Best Photo Locations in Illinois

[MP173]

Does the cement plant still ship by rail? I cant remember there would be a spur to there except by Raynor. I sure wish I had my camera as the CNW unit was working by the river.

Maybe you guys ought to meet some Saturday morning at Fern's and then head out for a day of trains. Wish I could make it, but it would be about 3.5 hours drive.

ed

[photogeek88]

No, everything from the downtown east got taken out, which leaves the cement plant as a bit of an Alco Island. UP wanted to build a new spur, because 50 car trains were talked about being shipped out of the facility, but the disapproval of local farmers and imminent domain laws, and the subsequent sale of the plant from CEMEX to St. Mary's were what I believed killed the ideas. This was about two years ago, if my memory serves correctly. That was the last time anything was mentioned in the City Council. I'll have to do some research though...

[MP173]

One of my customers, Prairie Group in Chicago owned the plant. I was there once.

That is really a shame since that would be a good amount of traffic.

ed

[Anonymous]

I belive there is a location in a high rise building in chicago that looks down into the amtrack yards and is operated by a train club[:O][8)]>>>glennbob

[photogeek88]

Wasn't it the 20'th Century Rail Club? Something like that. I remember hearing about them shutting down a few years ago. I was considering going in there, but then heard the place had already closed and been sold. Roosevelt Road still provides a great view of the yards south of Union Station.

[Anonymous]

There's ton's of places that are great to choose in Illinois. almost anywhwre along the Rock River south of Rockford would be good. Between the Quad Cities and St. Louis is some very beautiful Terrain along the mighty miss.

The wonderful forests along the Kentucky boarders offer another great sight, DeKalb Illinois offers scenic Corn feilds and Rail traffic, not to mention the best Chinese Restaraunt to be found in Illinois (I have yet to find any better, even in Chicago). Galesburg itself isn't to bad of a scenic site, lot's of old historic buildings, as well as ton's of trains.

My best advice is if you want to photograph the best Illinois has to offer, is to get out and look and find what you think is the best. Just stay clear of Rockford, it's horribly boring looking [:P].

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by photogeek88

Wasn't it the 20'th Century Rail Club? Something like that. I remember hearing about them shutting down a few years ago. I was considering going in there, but then heard the place had already closed and been sold. Roosevelt Road still provides a great view of the yards south of Union Station.

Thanks for the update to the club shutting down i won't waste time looking for it glennbob[;)]

[DRBusse]

Chester, Ill...specifically from the walkway on the Mississippi River bridge. Dramatic view of the UP (ex-MoPac/Cotton Belt) main line, the Mississippi River and the Menard state pen (looking north--the great shot is of a southbound train).

Shot SSW 819 there about 14 years ago and there are plenty of shots from that location on various railfan videotapes of the St. Louis NRHS convention (1991?).

Look at the opening shot of the movie (not the TV series) "In The Heat Of The Night" for a great sequence on that bridge (and a cameo appearance of MoPac "screaming eagle" GP35s. Most fans remember the closing sequence of that movie (GM&O passenger train) but the opening shot is a wonderful scene on the Chester bridge.

[Anonymous]

GET A SHOT OF THE IAIS CBBI EASTBOUND AT SPLIT ROCK, EX-RI CSX LINE BETWEEN UTICA AND LA SALLE. BEAUTIFUL IN FALL BUT ONE HAS TO GET UP EARLY TO CATCH IT. ELMIRA EDDIE

[gabe]

If traffic is not what you are looking for, but just a good shot here are the best two I am familiar with:

(1) On Route 4 between Stauton and Benld, the old CNW line is visible from the highway, and there is one of the larger trestles you will see in the State of Illinois. Beter yet, it is facing the West, and you can get a great sun set behind it. It is now run by NS, of all companies, and only sees about a train a day--coal out of Montery Mine.

(2) Nickle Plate's old Clover Leaf Frankfork, IN to St. Louis line, there were some very interesting trestles, but I don't think trains even run on this track any longer--assuming the track is still there.

Gabe

[MP173]

Gabe:

Several years ago in one of my Illinois sales travels, I was wandering south on Rt 4 between Carlinville and Gillespie. I crossed a set of railroad tracks, looked both ways and there was an NS train approaching.

So, I stopped, took the shot and watched a coal train head west. I always wondered what line that was and why NS was hauling coal out of Illinois. Any idea of where that coal train runs?

Also, have you ever been to Ramsey, Il? There the NKP and IC lines crossed, but no more. Fortunately the locals have preserved the tower and I believe a NKP caboose.

I always was interested in the BN's operations down there. The line from Beardstown south seems to run quite a bit of coal.

Centralia is an interesting railroad town, really neat how the lines all funnel thru town...CN (IC), NS (Southern), BNSF (CBQ) and years ago the old Missour - Illinois line, which became MP and was abandoned. I spent a great day there in 1976.

ed

[gabe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP173

Gabe:

Several years ago in one of my Illinois sales travels, I was wandering south on Rt 4 between Carlinville and Gillespie. I crossed a set of railroad tracks, looked both ways and there was an NS train approaching.

So, I stopped, took the shot and watched a coal train head west. I always wondered what line that was and why NS was hauling coal out of Illinois. Any idea of where that coal train runs?

Also, have you ever been to Ramsey, Il? There the NKP and IC lines crossed, but no more. Fortunately the locals have preserved the tower and I believe a NKP caboose.

I always was interested in the BN's operations down there. The line from Beardstown south seems to run quite a bit of coal.

Centralia is an interesting railroad town, really neat how the lines all funnel thru town...CN (IC), NS (Southern), BNSF (CBQ) and years ago the old Missour - Illinois line, which became MP and was abandoned. I spent a great day there in 1976.

ed

Ed,

I know exactly where you are talking about. When I lived in Southern Illinios, I went to the gym in Carlinville probably 4-5 times a week and would cross that track every time.

It is a coal spur to the Montery Coal mine. It's etiology is actually pretty interesting. The mine was once served by the Illinois Terminal. CNW then built the coal spur you crossed over and used the existing IT road bed for much of the spur. UP then took over the CNW and served the mine and line for a while.

When UP decided to consolidate CNW's Springfield - St. Louis line with SP's (ex IC/GMO) Springfield-St. Louis line by eliminating the CNW line, NS bought the old CNW line from Stauton to the afore-discussed coal spur and currently serves the line by running coal (1) from the spur south to NS' old Wabash main at Stauton, (2) then North to BNSF's Beardstown line at Litchfield, (3) then South to NS' old Nickle Plate Clover Leaf line (the same one that goes through Ramsey) (4) then East to the power plant at Coffeen.

Yes, I am familiar with Ramsey. The last time I visited probably 6-7 years ago, the Nickle Plate line was still intact, and there was an NW cabose and box car at Ransey, as well as the restored depot--it had given me hope that the line still saw a trickle of traffic, but alas that was not the case.

About six years ago they tore the line out. I really wish I would have seen them do that, just to see one more train on the line. For Central Illinois, that line was really scenic and some of the bridges were spectacular.

The BNSF Beardstown line is BUSY. You get a coal train at least every two-to-three hours, one iron ore train a day, grain trains fairly often, IC grain trains out of Iowa that use it as trackage rights, several manifests, and even an occasional intermodal.

Gabe