I still remember when South Shore trains went all the way to downtown South Bend. My late aunt remembered that when my mother's family arrived in South Bend in 1949, trains ran every hour to Chicago. You didn't even need a timetable; if you missed a train, there would be another one.
That's an ungodly hour!I sometimes had to be at work at 0530 and you knew how early it was when people were still going home after a night out on the town!
When Dunkin' is closed....sounds like a nightmare in the making for Bostonians! Pigeons being train fans doesn't surprise me as the bird is the word! It's a shame that people treat them like pests, as pigeons are war heroes! Pigeons are the ones that received the most Dickin Medals, with 32 of them being awarded for helping the Allies. One even saved a RAF bomber crew in 1942! The South Shore Line is very interesting, and it's great that they upgraded the machines! Appreciate the dedication of waking up this early for us! Millennium Station reminds me of NY Penn, specifically pre-Moynihan Penn since you just feel like you're in a basement. Now NY Penn is more of a mix between Union and Millennium.
I love pigeons. I love how they’ve adapted to the harsh environment of a city. And they’re basically walking, flying biology trivia. I know a guy in Boston who is convinced that there is a conspiracy between Azoreans (people from the Azores) to franchise as many Dunkin’s as possible and conquer the US that way. Let me tell you, this man is CONVINCED.
Shame Gary Union Station is abandoned. At one point in time, you could take a direct train from there all the way to Jersey City. Funnily enough, the eastern end of this service (when it was B&O) is also not used for trains anymore, the Communipaw Terminal. As it was incorporated into Liberty State Park. Though unlike Gary Union Station, the Communipaw Terminal was renovated, though the shed with all the tracks is abandoned. Liberty State Park is my personal favorite urban park. Besides the terminal, it has a science museum with a cool planetarium, perfect bird-watching place, and you get great views of the harbor (especially a close-up of both Ellis Island and Liberty Island; shame the public can't access the Ellis Island bridge). Historically it was the site of one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history in 1916 where the Germans sabotaged supplies being sent to the Allies. This was one of the reasons for the US entering WWI. It also means something for my family because when the park opened on July 4th, 1976, they got the boy and girl scouts of the city to raise 50 US flags. My uncle raised the one in front of the Interpretive Center and the flagpole is still there today! It's incredible how all of that was once industrial land.
I find it so interesting that the old B&O trains had Jersey City as their destination. Nothing wrong with the place, I always really enjoy spending time there! I’ll have to try out the park you recommended. Normally I float past that area on the Staten Island Ferry…
@@Thom-TRA ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I ask my friend to create a petition to bring back the Communipaw Terminal for NJ Transit?
What a great history! Back in the 1980's I used to go to the Jersey City station to transfer to the NJ Transit into NYC. Usually the WTC. The real WTC. My grandmother remembers that blast. She was in Patterson NJ and 7 years old in 1916. The historical tie in to Gary's old Union Station was a real treat to read. My memory of the Colgate docks area is the Ukraine Betrayal statue with the soldier being stabbed in the back by a Soviet rifle.
You learn something every day and I didn't know about the 1916 explosion.That north coast hasn't been lucky with such things as they had a huge one up in Canada, Halifax I think it was, around a similar time when a ship blew up.I don't know how these explosions compared to the fairly recent Beirut phosphate explosion which was very powerful.
The South Shore Line was a "must do" for me during my time in Chicago back in October 1995. Went all the way to South Bend Airport and spent a couple of hours in Michigan City photographing the 11th Street on-street running and checking out the discount markets.🙂
I really hate the bad reports about Gary... I have been through the city 100s of times and NEVER had a problem. Yes the infrastructure is a shipwreck but it isn't because the folks are hateful. If corporate America would realize the potential of the area Gary could come back strong. There are some really great people there, and the media is always dwelling on the negativity in 😊😊any situation.
I have a flight from O’hare to South Bend to reschedule because I’m planning to do it in early June when I’m in town and then I plan to take the south shore line back with a stop in Dune Park to go to Chesterton because I want to spend some of the day there. And when I say reschedule, I mean that I was actually supposed to go on that short flight back in December but this coming June is when I can do it at the earliest according to my schedule.
For anybody trying to transfer between the red line and either SSL or Metra Electric, you actually can get between the Lake red line and Millenium Station via the pedway, and there's a section along the way with a bunch of really cool stained glass. I think it's a fun little Easter egg for anybody making the transfer.
Glad I found this video. Now I know what to do. Have not been on a train since the IC back in the 70's. I drive for Uber and Lyft on the south side and always taking people to and from the South Shore in Hegewisch, Hammond, Gary. Thought I would take a ride on the South Shore soon just to get out and be on a train again and see things from a different perspective and do something different. Thanks for the video ! I was kind of looking to see how to buy the tickets and stuff so I don't look all crazy trying to figure it out. Simple and easy. Thanks !
There used to be a great place to get tacos in Millenium Station. I hope that it's still there. Take them across the hall to the bar and enjoy them with a couple of IPAs.
I do a very similar trip from Phoenix Az to East Chicago Indiana. I take the Red Eye from Phoenix to ORD. I get 3 hours sleep. It arrives in Chicago at 6 AM. Then I take the Blue CTA to downtown. I then use the walk to Van Buren to help wake up, then the South Shore Line to East Chicago. During winter months I can do the trip from Phoenix to East Chicago for $50 each way.
I rode the South Shore Line when they still were running the old orange "I think I can" trains. Hopefully it'll return to downtown South Bend someday. There's a well-preserved heritage station there, converted to offices.
@@Thom-TRA When the line was cut back from street-running to downtown South Bend it terminated at an out-of-the-way industrial area. The extension to the airport was to provide a better end-point destination. Now there's a plan to relocate the airport routing to make it more direct. Downtown makes so much more sense.
Hi Thom. Thanks for the video. I'm a 20+ year South Shore rider. I believe the most important function of the train line is to take eastbound commuters to downtown Chicago though I know many rely on it to go back and forth to events, school, etc, as well. My origin station is East Chicago, IN, and that is the busiest station on the line, as far as know, with Hegewisch coming in second. It would be nice to see a vid of you taking a later train from Millennium Station to East Chicago. That would give you a more accurate representation of the train line as a whole. After Covid, ridership decreased considerably, but it's really picked up over the past year. So many people use the South Shore from East Chicago to get to/from work that they are expanding tracks and I believe they are planning for Munster and/or Dyer, IN so it's more convenient for folks.
What a great video and train ride. The South Shore Line is the one thing I didn't get to see in Chicago, and I hope to ride it this summer when the TCMC service launches! It looks so great and funky, makes me want the North Shore Line back too.
@goldenstarmusi; I can picture the North Shore Line cars today looking and sounding the same as th se single level South Shore Line cars especially if funding were available. Also maybe the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin cars too.
@@Thom-TRA Perhaps by some miracle maybe it could be revived and be just like the South Shore Line it's cars being virtually similar to the South Shore Line single level cars and and just like them. It would also be nice if the Chicago,Aurora,and Elgin could come back as well. The CSX TRACKS through Oak Park are extremely lightly used only serving the Farara Candy Company the only customer now left on that line.All the other industries have vanished. CSX only makes a few runs a week. Chicago Aurora and Elgin trains could probably utilize this trackage today and run to the South Loop where Grand Central Terminal once was. The North Shore Line is badly missed and I sure would like to see it come back with cars similar to the South Shore Line's single level cars.
You looked soo sleepy.... slurring words, barely keeping eyes open...I used to take the Port Jervis Line from Port to NYC early morning on similar equipment (except with bench seats that could all be flipped in the direction of the train). That was 2+ hours each way, with one change. Great ride over the moodna viaduct and through the otisville tunnel, but doing it every week was tiresome. I looked as sleepy as you so early in the morning too. Great video, Thom!
Thanks for the video Thom! I always enjoy seeing the South Shore Line! I see there is an express train. The 06:48 from Millennium Station (Train 205) only stops at Van Buren and then Gary Metro Centre only! I know what you mean about an early start. I was on the first train into London last week (05:45am!).
@@Thom-TRA I know what you mean. Occasionally for my job, I work the 6am to 1900pm shift! I am not a morning person! And Thank you for subscribing to my channel. I appreciate it. I've uploaded lots of videos today. Quite a backlog!
@@Thom-TRA I'm glad you enjoy the videos! I try and vary. Different train operators, (TPX, LNER, Scotrail etc) mostly clips at speed, or occasionally I'll do an onboard ride. 🙂
I kind of have to put a trip with southshore on my to-do list, for next time I'm in chi-town💜 My sister doesn't seem to live too far from the station, so it might be interesting💜
More videos like this please.... I love the commute from Michigan City to Chicago and back.❤ Every time is like the first and always enjoyable.... Thanks for posting!!!
Hey thom! Have you ever thought about trying the Chicago L Challenge? I have seen Chicago Aussie do it, but the record may have been beaten. If you don't know what the L Challenge is, it is to visit every L station as fast as possible. I think it would be really fun to do and very fun to watch! Thanks, love your videos!!
Thom, nice video of your trip, being from Florida, I can not see myself that early in the train station in Chicago. But keep up the videos, I like them. You will need to check out our new Brightline from Miami to Orlando, somewhat high speed, will start this summer.
Oh do so it is incredible because you will see things that you may never see again, especially as you enter Chicago. I recommend making a weekend of it, and starting at South Bend International Airport. Michigan City Carroll Ave is also a good start.❤ Gary Metro Center too.
I think the South Shore Line double tracking is one of the more underrated infrastructure improvement plans out there. It is a shame they are losing the street running, but better service is more important. This would leave Amtrak through Oakland CA as probably the last street running mainline passenger rail train.
Thank you for this interesting early morning ride ! I agree the South Shore line trains are good for the relatively short distances covered, and really like their bi-level units. Were there not any onboard announcements, which I thought would have been appropriate in view of the bus connections for stations belong Gary ? Many thanks.
I really like the paint scheme that they use on the outside of the trains. The rolling stock looks great, the only commuter line in Chicago without tinted windows? Interesting choice with the beige and turquoise seats and the wood paneling on the interior, feels like something from the 70's. This looked like a nice early morning trip though, nothing beats getting on the train while it's raining in the morning, in the comfort of a warm heated train to take you to your destination.
Those old ticket machines were such a pain. It would take 20 tries before I was able to get the machine to read my debit card. I do like being able to use the tap to pay feature now.
One thing I wish the South Shore did better was provide updates on the status on the train. Most of the trains leave millennium station on time. However, when I'm waiting for a westbound train at East Chicago there is usually no status as to when the train will arrive. There might be announcement that says the next westbound train is 5 to 10 minutes late. It would be really helpful if there was a TV screen that showed the status of the next train. I don't always like having to pull up the south shore app to check the train tracker.
I’m so glad to see your videos on the South Shore Line. I live in South Bend, Indiana, and I love taking it into Chicago for the day. The ride home, however, seems to take forever because of the time zone change just west of South Bend. The double tracking construction work is supposed to reduce the travel time between Chicago and South Bend to 1.5 hours. I hope that’s the case. Now if we can just get the train to come back to downtown South Bend at our beautiful Union Station instead of the airport, then that would be really awesome! My Dad, who was also a train aficionado, always said that the South Shore line was the last continuous service interurban electric railway in the United States.
In about 1971, when the South Shore went to downtown South Bend along LaSalle Avenue, the brakes on a train stopped working at the end of the line. The train rolled out of control down a short hill and across the bridge over the river and into the rail yard. This was not the first time a train had been out of control on city streets. The powers that be at the time decided to get the train off the city streets. They built a station in an industrial area about 2 miles west of downtown and rerouted the train to this station, along what was then the Penn Central Railroad, then Conrail, and what is now I believe called the Norfolk Southern. After most of the industrial area closed up, they decided it didn’t make much sense to have the train end there so sometime around 1991 or so they rerouted the tracks and electric lines to use some other abandoned rail beds and connected the line to the east end of the South Bend International Airport. The train goes very slowly through this section as there are many curves and street crossings. They wanted to make the airport a multi-modal facility. The intercity bus station was moved to the airport as well. The airport is about 4-5 miles west-northwest of downtown. At first thought having many forms of transport in one place sounds like a good idea but then when you realize that it’s not convenient to where the people are, then it’s not so good. In the meantime, that former South Shore Station became our not-so-lovely Amtrak station, buried deep in the heart of a rather desolate industrial wasteland. Also several years ago, the city built a new city bus terminal on the south edge of downtown right next to the Norfolk Southern tracks which was also being designed as the new Amtrak station, trying to get it moved into the heart of the city. That was right about the time Conrail became NS and the new rail company wanted to have nothing to do with having a passenger rail station there. So that is how South Bend got stuck with its not-so-convenient passenger rail situation. They are working on moving the South Shore Line to the WEST side of the airport in an attempt to speed up the travel time to and from Chicago. With the recent double tracking, they’re hoping to get Chicago-to-South Bend travel time down to 90 minutes. There is also a move underfoot to get the South Shore to return to downtown South Bend somewhere near our Union Station. I hope to see that happen, along with the Amtrak move but I think it will be a long time coming before we see that happening. I’m hoping our former Mayor, Pete Buttigieg, now Secretary of Transportation, can make something happen for us!
La Grange, Kentucky(northeast of Louisville) still has it. Plus there's a regular webcam set up so you can see the trains passing through there, thanks to Virtual Railfan. If you do a search for this Webcam on RUclips, it is one of VR's free cameras to watch on RUclips. And yep, I already do miss that Michigan City street running section.
@@cooltrainsinmontreal4883 There used to be street running through East Chicago down Chicago Ave. The East Chicago Bypass opened in September of 1956 along with the Toll Road. It was a joint effort.
I've ridden the Metra Electric Blue Island branch before once, and it was interesting to do. Note there is VERY limited service on this branch, and only Monday-Saturday service. Fewer trains run on Saturday vs. weekdays, btw. Plus this branch is only single tracked, with the exception of a few brief 2 track areas, so that trains in different directions can pass each other. There is much more frequent service to Blue Island, IL on the Metra Rock Island line, btw. One day I want to ride the ME Blue Island branch again, since there is a Frank Lloyd Wright house very close to the Stewart Ridge station. Plus the Major Taylor Trail can be picked up for biking/hiking, not too far from one of the Blue Island branch stations(I forget which one).
When I was 7, my older brother, who was 12, took me all the way to Michigan City, where we just hung out all day. It was great, but I am pretty sure it was not allowed. So don't tell anyone. 😊
I'm sure double tracking will help when Amtrak is shifted over to there ROW to South Bend (and also the Cardinal seems to be getting a new shortcut). Be nice if they had an extra track just for Amtrak trains especially if there are more Intercity Trains-but I think most of the trains would go toward Indianapolis (could serve Bloomington/Evansville, Louisville, Dayton/Columbus, and Cincinnati) as the South Shore/Norfolk Southern line only benefits the Michigan routes (although adding Muskegon/Fremont to the Pere Marquette branch would be nice since the lost their air link due to Covid) plus a potential day route to Cleveland-even it was started as a seasonal trial like the Berkshire Flyer (more frequent than the Berkshire though)
Looks like I won't be taking The South Shore Line for a long time. I typically go all the way to South Bend being that's the final stop on the line and being I now use a electric wheelchair to get around I won't be able to get off the train and the bus so I'll have to wait until they finish the project.
Why I think the bud has a wheelchair lift in the center of the bud if they use buses similar to greyhound abd if they use regular buses the front door has a ramp for wheelchair and people in walkers (if they need them)
How do the monthly tickets work? Like are they unlimited rides for a month? Does it last 30days so it doesn't matter what day of the month u buy it or is it a lost cause to buy it after the 1st of the month?
Having Dunkin' not open is almost as serious as Waffle House being closed - LOL. Thanks for the video sir. Okay Papa Geoff, let's highball Houston on signal indication - Here we go on a clear block ahead - OUT 🚦🚦
It's inconsistent and a pathetic Train company, late 50% of the time. Take Metra instead. The South Shore will Let you down each time, Late for work etc.
@Thom-TRA Years ago I drove to the Metra Station into Illinois of course. That part you have no choice, would you rather be late on the South Shore and get fired or get up a little earlier and drive to a Metra station?
@Thom-TRA I overheard today I would say close to about 50 or 60 people say that they were fed up and going to Metra after we got stranded in downtown . They have no shame, people have families, homework, appointments...
I still remember when South Shore trains went all the way to downtown South Bend. My late aunt remembered that when my mother's family arrived in South Bend in 1949, trains ran every hour to Chicago. You didn't even need a timetable; if you missed a train, there would be another one.
That’s the way it should be
I wish it were still like that, south bend runs like every 4 hours.
@@cip6292 Once the Toll Road was built, ridership in and out of South Bend dropped dramatically.
6:46 looked like a train was about to crash in the other train 😂
That's an ungodly hour!I sometimes had to be at work at 0530 and you knew how early it was when people were still going home after a night out on the town!
Unfortunately my daily commute starts at 5:45, so I know a thing or two about being up early…
I kinda love the bell that rings when the doors close
Me too!
I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago and wanted to get some Intel on the South Shore Line.
It’s a great train to ride if you get the chance!
When Dunkin' is closed....sounds like a nightmare in the making for Bostonians! Pigeons being train fans doesn't surprise me as the bird is the word! It's a shame that people treat them like pests, as pigeons are war heroes! Pigeons are the ones that received the most Dickin Medals, with 32 of them being awarded for helping the Allies. One even saved a RAF bomber crew in 1942! The South Shore Line is very interesting, and it's great that they upgraded the machines! Appreciate the dedication of waking up this early for us! Millennium Station reminds me of NY Penn, specifically pre-Moynihan Penn since you just feel like you're in a basement. Now NY Penn is more of a mix between Union and Millennium.
I love pigeons. I love how they’ve adapted to the harsh environment of a city. And they’re basically walking, flying biology trivia.
I know a guy in Boston who is convinced that there is a conspiracy between Azoreans (people from the Azores) to franchise as many Dunkin’s as possible and conquer the US that way. Let me tell you, this man is CONVINCED.
Uhhhh
Bird, bird, bird, bird is the word....
@@sardu55 Surfin Bird Family Guy
Looks quite the improvement from what I remember from my early childhood there in the late 1950's and early 1960's
Shame Gary Union Station is abandoned. At one point in time, you could take a direct train from there all the way to Jersey City. Funnily enough, the eastern end of this service (when it was B&O) is also not used for trains anymore, the Communipaw Terminal. As it was incorporated into Liberty State Park. Though unlike Gary Union Station, the Communipaw Terminal was renovated, though the shed with all the tracks is abandoned.
Liberty State Park is my personal favorite urban park. Besides the terminal, it has a science museum with a cool planetarium, perfect bird-watching place, and you get great views of the harbor (especially a close-up of both Ellis Island and Liberty Island; shame the public can't access the Ellis Island bridge). Historically it was the site of one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history in 1916 where the Germans sabotaged supplies being sent to the Allies. This was one of the reasons for the US entering WWI. It also means something for my family because when the park opened on July 4th, 1976, they got the boy and girl scouts of the city to raise 50 US flags. My uncle raised the one in front of the Interpretive Center and the flagpole is still there today! It's incredible how all of that was once industrial land.
I find it so interesting that the old B&O trains had Jersey City as their destination. Nothing wrong with the place, I always really enjoy spending time there! I’ll have to try out the park you recommended. Normally I float past that area on the Staten Island Ferry…
@@Thom-TRA ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I ask my friend to create a petition to bring back the Communipaw Terminal for NJ Transit?
It’s a shame for the City of Gary that they placed the suburban Amtrak station in Hammond-Whiting rather than adapting the Gary Union Station
What a great history! Back in the 1980's I used to go to the Jersey City station to transfer to the NJ Transit into NYC. Usually the WTC. The real WTC. My grandmother remembers that blast. She was in Patterson NJ and 7 years old in 1916. The historical tie in to Gary's old Union Station was a real treat to read. My memory of the Colgate docks area is the Ukraine Betrayal statue with the soldier being stabbed in the back by a Soviet rifle.
You learn something every day and I didn't know about the 1916 explosion.That north coast hasn't been lucky with such things as they had a huge one up in Canada, Halifax I think it was, around a similar time when a ship blew up.I don't know how these explosions compared to the fairly recent Beirut phosphate explosion which was very powerful.
The South Shore Line was a "must do" for me during my time in Chicago back in October 1995. Went all the way to South Bend Airport and spent a couple of hours in Michigan City photographing the 11th Street on-street running and checking out the discount markets.🙂
Gonna be taking this route from Michigan city and back this Tuesday.
'I am right where I need to be, here in Gary' Thom, Trains are Awesome - 27/4/23 Another great video mate, the things you do for our entertainment 🙂
How did you know my last name was Trains Are Awesome?
I really hate the bad reports about Gary...
I have been through the city 100s of times and NEVER had a problem.
Yes the infrastructure is a shipwreck but it isn't because the folks are hateful.
If corporate America would realize the potential of the area Gary could come back strong. There are some really great people there, and the media is always dwelling on the negativity in 😊😊any situation.
I have a flight from O’hare to South Bend to reschedule because I’m planning to do it in early June when I’m in town and then I plan to take the south shore line back with a stop in Dune Park to go to Chesterton because I want to spend some of the day there. And when I say reschedule, I mean that I was actually supposed to go on that short flight back in December but this coming June is when I can do it at the earliest according to my schedule.
For anybody trying to transfer between the red line and either SSL or Metra Electric, you actually can get between the Lake red line and Millenium Station via the pedway, and there's a section along the way with a bunch of really cool stained glass. I think it's a fun little Easter egg for anybody making the transfer.
blue line too!
Very nice! I would never be lost in Chicago with you around.
Super cool 😎 Greetings from South Florida
This line needs 24 hr food and snack cafes and coffee😊
Glad I found this video. Now I know what to do. Have not been on a train since the IC back in the 70's. I drive for Uber and Lyft on the south side and always taking people to and from the South Shore in Hegewisch, Hammond, Gary. Thought I would take a ride on the South Shore soon just to get out and be on a train again and see things from a different perspective and do something different. Thanks for the video ! I was kind of looking to see how to buy the tickets and stuff so I don't look all crazy trying to figure it out. Simple and easy. Thanks !
There used to be a great place to get tacos in Millenium Station. I hope that it's still there. Take them across the hall to the bar and enjoy them with a couple of IPAs.
I do a very similar trip from Phoenix Az to East Chicago Indiana. I take the Red Eye from Phoenix to ORD. I get 3 hours sleep. It arrives in Chicago at 6 AM. Then I take the Blue CTA to downtown. I then use the walk to Van Buren to help wake up, then the South Shore Line to East Chicago. During winter months I can do the trip from Phoenix to East Chicago for $50 each way.
Dang
Hey for a price like that it’s worth it to sacrifice a little sleep (and sanity…)
I rode the South Shore Line when they still were running the old orange "I think I can" trains. Hopefully it'll return to downtown South Bend someday. There's a well-preserved heritage station there, converted to offices.
I never understood the move to the airport
@@Thom-TRA When the line was cut back from street-running to downtown South Bend it terminated at an out-of-the-way industrial area. The extension to the airport was to provide a better end-point destination. Now there's a plan to relocate the airport routing to make it more direct. Downtown makes so much more sense.
@@amfm889 that airport track should be kept for a UPE style service to the South Bend airport
Loved this video!!! So thankful for the South Shore and hope it continues forever!!! Thank you for all you do to promote it!!!
It’s a Midwestern treasure!
Have you seen the signs CSS&SB used to have on their old orange cars? The signs said The Little Train That Could.
I’ve never seen those before!
@@Thom-TRA ceramembersblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/cera104.jpg
I enjoyed that video👍👍
That transition at 6:45 startled me I thought I was about to watch a collision 😂
No trains were harmed during the making of this production lol
Hi Thom. Thanks for the video. I'm a 20+ year South Shore rider. I believe the most important function of the train line is to take eastbound commuters to downtown Chicago though I know many rely on it to go back and forth to events, school, etc, as well. My origin station is East Chicago, IN, and that is the busiest station on the line, as far as know, with Hegewisch coming in second. It would be nice to see a vid of you taking a later train from Millennium Station to East Chicago. That would give you a more accurate representation of the train line as a whole. After Covid, ridership decreased considerably, but it's really picked up over the past year. So many people use the South Shore from East Chicago to get to/from work that they are expanding tracks and I believe they are planning for Munster and/or Dyer, IN so it's more convenient for folks.
I’ve been on the South Shore line many many times, don’t worry. Both before and after COVID.
Hey Thom! Thanks for sharing your early morning experiences with Metra!
You’re welcome!
What a great video and train ride.
The South Shore Line is the one thing I didn't get to see in Chicago, and I hope to ride it this summer when the TCMC service launches! It looks so great and funky, makes me want the North Shore Line back too.
I really wish the North Shore Line still existed. That would definitely outrank the South Shore Line as coolest inter urban in Chicago.
@goldenstarmusi; I can picture the North Shore Line cars today looking and sounding the same as th se single level South Shore Line cars especially if funding were available. Also maybe the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin cars too.
@@Thom-TRA Perhaps by some miracle maybe it could be revived and be just like the South Shore Line it's cars being virtually similar to the South Shore Line single level cars and and just like them. It would also be nice if the Chicago,Aurora,and Elgin could come back as well. The CSX TRACKS through Oak Park are extremely lightly used only serving the Farara Candy Company the only customer now left on that line.All the other industries have vanished. CSX only makes a few runs a week. Chicago Aurora and Elgin trains could probably utilize this trackage today and run to the South Loop where Grand Central Terminal once was. The North Shore Line is badly missed and I sure would like to see it come back with cars similar to the South Shore Line's single level cars.
@@albertcarello619 I think the North Shore would probably use something similar to the Metro North M8s
@@maas1208 Yes and with the addition of pantographs if overheadcatanary is also used. Like the cars used on the New Haven Metro North division.
I saw you recording this video at gray metro.
You looked soo sleepy.... slurring words, barely keeping eyes open...I used to take the Port Jervis Line from Port to NYC early morning on similar equipment (except with bench seats that could all be flipped in the direction of the train). That was 2+ hours each way, with one change. Great ride over the moodna viaduct and through the otisville tunnel, but doing it every week was tiresome. I looked as sleepy as you so early in the morning too.
Great video, Thom!
Great footage and great video!
First! Thank you!
Thanks for the video Thom! I always enjoy seeing the South Shore Line! I see there is an express train. The 06:48 from Millennium Station (Train 205) only stops at Van Buren and then Gary Metro Centre only! I know what you mean about an early start. I was on the first train into London last week (05:45am!).
Sadly my commute starts at 5:45 every morning…
@@Thom-TRA I know what you mean. Occasionally for my job, I work the 6am to 1900pm shift! I am not a morning person!
And Thank you for subscribing to my channel. I appreciate it. I've uploaded lots of videos today. Quite a backlog!
@@CameronLandels I love seeing what you post!
@@Thom-TRA I'm glad you enjoy the videos! I try and vary. Different train operators, (TPX, LNER, Scotrail etc) mostly clips at speed, or occasionally I'll do an onboard ride. 🙂
I kind of have to put a trip with southshore on my to-do list, for next time I'm in chi-town💜
My sister doesn't seem to live too far from the station, so it might be interesting💜
It’s a lot of fun!
More videos like this please....
I love the commute from Michigan City to Chicago and back.❤
Every time is like the first and always enjoyable....
Thanks for posting!!!
Hey thom! Have you ever thought about trying the Chicago L Challenge? I have seen Chicago Aussie do it, but the record may have been beaten. If you don't know what the L Challenge is, it is to visit every L station as fast as possible. I think it would be really fun to do and very fun to watch! Thanks, love your videos!!
My brother tried it and his train broke down… I’d love to try it again with him. But it would take some serious planning, so maybe one day!
Great job man
Thanks dude
Thom, nice video of your trip, being from Florida, I can not see myself that early in the train station in Chicago. But keep up the videos, I like them. You will need to check out our new Brightline from Miami to Orlando, somewhat high speed, will start this summer.
I am looking forward to brightline!
@@Thom-TRA Let me know if you do make it down here.
Wow great video I always wanted to take the south shore line
You should! It’s a fun line.
Also, your profile picture is the subject of Saturday’s video…
@@Thom-TRA what do you mean by that?
@@lukestrainsandotherstuff the train in your profile picture will be featured in my next video
@@Thom-TRA ohh ok cool!
Oh do so it is incredible because you will see things that you may never see again, especially as you enter Chicago.
I recommend making a weekend of it, and starting at South Bend International Airport.
Michigan City Carroll Ave is also a good start.❤
Gary Metro Center too.
This is the last train of its type in the country! (Electric interurban) Its wonderful its still operating and even expanding
It's my wish to travel around the States by train. I like the contents of this video a lot.😀👍👍
Glad you enjoyed! I’m headed to the west coast by train in a few weeks so be sure to stick around!
@@Thom-TRA Oh! I look forward to watching the next video.🙏🙌🙌🙏
I think the South Shore Line double tracking is one of the more underrated infrastructure improvement plans out there. It is a shame they are losing the street running, but better service is more important. This would leave Amtrak through Oakland CA as probably the last street running mainline passenger rail train.
It is surprising to see such improvement and investment in these region. The South Shore line is just a great line.
I've been digging your Chicago videos tonight. You have a new sub. Cheers
Thank you!! You'll love the video I'm uploading on Sunday :)
I wonder if the Metra Electric ROW could be Extended down till Carbondale for Amtrak Illini and Saluki trains
I was hoping Metra Electric would extend to Kankakee, Illinois. But that is Amtrak's Illinois Central/ Canadian National Railroad territory.
Thank you for this interesting early morning ride ! I agree the South Shore line trains are good for the relatively short distances covered, and really like their bi-level units. Were there not any onboard announcements, which I thought would have been appropriate in view of the bus connections for stations belong Gary ? Many thanks.
I have yet to ride one of the bilevels!
I really like the paint scheme that they use on the outside of the trains. The rolling stock looks great, the only commuter line in Chicago without tinted windows? Interesting choice with the beige and turquoise seats and the wood paneling on the interior, feels like something from the 70's. This looked like a nice early morning trip though, nothing beats getting on the train while it's raining in the morning, in the comfort of a warm heated train to take you to your destination.
There are a few Metra trains without tinted windows! And I agree about riding a train in the rain
It's just like the LIRR here in NYC.
Those old ticket machines were such a pain. It would take 20 tries before I was able to get the machine to read my debit card. I do like being able to use the tap to pay feature now.
One thing I wish the South Shore did better was provide updates on the status on the train. Most of the trains leave millennium station on time. However, when I'm waiting for a westbound train at East Chicago there is usually no status as to when the train will arrive. There might be announcement that says the next westbound train is 5 to 10 minutes late. It would be really helpful if there was a TV screen that showed the status of the next train. I don't always like having to pull up the south shore app to check the train tracker.
I can second this. On-platform information is kind of lacking in a lot of systems in the US.
I’m so glad to see your videos on the South Shore Line. I live in South Bend, Indiana, and I love taking it into Chicago for the day. The ride home, however, seems to take forever because of the time zone change just west of South Bend. The double tracking construction work is supposed to reduce the travel time between Chicago and South Bend to 1.5 hours. I hope that’s the case. Now if we can just get the train to come back to downtown South Bend at our beautiful Union Station instead of the airport, then that would be really awesome! My Dad, who was also a train aficionado, always said that the South Shore line was the last continuous service interurban electric railway in the United States.
Yeah I don’t really understand why they changed it to serve the airport
In about 1971, when the South Shore went to downtown South Bend along LaSalle Avenue, the brakes on a train stopped working at the end of the line. The train rolled out of control down a short hill and across the bridge over the river and into the rail yard. This was not the first time a train had been out of control on city streets. The powers that be at the time decided to get the train off the city streets. They built a station in an industrial area about 2 miles west of downtown and rerouted the train to this station, along what was then the Penn Central Railroad, then Conrail, and what is now I believe called the Norfolk Southern. After most of the industrial area closed up, they decided it didn’t make much sense to have the train end there so sometime around 1991 or so they rerouted the tracks and electric lines to use some other abandoned rail beds and connected the line to the east end of the South Bend International Airport. The train goes very slowly through this section as there are many curves and street crossings. They wanted to make the airport a multi-modal facility. The intercity bus station was moved to the airport as well. The airport is about 4-5 miles west-northwest of downtown. At first thought having many forms of transport in one place sounds like a good idea but then when you realize that it’s not convenient to where the people are, then it’s not so good. In the meantime, that former South Shore Station became our not-so-lovely Amtrak station, buried deep in the heart of a rather desolate industrial wasteland.
Also several years ago, the city built a new city bus terminal on the south edge of downtown right next to the Norfolk Southern tracks which was also being designed as the new Amtrak station, trying to get it moved into the heart of the city. That was right about the time Conrail became NS and the new rail company wanted to have nothing to do with having a passenger rail station there. So that is how South Bend got stuck with its not-so-convenient passenger rail situation. They are working on moving the South Shore Line to the WEST side of the airport in an attempt to speed up the travel time to and from Chicago. With the recent double tracking, they’re hoping to get Chicago-to-South Bend travel time down to 90 minutes. There is also a move underfoot to get the South Shore to return to downtown South Bend somewhere near our Union Station. I hope to see that happen, along with the Amtrak move but I think it will be a long time coming before we see that happening. I’m hoping our former Mayor, Pete Buttigieg, now Secretary of Transportation, can make something happen for us!
yo amazing video .. do you take the 6 am train for work or railfanning?
Work
Too bad no more Street running in Michigan City
Yeah, that was a really unique and cool section
La Grange, Kentucky(northeast of Louisville) still has it. Plus there's a regular webcam set up so you can see the trains passing through there, thanks to Virtual Railfan. If you do a search for this Webcam on RUclips, it is one of VR's free cameras to watch on RUclips.
And yep, I already do miss that Michigan City street running section.
@@cooltrainsinmontreal4883 There used to be street running through East Chicago down Chicago Ave. The East Chicago Bypass opened in September of 1956 along with the Toll Road. It was a joint effort.
Will you be riding the Metra Electrics Blue Island Branch one day? I grew up near that line.
I’d like to!
@@Thom-TRA okay cool
@@Thom-TRA be sure to record the pre-departure and door closing announcements too.
I've ridden the Metra Electric Blue Island branch before once, and it was interesting to do. Note there is VERY limited service on this branch, and only Monday-Saturday service. Fewer trains run on Saturday vs. weekdays, btw. Plus this branch is only single tracked, with the exception of a few brief 2 track areas, so that trains in different directions can pass each other. There is much more frequent service to Blue Island, IL on the Metra Rock Island line, btw.
One day I want to ride the ME Blue Island branch again, since there is a Frank Lloyd Wright house very close to the Stewart Ridge station. Plus the Major Taylor Trail can be picked up for biking/hiking, not too far from one of the Blue Island branch stations(I forget which one).
Yes!!!!!!! My boy South Shore!!!!!
Always a good time
When I was 7, my older brother, who was 12, took me all the way to Michigan City, where we just hung out all day. It was great, but I am pretty sure it was not allowed. So don't tell anyone. 😊
Your secret is safe with me
Thom- where does the train stop in Hyde Park heading back to millennium park?
You can by buy your tickets on the train.
NEW SUBSCRIBER...I LOVE TRAINS I'AM A TRAIN GUY...GREAT VIDEO👍..CAN YOU DO A METRA ELECTRIC SOUTH CHICAGO BRANCH VIDEO...THANKS !!!
Done, a few years ago
@Thom-TRA OH OK THANKS...WILL HAVE TO FIND IT !!!👍
I'm sure double tracking will help when Amtrak is shifted over to there ROW to South Bend (and also the Cardinal seems to be getting a new shortcut). Be nice if they had an extra track just for Amtrak trains especially if there are more Intercity Trains-but I think most of the trains would go toward Indianapolis (could serve Bloomington/Evansville, Louisville, Dayton/Columbus, and Cincinnati) as the South Shore/Norfolk Southern line only benefits the Michigan routes (although adding Muskegon/Fremont to the Pere Marquette branch would be nice since the lost their air link due to Covid) plus a potential day route to Cleveland-even it was started as a seasonal trial like the Berkshire Flyer (more frequent than the Berkshire though)
I am excited for them to take that routing. Some people are skeptical but I see a lot of benefits to both parties.
Hi. Have you ever been to east troy electric railroad museum? Nice video
No, I haven't yet!
@ I’m working on a video of it now. For my RUclips channel It’s amazing. A closer but small one is the Fox River valley Trolley museum near Elgin.
Looks like I won't be taking The South Shore Line for a long time. I typically go all the way to South Bend being that's the final stop on the line and being I now use a electric wheelchair to get around I won't be able to get off the train and the bus so I'll have to wait until they finish the project.
Why I think the bud has a wheelchair lift in the center of the bud if they use buses similar to greyhound abd if they use regular buses the front door has a ramp for wheelchair and people in walkers (if they need them)
Not exactly an achievement but this is my 5000th liked video. Great content!
That’s an achievement in my book!
Do you have the uncut video of the full ride? I’d love to hear the footage you got of the horn!
No, I don’t really do those
@@Thom-TRA I see. I like the footage though!
How do the monthly tickets work? Like are they unlimited rides for a month? Does it last 30days so it doesn't matter what day of the month u buy it or is it a lost cause to buy it after the 1st of the month?
What do you do in Gary?
Nothing
A freakin HOUR?! You can drive to Gary and be there in 10 minutes
That’s absolute BS
Millennium station is nasty! I was there 2 weeks ago around 10am and the bathrooms were filthy
It’s so gross
Why anyone would want to make a special trip to Gary, Indiana is beyond reasonable comprehensiom.
Some of us have jobs, Kurt.
@@Thom-TRA The only jobs in Gary involve selling drugs.
Why is this line a thing?
History
Having Dunkin' not open is almost as serious as Waffle House being closed - LOL. Thanks for the video sir.
Okay Papa Geoff, let's highball Houston on signal indication - Here we go on a clear block ahead - OUT 🚦🚦
What’s in Gary?
Not much
drive bys
Micheal Jackson's first house is there. Until he moved to Never Land Ranch in another state.
Sadly Gary has seen much better days.
It's inconsistent and a pathetic Train company, late 50% of the time. Take Metra instead. The South Shore will Let you down each time, Late for work etc.
So how am I going to take Metra to Indiana?
@Thom-TRA Years ago I drove to the Metra Station into Illinois of course. That part you have no choice, would you rather be late on the South Shore and get fired or get up a little earlier and drive to a Metra station?
Today was the final fuc.... straw they were late 2 hours coming home almost 730 pm I got home
@Thom-TRA I overheard today I would say close to about 50 or 60 people say that they were fed up and going to Metra after we got stranded in downtown . They have no shame, people have families, homework, appointments...