Passenger Trains > Elevated views of rushhour Metra

Last week I was working a photo assignment in the top floors of Holiday Inn near Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago. They room had stunning views of the city looking South, West, and Northwest, and I was able to grab a few frames showing rush-hour Metra action.

1/2. Looking west at the MILW-W and UP-W lines as a parade of MILW district trains heads to Union Station to load for the outbound rush.

3. Looking south at the Amtrak/NS main with a metra train and intermodal train on NS visible.

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4/5. A close an wider view looking northwest at the split of the UP-N/NW and UP-W lines just outside Ogilvie Transportation Center. Just like on the MILW lines, at this moment trains are arriving from the coach yard to ready for the outbound rush.

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6/7. And, from today, A Metra Electric train heads south as darkness sets in and a crescent moon hovers overhead

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That's quite the telephoto shot down towards the South branch lift bridge!

In Picture 1 the farthest two trains are on the UP west line, ex-CNW. And yes, that's quite a telephoto lens. What room did you say you were in in the Holiday Inn.

Marty Bernard

Glad to see some views are still possible from there. I was afraid new buildings had blocked the view.

B&OB

I was in a 15th floor ballroom for a wedding, using a 70-200m. That actually didn't get me to far in, particularly looking south, but since uploads to TO are only 1000px max height I cropped to zoom in more.

As for the view disappearing - it will be limited soon. There was a crane directly outside the window constructing a new building and the bride had a specific request that we try and avoid showing it in any footage (hard to do given that we were eye level with the crane operator!)

All quite interesting. Thanks for posting them. The last two images of the Metra Electric are very special. Beautifully evocative images, especially for this guy who spent a lot of time commuting on those Highliners in a former life. Just terrific.

MC
Columbia, Missouri



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/14 05:12 by ironmtn.

Great photos. Exceptional views.

It would be an advantage if Train orders had a best train watching site by state and a site and/or list of rooms with a view

Number one is fantastic, look at all of the trains headed in.

Nathan

Awesome grabs!
JB