Western Railroad Discussion > Early Bird Gets the BNSF 2026

Thanks to some timely intel, I was able to get BNSF’s America 250 locomotive #2026 on an early morning run into Chicago on BNSF’s Chicago Sub. Some rough estimates based on sightings by others indicated I should get trackside by 4:00 this morning. Finding downtown Westmont IL virtually deserted except for a carload of younger fans and one tired-looking mom, I settled in to wait at the east end of the Metra Westmont station.
I don’t know if this was a normal pre-dawn morning on the Chicago Sub but I saw two westbound freights, two eastbound intermodals, one empty westbound grain train and a handful of early inbound Metra trains before BNSF 2026 rolled by with the eastbound ZPTLCHC (Portland to Chicago/Cicero) at 5:45 am.
Enjoy the video.
And to quote the great Dave Edmunds, “I hear you knocking, bit you can’t come in…Zzzz”

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/26 09:11 by kevink.

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Great video, nice working catching the 2026.

Nathan

Wonderful video including the 2026. If I lived near there sleep deprivation would be la problem for me.
BB
  

Awesome video of early morning action and of course the 2026!

Posted from iPhone

Nice series of videos! Thanks for sharing....

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Good stuff from "The Land of the Burlington's ".  Thanks for sharing. 

Super video!

Posted from Android

BNSF2026 going out today 8/5 on Z-CHCSSE. Crew OD 1100 hours