Passenger Trains > Challenge: Figure out the Chicago Detour, 10DEC2011

Posted at another discussion board:

> When a detour runs, without missing any station stops, my employer usually does not bother providing
> us with routing details, and that is the case now. Here is all the information I can find:

> Date---10 Dec 2011

> Reason---replacement of diamonds at 21st Street-Chicago by CN-IC

> Trains detouring--- only the Lake Shore, Capitol, Cardinal and some
> Michigan trains
>
> The other Michigan jobs are annulled entirely, or annulled west of
> New Buffalo, or rescheduled to run after the work is completed.
>
> Anything which is detouring, and has a Hammond-Whiting stop, will
> make that stop.
>
> Amtrak is predicting loss of at least 60 minutes on the detour.
>
> So get out your atlases and try to figure out what this detour might
> be. I have two guesstimates, but do not know if the right track
> connections exist to run them. Maybe Dispatcher Smetko or somebody
> else with good Chicago sources could tell us.

Is there a way to connect from the B&O in the South Chicago area?

Amtrak web site doesn't show any Michigan trains not running.

I can't remember how 21st st. is set up, if there's a connection there that bypasses the diamonds or not, but my bet is use the Canal St. wye to the St. Charles Air Line, over to 16th St., down past the old Santa Fe coachyards to 21st St. and around the connector onto the Pennsy. I was on a train one time that made that detour; seems like it migh've been in reverse though as I think I was on the City of New Orleans.

Andy

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > So get out your atlases and try to figure out
> what this detour might
> > be. I have two guesstimates, but do not know if
> the right track
> > connections exist to run them.

The most likely route for trains coming west on the NS Chicago Line would be to access the Metra ex-RI route at Englewood (I'm pretty sure the connection is still there in the NE quadrant) and head north to 16th St. Using the SW quad connection, they would access the St.Charles Air Line and head west across the river. Then, like the trains off the ex-IC main, they would shove onto the BNSF racetrack and head to Union Station.

AndyBrown Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't remember how 21st st. is set up, if
> there's a connection there that bypasses the
> diamonds or not, but my bet is use the Canal St.
> wye to the St. Charles Air Line, over to 16th St.,
> down past the old Santa Fe coachyards to 21st St.
> and around the connector onto the Pennsy. I was
> on a train one time that made that detour; seems
> like it migh've been in reverse though as I think
> I was on the City of New Orleans.

That's a possibility too. There's still a connection in the SE quadrant at 21st that would enable a train coming west from 16th on the ex-IC to access NS/Amtrak. However, from what I've heard, it's in pretty bad shape.

I rode this detour once on the City of New Orleans. I took only 15 minutes to do it and it was quick.

Chris



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/11 09:32 by Mudrock.

Assuming that the diamond replacement can happen at 21st Street while trains pass to the west (GM&O) connecting tracks, just south of the bridge. And just south of the diamonds on the connecting track from IC tracks to PRR tracks, then the detour is relatively easy and quick through 16th Street and the St. Charles Airline.

Shall we assume that the Southwest Metra trains will NOT operate? This is the old Wabash (N&W) line to Orland Park.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/11 11:16 by MEKoch.

calumet Wrote:
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> That's a possibility too. There's still a
> connection in the SE quadrant at 21st that would
> enable a train coming west from 16th on the ex-IC
> to access NS/Amtrak. However, from what I've
> heard, it's in pretty bad shape.

We rebuilt this connecting track last year for Amtrak in anticipation of this work. It was a total tear down to subgrade, so everything is in great shape now. NS and CN have also rebuilt the turnouts on either end.

calumet Wrote:

> The most likely route for trains coming west on
> the NS Chicago Line would be to access the Metra
> ex-RI route at Englewood...

I like your idea better; shades of the 20th Century!

Andy