Recently moving to Illinois was exciting, as that meant I'd be living closer to Chicago. Growing up in New York State, "big trains" had a different meaning.
After dropping off my wife for the day with friends in Oak Park, I proceeded to make my way to Downers Grove, an oft suggested site by forum members. I was ready. Scanner and camera charged, Mountain Dew and trail mix at hand, and 7 hours to fuel my hobby.
Arriving in DG at 8:55 at Fairview station, I was just in time to see Metra 185 shove east. I was excited to see lights in each direction, and the two freights met right at the station at 9:00, making recording road ##s difficult, but possible. Weather was crappy all-day, so the camera stayed in the car.
The westbound was led by BNSK 4194, 5204, 2169, 1504, and 2784. The eastbound was 5376, 4734, and 4083. I stayed at the Fairview stop for another 2.5 hours, with this to show for it:
9:18 Metra 191 West
9:45 Metra 188 East
9:55 Metra 205 East
10:12 Amtrak Illinois Zephyr (with 90368 in Phase III)
10:53 Metra 191 East
11:13 BNSF 8639, 8107, 7214 (FURX) East
11:21 Metra 213 east
I was a little low on the frieght traffic, so I headed away from the BNSF line towards the UP line in Wheaton. Having little time to scout, I visited a few site that didn't suit my preferences, before spending an hour at West Chicago. There, I saw:
12:12 UP 3081, 3090 West
12:27 UP 4051, 4033 West
12:48 Metra 157 East
Becoming impatient again, I headed back to the BNSF racetrack where I settled in for the rest of the afternoon at the Main Street station. There were some great spurts of action there:
1:53 BNSF 3135, 7235 (FURX) West
2:16 Metra 185 West
2:19 Amtrak 180, California Zephyr West
2:22 BNSF 5322, 718, 5153 West
2:27 Amtrak 174, 131, 89 (FAST!) with PV "Cimarron River" !!! California Zephyr West
2:49 Metra 188 East
2:53 BNSF 7785, 3069, 6001 (NS) West
3:17 Metra 191 West
3:19 BNSF 7270 (FURX) 886
3:21 BNSF 4370, 5253 East
All together, I saw 26 trains in 4.5 hours of trackside time. What a great day! I'll be back!
After dropping off my wife for the day with friends in Oak Park, I proceeded to make my way to Downers Grove, an oft suggested site by forum members. I was ready. Scanner and camera charged, Mountain Dew and trail mix at hand, and 7 hours to fuel my hobby.
Arriving in DG at 8:55 at Fairview station, I was just in time to see Metra 185 shove east. I was excited to see lights in each direction, and the two freights met right at the station at 9:00, making recording road ##s difficult, but possible. Weather was crappy all-day, so the camera stayed in the car.
The westbound was led by BNSK 4194, 5204, 2169, 1504, and 2784. The eastbound was 5376, 4734, and 4083. I stayed at the Fairview stop for another 2.5 hours, with this to show for it:
9:18 Metra 191 West
9:45 Metra 188 East
9:55 Metra 205 East
10:12 Amtrak Illinois Zephyr (with 90368 in Phase III)
10:53 Metra 191 East
11:13 BNSF 8639, 8107, 7214 (FURX) East
11:21 Metra 213 east
I was a little low on the frieght traffic, so I headed away from the BNSF line towards the UP line in Wheaton. Having little time to scout, I visited a few site that didn't suit my preferences, before spending an hour at West Chicago. There, I saw:
12:12 UP 3081, 3090 West
12:27 UP 4051, 4033 West
12:48 Metra 157 East
Becoming impatient again, I headed back to the BNSF racetrack where I settled in for the rest of the afternoon at the Main Street station. There were some great spurts of action there:
1:53 BNSF 3135, 7235 (FURX) West
2:16 Metra 185 West
2:19 Amtrak 180, California Zephyr West
2:22 BNSF 5322, 718, 5153 West
2:27 Amtrak 174, 131, 89 (FAST!) with PV "Cimarron River" !!! California Zephyr West
2:49 Metra 188 East
2:53 BNSF 7785, 3069, 6001 (NS) West
3:17 Metra 191 West
3:19 BNSF 7270 (FURX) 886
3:21 BNSF 4370, 5253 East
All together, I saw 26 trains in 4.5 hours of trackside time. What a great day! I'll be back!
