CHICAGO LAND SYSTEM - ATTN: Chicago Railfans

[Anonymous]

I'm from chicago, born and raised, grew up on BNSF's Chicago to Minneapolis to Seattle High Line, grew up with the sound of the green machine zooming past my bedroom window. I remember that sound well, from age four on. Also nearby was a section of the Harbor Belt, shuttling trains between Global 2, Bensenville, Clearing Yard, Glenn Yard and Blue Island. Chicago is a railroad town, and the thing that's always amazed me is the never-ending entanglement of different lines, local connections, transfers and enormous yards. Where is that train going? Where did it come from? Where will it end up and who's carrying it? I'm interested in starting a post dedicated to Chicago rail topics, and if anyone has any knowledge of other similar group forums please let me know. And does anyone know where DS trains from Seattle end up after getting into Clyde Yard? How many of these trains continue on east? Is it true the air line is going to be removed so the city can put up condos on the property? What will happen to the perpetually raised 16th street bridge? The mystery surrounding rail operations in this town is seemingly infinite. So let's get started. And by the way, yes, I've read the july, 2003 issue of trains. Let the dialogue begin...

[Anonymous]

I grew up with the Q in the western 'burbs. As a kid I remember the very end of steam, the Zephyrs, early F3s, then the mergers and ever changing colors.

One of my favorite train-watching spots on this line is the Lisle trackside commuter parking lot just east of the new village hall. It's rarely full, even on weekdays and if you park just right you can see all the way from Belmont to College Road. This is right on the big S-curve, plus there's a slight grade Eastbound. If they hold a Coal train at College Rd., then clear it the SD70MACs make one heck of a loto f noise coming uphill.

I also have to agree with Trains about Joliet. It's real interesting these days. There's more warbonets than on the BNSF racetrack and the UP line gets a nicer mix of UP/SP units than onthe Northwestern West line.. CN goes thru occasionally as well.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Aurora Illinois and I think there is no other place better than the Chicago area to watch trains. On Eola road there was an open area right beside Eola yard where my dad , my brother and I used to watch trains as a kid. The area is still there. That is the spot where my railfanning began. That issue may be the best Trains issue to date.

[rafalconbury]

I grew up in the Aurora area when their was still plenty of passenger trains. I still can recall the excitement I would get when I could look up and see the Empire Builder, North Coast Limited or the California Zephyr going through town.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Hometown, IL and Oak Lawn, IL. My home in Hometown had its backyard butt right up to the RR tracks that now comprise the Metra SouthWest Service line (ex-Wabash/NW/now NS leased to Metra). The 0630 Metra trains were my alarm clock, and I remember hanging out at the railroad crossing off of Southwest Hwy waiting for the evening Metra trains. My family moved to Oak Lawn when I was 8, and there were no railroads nearby, but you could sure hear the horns. The closest lines were the IHB/CSX line that ran right past my high school, HL Richards High, plus the Metra SWS line further down the road. Boy, that brings back some great memories...

Matt

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone! I am really glad someone finally stepped up and started a topic just for Chicagoians. I was going to but I hadn't joined the fourms yet, so here we go.
I am 15 years old and I travel all around Chicago and the burbs for trains and great pictures. I use Metra, the El, and other buses becuase my parents wont drive me to the South side. But anyway both of my houses have been just a few blocks away from Metra tracks. My old house was a couple of blocks away from Mayfair Junction. My new house is two blocks away from the UP-NW Line stop at Gladstone Park. My favorite junction of all time so far in my young career ( 1 and a half years) has to be LaGrange followed by Blue Island. Now the questions and an answer...........

If the city finds enough cash and develops a plan to reroute the CN Mayor Daley will shutdown the St. Charles Air Line.
#1 Is the UP Cragin Line, that passes through Mayfair, still in use anywhere between Cragin and north up to Lincolnwood ,where it ends?
#2 A week ago when I went railfanning in Franklin Park, at the BRC connection with the MD-W, at Cragin there was a stopped train waiting to come on the MD-W. It had NS and UP engines, in that order, and it did crawl into Bensonville yard 10 minutes after I got off the train at Franklin Park. Any clue where this came from or what its symbol was?
#3 Do CP trains that use the IHB-CSX joint line head east to Detroit and the East Coast?
#4 Are there any regularly operating freight trains on the UP-NW Line, like where I live at?
#5 There is always a northbound CP Doublestack train on the MD-N, thatpasses through Forest Glen between 7 P.M. and 8 P.M. What is its train symbol?
#6 Do any Wisconson & Southern trains pass through Rondout, at a resonable time?
#7 Do any EJ&E trains pass through West Chicago at a resonable time?
#8 Do IC&E trains run on the MD-W?
#9 Are there any unknown, but safe junctions on the south side? (Not Blue Island and Dolton)
#10 Does anyone know what the symbols on coal cars (PSTX, CTRN) stand for? If so name a few.
#11 Can you name a few subdivisions around Chicago, particularly the BNSF Metra route.
#12 Can I get to Dolton by bus or train?
#13 Is there any action on the CP tracks around Goose Island anymore?
#14 Has anyone seen, CN power still in WC or DM&IR paint that run through Chicago??????? Please say yes, and lots of it!!!!!

Sorry for the mass amount of questions but this is what a whole year of railfanning on your own can do! P.S. Im going to Brighton Park after school, wish me good fortune.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFLaGrange

Hey everyone! I am really glad someone finally stepped up and started a topic just for Chicagoians. I was going to but I hadn't joined the fourms yet, so here we go.
I am 15 years old and I travel all around Chicago and the burbs for trains and great pictures. I use Metra, the El, and other buses becuase my parents wont drive me to the South side. But anyway both of my houses have been just a few blocks away from Metra tracks. My old house was a couple of blocks away from Mayfair Junction. My new house is two blocks away from the UP-NW Line stop at Gladstone Park. My favorite junction of all time so far in my young career ( 1 and a half years) has to be LaGrange followed by Blue Island. Now the questions and an answer...........

If the city finds enough cash and develops a plan to reroute the CN Mayor Daley will shutdown the St. Charles Air Line.
#1 Is the UP Cragin Line, that passes through Mayfair, still in use anywhere between Cragin and north up to Lincolnwood ,where it ends?
#2 A week ago when I went railfanning in Franklin Park, at the BRC connection with the MD-W, at Cragin there was a stopped train waiting to come on the MD-W. It had NS and UP engines, in that order, and it did crawl into Bensonville yard 10 minutes after I got off the train at Franklin Park. Any clue where this came from or what its symbol was?
#3 Do CP trains that use the IHB-CSX joint line head east to Detroit and the East Coast?
#4 Are there any regularly operating freight trains on the UP-NW Line, like where I live at?
#5 There is always a northbound CP Doublestack train on the MD-N, thatpasses through Forest Glen between 7 P.M. and 8 P.M. What is its train symbol?
#6 Do any Wisconson & Southern trains pass through Rondout, at a resonable time?
#7 Do any EJ&E trains pass through West Chicago at a resonable time?
#8 Do IC&E trains run on the MD-W?
#9 Are there any unknown, but safe junctions on the south side? (Not Blue Island and Dolton)
#10 Does anyone know what the symbols on coal cars (PSTX, CTRN) stand for? If so name a few.
#11 Can you name a few subdivisions around Chicago, particularly the BNSF Metra route.
#12 Can I get to Dolton by bus or train?
#13 Is there any action on the CP tracks around Goose Island anymore?
#14 Has anyone seen, CN power still in WC or DM&IR paint that run through Chicago??????? Please say yes, and lots of it!!!!!

Sorry for the mass amount of questions but this is what a whole year of railfanning on your own can do! P.S. Im going to Brighton Park after school, wish me good fortune.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFLaGrange

Hey everyone! I am really glad someone finally stepped up and started a topic just for Chicagoians. I was going to but I hadn't joined the fourms yet, so here we go.
I am 15 years old and I travel all around Chicago and the burbs for trains and great pictures. I use Metra, the El, and other buses becuase my parents wont drive me to the South side. But anyway both of my houses have been just a few blocks away from Metra tracks. My old house was a couple of blocks away from Mayfair Junction. My new house is two blocks away from the UP-NW Line stop at Gladstone Park. My favorite junction of all time so far in my young career ( 1 and a half years) has to be LaGrange followed by Blue Island. Now the questions and an answer...........

If the city finds enough cash and develops a plan to reroute the CN Mayor Daley will shutdown the St. Charles Air Line.
#1 Is the UP Cragin Line, that passes through Mayfair, still in use anywhere between Cragin and north up to Lincolnwood ,where it ends?
#2 A week ago when I went railfanning in Franklin Park, at the BRC connection with the MD-W, at Cragin there was a stopped train waiting to come on the MD-W. It had NS and UP engines, in that order, and it did crawl into Bensonville yard 10 minutes after I got off the train at Franklin Park. Any clue where this came from or what its symbol was?
#3 Do CP trains that use the IHB-CSX joint line head east to Detroit and the East Coast?
#4 Are there any regularly operating freight trains on the UP-NW Line, like where I live at?
#5 There is always a northbound CP Doublestack train on the MD-N, thatpasses through Forest Glen between 7 P.M. and 8 P.M. What is its train symbol?
#6 Do any Wisconson & Southern trains pass through Rondout, at a resonable time?
#7 Do any EJ&E trains pass through West Chicago at a resonable time?
#8 Do IC&E trains run on the MD-W?
#9 Are there any unknown, but safe junctions on the south side? (Not Blue Island and Dolton)
#10 Does anyone know what the symbols on coal cars (PSTX, CTRN) stand for? If so name a few.
#11 Can you name a few subdivisions around Chicago, particularly the BNSF Metra route.
#12 Can I get to Dolton by bus or train?
#13 Is there any action on the CP tracks around Goose Island anymore?
#14 Has anyone seen, CN power still in WC or DM&IR paint that run through Chicago??????? Please say yes, and lots of it!!!!!

Sorry for the mass amount of questions but this is what a whole year of railfanning on your own can do! P.S. Im going to Brighton Park after school, wish me good fortune.

If I remember right, the BNSF from chicago to aurora is the aurora sub. Once you get west of aurora, you get the line to St Paul splitting off of the Mendota sub which runs to Galesburg. Check out the map at BNSF.com to find out for sure.

[cnw1995]

There is also a Yahoo! Group called IlliniRail you might like...and they would answer your questions. There are only a few freights on the UP's northwest lines to Janesville - a few autotrains, ballast jobs (including the 'sandman') You probably 'hear' the daily freight - it comes through about 945-10 pm around Gladstone Park. I commute on this line every day and there's lots to look at from the train - trying to pick out all the formerly railserved businesses and old spurs - passing the activity in North Ave. yard. I recommend a back issue of Trains magazine which featured Chicago - had great maps. Search the artcle index on this site.

[Anonymous]

Actually, as far as I know, the money WILL be coming, come hell or high water. In addition to removing the St. Charles Air Line, there will be numerous grade separation projects (most notably at 127th and Cicero, and 115th and Cicero on the CSX/IHB mainline, HUGE traffic jams due to heavy road and train traffic). This is among numerous other projects. I do believe that Metra is still working on expanding the SWS to Manhattan, and now they want to expand the Northwest Line all the way out to Rockford. I sure do miss Chicago railfanning.

Matt

[Anonymous]

can someone help me locate where [ashland ave.] rail yard is. whose yard
is it by name of railroad. do all railroads have access to it. i have seen trains
at a number of places in greater chicago, including roosevelt blvd in the late
50s when all the passengers were open and several outlying sites. i just
cannot find where ashland ave. is located. thanks for your help.
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Can I take the South Shore Line out to Hammond Indiana? When I say Hammond I mean the Rail Junction named Hammond as listed on the Chicago Rail Junctions site.

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Am planning a trip to Chi-town sometime in April 2005. Leaving out of NYC on Amtrak, heading thru Penn. Should be neat to travel aroiund Horseshoe curve. Went there last year on vacation. Look forward to following you advice for great places to Railfan in when I get there.

Tom

[Anonymous]

Correct me if I am wrong but I belive Ashland Ave. yard is jest southeast of Brighton Park. I belive it is. The yard is owned by Norfolk Southern. Brighton Park is right near Western Ave. I think from west to east it is Western, Damen and then Ashland, I think. Mind you that I am a fifteen year old......

[Anonymous]

Ok, BNSF LaGrange, i have some answers. i grew up in Mt. Prospect and recently moved to NW side of Chicago (3 blocks from MD-N Grayland Station) so this area is my specialty. See if i can help.
#1 - The UP Cragin line only operates from Mayfair about a mile south, serves one maybe two industries. When the one car train does runs its usaully in mid-morning.
#4 - Like CNW1995 said the "sandman" which runs at night. i know Sat. mornings around 6:00 a train departs Chicago Ave Yard for Proviso. And 2 auto trains each way between Proviso and Janesville.
#5 - That CP train is #183, Bensinville to Twin Cities intermodal daily.
#6 - No, WSOR here at Mayfair, NB 11:00p & SB 1:30a. On slow days the NB may go thru here as early as 7:30p.
#7 - A few years back the SB came thru W. Chicago Between 8-9:00a. Not sure now.
#8 - Yes, the EB, train MNABE may still pass B17 at 9-11:00a.
#13 - Belive it switches on Tues. & Thurs.
#14 - Yes, WC is still fairly common. DMIR i wish. But a few IC units have been popping up.
Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Geez the answer to my CP Intermodal question is very helpful. Ive been looking for the answer for at least two years. But I present you with another question. Why does the train run on the MD-N while other CP trains use the joint UP/CP New Line that connects at tower A-20? It doesnt make sense.

[Anonymous]

That i am not sure. Maybe to avoid delays from UP. But its counterpart #182 use the New Line.

[techguy57]

BNSF LaGrange- I have often seen WC engines parked just north of the diamond at 83/Ivanhoe Rd. in Grayslake. This is north of where the NCS and the MD-N cross on Metra's routes. Lots of public property around the area but looks to be a fairly good hike from the Metra station.

Mike

[techguy57]

While, I'm here: I'm something of a history buff in addition to being a railfan and was wondering if anyone had been to the Pullman district of Chicago? I know that beside Metra there is not a ton of rail traffic there but would you say it would be worth visiting for the rail history? Just curious.

Mike

[MP173]

Yes. Go to Pullman.

It is not a great railfan site, but a great historical site. There is a lot of work going on in the area. Lots of rehabbing. The cheap homes are gone. It will be going high rent.

The hotel is being rehabbed. I stopped in last year and looked around. Worth the trip.

ed

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any updates on the rebuilding of the Pullman Works? There was a fire a few years ago that destroyed the Pullman works buildings. Any information would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57

While, I'm here: I'm something of a history buff in addition to being a railfan and was wondering if anyone had been to the Pullman district of Chicago? I know that beside Metra there is not a ton of rail traffic there but would you say it would be worth visiting for the rail history? Just curious.

Mike

[Anonymous]

I thought Pullman was a lil bit risky of a neighborhood? If it isnt anymore good. But on a different note, I dont know if anyone will care but if any Chicagoland railfans want a new and interesting spot to go to try out Homan Ave. and State Line Tower in Hammond. Both spots are heavily trafficked and both have some very interesting photo angles. Just thought I'd share.

[MP173]

Pullman could be considered "risky", but not nearly as risky as other parts of the city.

State Line Tower is gone, unfortunately. It was a huge tower with armstrong levers.
Gone but not forgotten. Still a lot of trains.

ed

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of interesting places to go, but watch and check out the areas before going there. The Hohman Avenue tower is out of commission and have widows broken out of them. It has the IHB and other roads running east /west through there, and the NS crosses that junction there too. Then again, that is where I say use caution, because you are in Calumet City and across the street is Hammond, In, and the neighborhood is something else. There is definitely a lor of traffic through there both day and night, and as long as you are on a public street, you should be able to get some good pictures. The local police might ask who you are and why you are there, and the railroad police will tell you to stay off of their property. So do it right, and have fun.
ralph zimmer [e-mail]

[cnw1995]

The Pullman Works is still largely destroyed - a shell of itself - not having been rehabbed since the fire.

[Anonymous]

never lived in chgo. first trip there, on business, 1956. remember using a free
afternoon to go out on roosevelt blvd., bridging entries into all those stations. a c g w
switcher was working tracks south of its station, and the engr invited me aboard to
chat even though i was short on time. i have ridden trains out of all stations but the
grd cent. saw a pere marquette e-unit there though [also had c&o markings]. in
later years, had a chance to spend an hour around deval tower in des plaines. great!

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

South Shore Line's Hammond station is about a 1 1/2 to 2 miles north of Hammond crossing now known as Hohman Avenue crossing. State Line crossing is about 1/2 mile west of the Hammond station. Amtrak's Hammond-Whiting station is too far away.

[Anonymous]

I grew up on the east side of Aurora, and my parents took me trackside at West Eola all the time. We would go to Eola Yard sometimes too, and I can recall seeing many old diesel models from GP9's to SD9's to the classic E units they had on the commuter trains! It was a thrill I have never looked away from, and probably never will.

[spbed]

While not from Chicago I was at Dolton last year & their was lots of traffic in a short period of time. I saw CPRR, South Shore, CSX,BNSF, NS, & UPRR all with 5 hours.