MetraBNSF wrote:1247 (4:28pm). This run is technically an express, despite making stops out to Cicero. A few years ago a stop was added at Fairview. Don’t know why this is but when it ran express to DG, it could go center track if needed. But generally runs main one for the entire route.
ExCon90 wrote:So apparently there's no speed advantage unless all the crossovers in that interlocking are upgraded; that's what I was wondering.
doepack wrote:Also, because of the higher speed crossovers, I'd imagine that Congress Park and Lisle get plenty of work from the dispatchers in Ft. Worth; but the other control points are also critical in keeping things moving. For instance, the strategic placement of the smaller Hinsdale and Highlands plants located between the larger, universal installations at Fairview and Congress Park creates lots of options for an almost seamless movement of traffic within that section of the railroad. Indeed, a stroke of genius by the planners and architects at CB&Q.
HammerJack wrote:Another interesting feature of 1279 that isn't apparent from the Metra schedule is the 'cat and mouse' with Amtrak 383. It leaves CUS at 5:55, six minutes after 1279. It stops at La Grange, which by then, is on main two. If all goes as planned, 383 will pass 1279 somewhere around Lisle, and switch over two main one either at Lisle or at Naperville for its stop at Naperville. However, 1279 (back on main two at this point) will then pass 383 either at Naperville or right after as it's speeding up. Then, it's off to the races to Eola. I've seen the two trains literally run side-by-side at 70 mph from Naperville to Eola. My experiences show dispatchers usually letting 1279 onto the Aurora branch before 383 goes by. If 1279 is late, it never catches 383.
doepack wrote:And 1372 winds up running on 1288's yellows toward Berwyn half the time anyway, so the meet with 383 shouldn't hurt too much at all. Again, just a little experiment I ran, real mileage may vary.
doepack wrote:Back in the real world, does anyone know if BNSF is staging more freights on main 2 between Union Ave. and Cicero during the PM rush? Any work being done at Union Ave? If not, based on the observations in this thread, I'm wondering why a lot of the expresses aren't crossing over until at least Cicero...
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