I almost was not able to do this. The conductor initially wanted to close off the front end of the car, but he saw that I was a railfan and he changed his mind. I’m grateful to him.
I work for BNSF (formerly of UPRR) in the Chicago division. At 2:36 is the Collins st crossing and that fire road to the left of the crossing is the way i take to get into the former Santa Fe Joliet yard. The old EJ&E handoff trackage is still there in the yard and they actually repaired it last year. Nice video sir!!
I really do enjoy your videos. both informative and fun to ride along with you. From this old gal I say ty for all the wonderful trips. Be safe. God bless.
where the tracks merged it is the Freeport Subdivision merging with the Joliet Subdivision. At Cermak 53:00 the tracks diverge with the Joliet Subdivision merging with the NS Chicago Line. The one on the right will take you to the Chicago Subdivision of CN which you saw in the ME video :) also saw a private car as well. The venture cars are new :)
The old signal cantilever you saw was common on the ex GM&O, ex Alton road trackage through Illinois. There’s other footage here on RUclips of the line under SP ownership in the early 90’s with some of the signals still in operation, before UP and the State of Illinois upgraded the line south of Joliet
Nice trip - thanks for sharing. Current BNSF "Z" trains operating to/from Willow Springs: ALT-Alliance, TX LAC -LA Hobart LPK-Logistics Park, KS (KC area) NBY-North Bay (SF Bay area) PHX-Phoenix, AZ SBD-San Bernardino, CA STO-Stockton, CA
Tim, now here's a Metra Line that is unique...runs along the old, GM&O (CN) and stops at some interesting little Towns along the way! I do believe this line does not run on weekends. At 54:07 as the Train meets a CN Freight, and below the is Canal Street and Cermak Road, and there up about half a block is the best Fried Shrimp And Fish in Chicago, Lawrence's Fisheries! I've seen in the daytime sometimes CN Crews are stopped for a bit waiting for other Tains, and the Conductor has often come down from the Tracks to get a pound or two from that eatery! I was picking up some Fried Clams and Shrimp, and I saw him walking to Lawrence's. Has Great Fried Shrimp and other seafood too! Also, further East on Cermak Road is Chinatown! I remember as a child the Santa Fe's 22nd Street Coach Yard, and Locomotive Shop Maintenance Facility that had written on it, "Santa Fe, All The Way!" Also, on those Railroad Girders, above the street that you could see while driving, or stopped at the LIGHT, the GM&O used to Advertise on them...the old, GM&O (Winged Logo) and next to it were the words, "6 Trains Daily To St. Louis". Great Video, but then, I think you knew that! :)
That was a Saturday evening when I shot this. The train was part of a summer only Saturday service. I was very fortunate to have been able to do this!!!!
You would be correct. When Amtrak was formed in 71, Amtrak rerouted ATSF passenger trains onto the IC/GM&O at Bridgeport and the ATSF was abandoned east of there, the CTA replaced it many years later. Amtrak continued running west of Bridgeport on the Santa Fe until the BNSF merger
And, back in the 80s, Metra had a stop for Glenn. It was located at 47th and Merrimac. No station building, just a stop by the yard. Basically used by railroaders...
As it heads out of the Joliet Station it will pass by the old Joliet Prision on Collins St . The big house back in the day with the quarry stone walls When I was really young I remember the GMO running in this line
The line was home to The Plug and for a period from the merger up to the new equipment from the RTA you'd be hard pressed to know by looking that you were on an ICG train because it was still all GM&O paint. Yep remember the approach lit CPLs railfanning with my buds back in the 80s,sadly traffic on weekends was light so we never saw them lit and got better luck with the Santa Fe
Great work again Mr RR. The routes around Chicagoland are quite impressive. I wish that the bells(click-clack, click-clack, etc...) on these METRA cabs weren't so annoyingly intrusive, however.
@@3985uprr - I can usually live with it too but the other night I was watching pretty late, midnight - 01:00. My wife, two rooms away kept complaining, what's that ticking & tocking all about out there? If I pot down the tick-tock, I can't hear your valuable and informative commentary. I have to watch your videos covertly like other internet genre...
@@JoeSmith1962 I could use graphics but a lot of people complain about that because they want to hear my narration. If it makes you feel better, what do you think my wife has to hear 😀😀😀
And the medium-tension wiring in the right is of a style I have seen here in Maryland - in particular southern Maryland - Charles, Saint Mary's, and Calvert Counties (current CSX Pope's Creek Subdivision- SMECO territory) - but only in spots.
Again I applaud you Tim, for the spectacular head end shots !! With all due respect, the side window shots really get boring. I'm not interested in seeing the grass, weeds, trees and buildings along a right-of-way. I wish you could shoot videos like this on the LIRR, Metro-NORTH, SEPTA and MBTA, to name a few. There is a stunning head end video on Metro-NORTH's Hudson Line along the scenic Hudson River of an express run on RUclips. It's awesome to say the least. All that is lacking from that video is your very informative narration. Just a suggestion; have you ever given any thought to taking along a small, pocket scanner tuned to the frequency of the line you're shooting, so we could hear the interesting radio chatter. It needn't be loud or overbearing, just something low in the background. I for one would be very interested to hear it. I think others would be too.
A lot of people do like side shots believe it or not. Yes, I prefer head end shots but it’s hard to do on other railroads. The LIRR is bringing back the M3’s so I want to get on those for the head end. One of the perks of wanting to go to Chicago was opportunities to get head end views because their gallery cars are user friendly for that and I’m thankful I could get a lot. A scanner would add something but I don’t want to irritate other passengers with radio chatter. In some situations it might be good for trackside videos
The trains really flew out in the suburbs, but they crawled through Chicago. If speeds could be made comparable in town, the trip would certainly be much shorter. Why is it so slow? Are there plans to fix it?
This COULD be duplicated along the CSX Pope's Creed Subdivision - high-tension wiring and all - as part of the ROW is used for it - in addition to Mirant Morgantown at the end, you have Mirant Chalk Point and KMG Thermo Brandywine, along with CPE Saint Charles Energy Center along the Subdivision ROW - but you have to want businesses that need rail services - and all too many towns - let alone cities - despise businesses that use freight rail.
High speed *nothing* - this is normally used by freight; while branded as Metra - they do not operate the trains - and especially NOT on the Heritage Line. (Most of Metra is contract-operated - like some of MARC and some of even LIRR.) Delay In Block goes into more depth on Metra and their operations.
Gotta give it to Chicago area railroads, they keep their right of ways looking nice and clean
Clean, yes, transitable over 25mph? not so much
0:32 Joliet
6:09 Lockport
12:58 Romeoville
19:56 Lemont
28:25 Willow Springs
35:05 Summit
1:02:07 Chicago Union Station
I almost was not able to do this. The conductor initially wanted to close off the front end of the car, but he saw that I was a railfan and he changed his mind. I’m grateful to him.
Thank you for the upload. The best HC "cab ride" I've seen.
I got lucky. I almost wasn’t able to do it. The conductor relented at the last minute as I boarded, and he saw that I was a fan.
I work for BNSF (formerly of UPRR) in the Chicago division. At 2:36 is the Collins st crossing and that fire road to the left of the crossing is the way i take to get into the former Santa Fe Joliet yard. The old EJ&E handoff trackage is still there in the yard and they actually repaired it last year. Nice video sir!!
keep up the great work i always enjoy watching your videos on youtube
Young man you in heaven now with them horns going every 2 minutes
I really do enjoy your videos. both informative and fun to ride along with you. From this old gal I say ty for all the wonderful trips. Be safe. God bless.
Wonderful ride Retired rail fan. Perhaps change the name of Lockport to Shakespearesville to connect both cities.
where the tracks merged it is the Freeport Subdivision merging with the Joliet Subdivision. At Cermak 53:00 the tracks diverge with the Joliet Subdivision merging with the NS Chicago Line. The one on the right will take you to the Chicago Subdivision of CN which you saw in the ME video :) also saw a private car as well. The venture cars are new :)
For the first half mile or so from Joliet, it's UP trackage until it becomes CN at the first signal.
The old signal cantilever you saw was common on the ex GM&O, ex Alton road trackage through Illinois. There’s other footage here on RUclips of the line under SP ownership in the early 90’s with some of the signals still in operation, before UP and the State of Illinois upgraded the line south of Joliet
Nice trip - thanks for sharing. Current BNSF "Z" trains operating to/from Willow Springs:
ALT-Alliance, TX
LAC -LA Hobart
LPK-Logistics Park, KS (KC area)
NBY-North Bay (SF Bay area)
PHX-Phoenix, AZ
SBD-San Bernardino, CA
STO-Stockton, CA
Tim, now here's a Metra Line that is unique...runs along the old, GM&O (CN) and stops at some interesting little Towns along the way! I do believe this line does not run on weekends. At 54:07 as the Train meets a CN Freight, and below the is Canal Street and Cermak Road, and there up about half a block is the best Fried Shrimp And Fish in Chicago, Lawrence's Fisheries! I've seen in the daytime sometimes CN Crews are stopped for a bit waiting for other Tains, and the Conductor has often come down from the Tracks to get a pound or two from that eatery! I was picking up some Fried Clams and Shrimp, and I saw him walking to Lawrence's. Has Great Fried Shrimp and other seafood too! Also, further East on Cermak Road is Chinatown! I remember as a child the Santa Fe's 22nd Street Coach Yard, and Locomotive Shop Maintenance Facility that had written on it, "Santa Fe, All The Way!" Also, on those Railroad Girders, above the street that you could see while driving, or stopped at the LIGHT, the GM&O used to Advertise on them...the old, GM&O (Winged Logo) and next to it were the words, "6 Trains Daily To St. Louis". Great Video, but then, I think you knew that! :)
That was a Saturday evening when I shot this. The train was part of a summer only Saturday service. I was very fortunate to have been able to do this!!!!
Yard on right around 38 minute mark is CN Glenn Yard.
If I am not mistaken, the CTA Right Of Way used to be the ATSF Line to Dearborn Station
Very possible
You would be correct. When Amtrak was formed in 71, Amtrak rerouted ATSF passenger trains onto the IC/GM&O at Bridgeport and the ATSF was abandoned east of there, the CTA replaced it many years later. Amtrak continued running west of Bridgeport on the Santa Fe until the BNSF merger
The yard north of MP 11 is Glenn Yard, Forest View, IL
And, back in the 80s, Metra had a stop for Glenn. It was located at 47th and Merrimac. No station building, just a stop by the yard. Basically used by railroaders...
Glenn used to be commuter stop before being moved to Summit.
Thanks for the wonderful video…I enjoyed it on Sunday morning with a big mug of delicious coffee!
Almost didn’t do that ride.
Thank you for this! I rode this route back in 2011 on the Texas Eagle, and like to see a head-end view of the routes I've been on.
As it heads out of the Joliet Station it will pass by the old Joliet Prision on Collins St . The big house back in the day with the quarry stone walls When I was really young I remember the GMO running in this line
I noticed that watching the video a few times
I hope you get to do both the UP North and Northwest lines next; including the McHenry branch
Live too far away
if you look at his channel he is from long island
The line was home to The Plug and for a period from the merger up to the new equipment from the RTA you'd be hard pressed to know by looking that you were on an ICG train because it was still all GM&O paint. Yep remember the approach lit CPLs railfanning with my buds back in the 80s,sadly traffic on weekends was light so we never saw them lit and got better luck with the Santa Fe
Great work again Mr RR. The routes around Chicagoland are quite impressive. I wish that the bells(click-clack, click-clack, etc...) on these METRA cabs weren't so annoyingly intrusive, however.
I live with it in exchange for being able to get these great rides. Life is give and take.
@@3985uprr - I can usually live with it too but the other night I was watching pretty late, midnight - 01:00. My wife, two rooms away kept complaining, what's that ticking & tocking all about out there? If I pot down the tick-tock, I can't hear your valuable and informative commentary. I have to watch your videos covertly like other internet genre...
@@JoeSmith1962 I could use graphics but a lot of people complain about that because they want to hear my narration. If it makes you feel better, what do you think my wife has to hear 😀😀😀
These trains have the worst bell and horn on any train. They are borderline annoying. But love your video!!
I think the train driver left his turn signal on!
I like the horn. Nice K3LA but like the old expression-horn beauty is in the ear of the beholder!!!!
sunrail has entered the chat
Bell sounds at lot worse on inside of train then outside!
@@meverything2216 I tolerated it when I considered the view that I was getting
Hey! What are you doing there? Neat video! I like the intro too!
I think that diamond around the 33 minute mark is also BRC... not IHB.
Awesome ride!! Thanks RR.😀😀💚💚
Nice video
53:00 why would they narrow down to a single track when it splits into three different tracks? Kind of annoying
This is going to be my daily commute here in a week or so!
You gonna ride one of the weekday trains? For me riding this was a bonus. That Saturday service made it possible.
Say if I am incorrect, Romeoville was added. Metra H.C. did not always stop there!
Looked new
@@3985uprr added in 2017
Did tu/vous know Metra Rock Island has another route to Union Station?
Nickname for the G, M &O Joliet Local was "The Plug" :)
Right!!
And the medium-tension wiring in the right is of a style I have seen here in Maryland - in particular southern Maryland - Charles, Saint Mary's, and Calvert Counties (current CSX Pope's Creek Subdivision- SMECO territory) - but only in spots.
i will tell my friends to subscribe to you
Again I applaud you Tim, for the spectacular head end shots !! With all due respect, the side window shots really get boring. I'm not interested in seeing the grass, weeds, trees and buildings along a right-of-way. I wish you could shoot videos like this on the LIRR, Metro-NORTH, SEPTA and MBTA, to name a few. There is a stunning head end video on Metro-NORTH's Hudson Line along the scenic Hudson River of an express run on RUclips. It's awesome to say the least. All that is lacking from that video is your very informative narration.
Just a suggestion; have you ever given any thought to taking along a small, pocket scanner tuned to the frequency of the line you're shooting, so we could hear the interesting radio chatter. It needn't be loud or overbearing, just something low in the background. I for one would be very interested to hear it. I think others would be too.
A lot of people do like side shots believe it or not. Yes, I prefer head end shots but it’s hard to do on other railroads. The LIRR is bringing back the M3’s so I want to get on those for the head end. One of the perks of wanting to go to Chicago was opportunities to get head end views because their gallery cars are user friendly for that and I’m thankful I could get a lot.
A scanner would add something but I don’t want to irritate other passengers with radio chatter. In some situations it might be good for trackside videos
I remember an intra Chicago stop called Brighton Park. Has it been done away avec?
Many many years ago because the neighborhood turned
Cool
The trains really flew out in the suburbs, but they crawled through Chicago. If speeds could be made comparable in town, the trip would certainly be much shorter. Why is it so slow? Are there plans to fix it?
Part of the reason is he had a restricting signal.
This COULD be duplicated along the CSX Pope's Creed Subdivision - high-tension wiring and all - as part of the ROW is used for it - in addition to Mirant Morgantown at the end, you have Mirant Chalk Point and KMG Thermo Brandywine, along with CPE Saint Charles Energy Center along the Subdivision ROW - but you have to want businesses that need rail services - and all too many towns - let alone cities - despise businesses that use freight rail.
Just comparing the high speed track and switches against septa and mta.
High speed *nothing* - this is normally used by freight; while branded as Metra - they do not operate the trains - and especially NOT on the Heritage Line. (Most of Metra is contract-operated - like some of MARC and some of even LIRR.) Delay In Block goes into more depth on Metra and their operations.
55:38 was the bridge going to rise up after you stopped recording
No it didn’t
How do you hold your camera in place?
Strong wrist muscles!!
@@3985uprr Must be hard on those steel bridges.
So this was originally a GM&O route?
Who owns the track now?
question answered... CN I guess.
A little known fact Joliet was formerly named Juliet.
I call it Joilet
How do people especially like you get to take cab ride videos?
They are passenger accessible areas. I don’t go in restricted areas
55:40 ???
Meant to type something else but didn’t register. I didn’t catch that
worst Metra line there is . Only 6 trains daily ....3 in the AM ( in bound only ) and 3 in the PM ( out bound only ) No mid day or weekend service
There was Saturday service when I did this
Krutsvilciensjumstututu🚅💈😉🫢🫢🫢🤗🤑🤠😎🤘👍.
That made up for the rest of the visit
Rte
Ryc