Passenger Trains > Cardinal/Hoosier State Route out of Chicago

Google Maps comes up with a strange route for the Cardinal leaving Chicago. I would have expected a straight shot south from Union Station, eventually diverging onto the old Monon main line. However, it shows a divergence toward Joliet, then going south on CSX around Western Ave (old B&O CT?), then back on the old Wabash line around 73rd St to the former C&WI, then south to whatever.

So, what is the actual route this train is currently taking - I may be dating myself, but am more familiar with the pre-merger RR's in the Chicago area.

(I grew up in Chicago and now living in the Bay Area for many years - still can't get used to the idea of UP trains going through Martinez - will always be the SP to me).

Bill Davidson

What might help, Bill:

Go to Amtrak.com and then Track-A-Train at a time when one of the trains
(50, 51, 850, 851) is displaying...such as NOW (340pm PT)...the GPS device
on last night's Train 850 is still turned ON, so Track-A-Train is active
(incidentally, Train 850 arrived Indy ON TIME last night, so it CAN be done).

In the upper right corner, select "Satellite."

Since the new programming for Track-A-Train shows the train's route
in RED at any magnification, a red line will be shown, superimposed on
the satellite image of the territory. The red line will make it possible
to follow the route, especially if you have another mapping program open
in another window. You can zoom in on Track-A-Train to where the full
screen will show approx 1 1/4 miles, top to bottom.

Example shows the Cardinal/Hoosier State route from the wye with the
BNSF at the top, through the 21st St. drawbridge, for about 1 1/4 miles
total. On the actual Track-A-Train image, you can zoom out for convenience,
and pan the image; eventually you can follow the entire route.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/14 15:44 by GenePoon.

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Thanks for all the info, Gene. Track-A-Train shows the route I would have expected - not sure where Google Maps got their information.

WZD

Amtrak, NS, Metra, BRC, UP, CSX EX-CN/GTW, to Monon in that order.

1976 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Amtrak, NS, Metra, BRC, UP, CSX EX-CN/GTW, to
> Monon in that order.

To expand slightly on the sixth and seventh items: CSX now operates the ex-CN/GTW Elsdon sub between Thornton and Munster. At Munster, the train accesses CSX's Monon sub.