesburg to the 140th Street exit. Go south on 140th Street to 190th Avenue, then east on 190th Avenue to 150th Street. Go south on 150th (its a gravel road) which has a grade crossing at the former SF line and runs through the farm fields to just shy of the ex-BN line. If you need a map, you can get one on-line from Google.

You can watch trains taking the connection between the two routes - there are a bunch that come west ouf of Galesburg on the ex-BN line and take the connection to get over to the former SF line to head east toward Chicago.

Its a great place to watch or photograph trains. Have fun!

[CShaveRR]

The old Santa Fe line east of Galesburg is home to the very fast intermodal drags. When Ron and Rita Hatch ran the Knox Station B&B along that line, there was a very consistent parade of fast-moving intermodal trains (and a couple of manifests). It was because of the volume of intermodal business that BNSF asked Amtrak to move its Southwest Chief off the old ATSF line.

The ex-BN and ex-ATSF lines cross each other twice--once in the eastern end of Galesburg (didn't seem like a good area for railfanning last time I was there), and again at Cameron, a few miles west of town (this is where the connection between the two lines was built). Both of these crossings are grade-separated.

You won't go wrong looking for train action right at the passenger station. Don't recall any trackside dining facilities, but there are places not too far away.

Also, you may wi***o use the Forum search function to find past threads on the subject of Galesburg.

Welcome to the forums, Green Machine! I don't know whether I'd envy you, living on the Racetrack (in my mind, "appropriately adjacent" would be far better, and safer [;)]).

[Anonymous]

in galesburg now and at sf bn main jct. peck park best place to see 70 to 100 trains a day. south area of town is hump yard with a bridge over center of it. today at 630 am counted 80 engines at eng. terminal and 20 working the yard. a brand new tacoma rail engine is sitting waiting for trans. to its new home.
best steaks in area are at packing house,and bakery. best buffet is sirlon stockade. good luck and safety 1st

[Anonymous]

The best place to watch is the amtrak depot. From there you can see the yard, and all kinds of switch moves. You will also see the rebuilt SD9's doing lots of work. I dont know any good place to eat beacause im always watching trains. I used to live in Galesburg, and I thought that was always the best place to go and watch. Well email me at [e-mail], and let me know how your trip was.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by artpeterson

Hi Greenmachine -

You can watch trains taking the connection between the two routes - there are a bunch that come west ouf of Galesburg on the ex-BN line and take the connection to get over to the former SF line to head east toward Chicago.

Hey thanks for the great info. I have one more question though, kind of silly. The trains coming west out of galesburg on the ex-BN line don't need to go all the way to cameron to get onto the SF and head back east to chicago, do they? Also, why is the SF-BN junction located 8 miles outside of galesburg? Wouldn't you think the original owners of the respective lines would've wanted it to be closer to town and the yard?
thanks again.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by artpeterson

Hi Greenmachine -

You can watch trains taking the connection between the two routes - there are a bunch that come west ouf of Galesburg on the ex-BN line and take the connection to get over to the former SF line to head east toward Chicago.

Hey thanks for the great info all. I have two more questions though, kind of silly. The trains coming west out of galesburg on the ex-BN line don't need to go all the way to cameron to get onto the SF and head back east to chicago, do they? Also, why is the SF-BN junction located 8 miles outside of galesburg? Wouldn't you think the original owners of the respective lines would've wanted it to be closer to town and the yard?
thanks again.

[daveklepper]

Do the UP trains running on the SF line through trackage rights from KC retain UP locomotives coming through Galesburg? If you can provide the times for these four trains, two each way, it might make for more interesting photographs. Or do they leave the BNSF west of Galesburg?

[CShaveRR]

Yes, that is the only connection between the two lines. I believe it's long enough to hold a train, clear of both main lines, should that become necessary for any reason (it would have been a lot more disruptive of community life to both construct and operate a connection of any sort by the other crossing of the two routes, in town).

Dave, UP power is used on the UP's trains at this end of the line. Sorry; I can't help with their schedules.