Western Railroad Discussion > Chicagoland Update - 4/14/2024

Here's a sampling of some of the activity around Chicagoland since my last update on 3/28/2024. Dates listed after each description (all in 2024).

1) METX 511, one of Metra's new SD70MACH locomotives, pushes on the rear of an inbound MD-W train, seen here rolling through a misty rain into its Schaumburg stop. On the other track is outbound CPKC 180, which tonight had CP 8781 and a Grey Ghost, unfortunately being blocked by the Metra. 4/1

2) CSXT 1972, the 11th and (at the time) newest heritage locomotive in the expanding heritage unit roster held by CSX, shows off its "Family Lines System" livery as the engine returns from a jaunt onto CPKC property. Tonight it serves as the DPU of ethanol train 546, which originated in Mason City, IA, seen here passing underneath the former Milwaukee Road signal bridge at the Tower B-12 control point in Franklin Park, IL, the train having just received a fresh crew and making its way down the IHB to return to CSX rails. Not sure how often FLS locomotives interacted with the MILW, but it's nice to think about what might have been in modern times. 4/2

3) CP 8757, the Every Child Matters unit, begins its long trek to Montreal leading CPKC 230, seen here passing underneath the former Milwaukee Road signal bridge in Franklin Park, IL. This is actually the other side of the signal bridge in #2 above. 4/9

More to come!

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4) In photos 2 and 3, you saw the Tower B-12 control point in Franklin Park. This photo shows the actual Tower B-12, which was moved about 0.25 miles west and now sits on permanent display in downtown Franklin Park. Here it oversees the passage of an outbound Metra train, which is making its scheduled stop before proceeding west to Elgin. 4/13

5) In the same park as #4 above sits a former MILW caboose on display, which bears witness to a couple of UP SD40N locomotives led by #1624 on what I believe is YCPPR, a daily transfer from Bensenville to Proviso that today consists only of light power. 4/13

More to come!

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6) KCS 4171 (SD70ACe) leads a KCS GE on CPKC 181, seen here trundling into Bensenville Yard at Tower B-17, completing the long journey from Mexico. 4/13

7) It's a pleasant April Sunday morning, and the crew of UP 1158, a former Cotton Belt GP60, is enjoying the warm air as the little Geep leads a couple bigger UP GEs on a light power move to Evansville, IL over the Fox River bridge in the aptly named Fox River Grove, IL. 4/14

That's all for now, thanks for taking a look!

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Photo #2 is so cool! Great catch of the still clean unit. Unfortunately it went towards Ohio and not down the CE&D. 
Great set of photos!

Great shots!

texchief1

Excellent.
JB

Very nice night shots!  It's good to see all the CP action up there.  I love those Metra '70s.

Andy

Very NICE!!

Larry

Outstanding! And people say we have no variety these days. Ok well maybe not as much but it's out there. Just gotta get out there and find it!

Excellent series!!

Great photos all, Congrats on the Image of the Day!

Rich

Great series

Outstanding series! Great catch and shot with the SPatch GP leading.

NICE shots!!