Eastern Railroad Discussion > "Some Chicagoland Freight Action..."

A few miscellaneous grabs taken over the last couple of days...

Cheers,

aussiehinz


1. An eastbound CSX train, utilizing trackage rights over the NS Chicago Line, cruises through Whiting IN... 9-18-14

2. Premium intermodal westbound on the NS Chicago Line, at Whiting IN... 9-19-14

3. A South Chicago & Indiana Harbor (Chicago Short Line) crew brings coke empties from Indiana Harbor west past the Horseshoe Casino in Whiting IN. The train is operating on the former B&O passenger main line into Chicago, now mostly used by SCIH in roles similar to this.

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4. One of the frequent uses of the St. Charles Air Line across from "MH" Tower is for arriving eastbound UP trains at Global One to take head room in doubling intermodal trains over back in the yard. Such was the case this morning, and today the consist included a relatively rare (at least for "MH") KCS visitor.

5. Backing its double slowly west into Global One off the Air Line.

6. A westbound NS to BNSF empty oil train works past the ongoing signal replacement work in the vicinity of "MH." Here, it passes under Canal Street on the freight wye connecting the two roads.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/14 17:29 by aussiehinz.

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Nice shots Aussie. Keepem coming!

AC traction power was always the norm on those oil trains, now it's rare to see both engines AC tracrion

Posted from Android

Interesting. My son has taken some shots near that area. Are there any regular freight trains that use that part of the St Charles Air Line? If so, of which RR and number per day. I know a few CN trains get on the SCAL east of there at an interlocking I've forgoten the name of.

SUPER pics!!! Thanks for sharing.

< "I know a few CN trains get on the SCAL east of there at an interlocking I've forgoten the name of." >

That occurs at 16th Street, where a few CN trains to and from Iowa junction with the St. Charles Air Line. A Markham-Glenn transfer job, and occasional grain trains also typically follow this path. As for the S.C.A.L. west of 16th Street, including the ramp adjacent to "MH" Tower, the six daily Amtrak trains utilizing the former IC main line use it of course, and BNSF-CN unit coal trains, usually destined to/from Consumers Power's Whiting Plant in Michigan, and Ameren's Newton Plant in Newton IL, are fairly regular visitors. Capacity on the former EJ&E from Eola to Matteson is still a concern for CN, so these unit trains and empties continue to follow a path between the two roads through the city and across the Air Line, at least for the time being. The UP doubling maneuvers can occur at any time, only operate west of the Chicago River Drawbridge (height restrictions on the bridge would not allow double stacks, even if the need to go that far east was there), and from ongoing observation, frequently seem to take place in mid morning or very late at night.

Thanks for your answer Aussiehinz. I got involved with helping with our area model RR open house schedule and forgot for a few days I asked the question. That is a steep grade for loaded coal trains!