TRAIN WATCHING
Amtrak operates four pairs of trains on the Racetrack. The westbound and eastbound California Zephyr and Southwest Chief all converge on the Chicago Subdivision (if they are on time) in mid-afternoon. The two pairs of regional trains, Carl Sandburg (Nos. 381/382) and Illinois Zephyr (Nos. 380/383), which run between Chicago and Quincy, Ill., put in morning (Nos. 380 and 381) and evening (Nos. 382 and 383) appearances. All eight Amtrak trains stop at Naperville, and the four Quincy trains call at La Grange Road as well.
BNSF runs, on average, 50-plus freight trains in a 24-hour period on the Chicago Subdivision, depending on the day of the week, with volume building toward the weekend. BNSF trains include general freight, coal and other unit trains, and intermodals. The Chicago Sub splits west of downtown Aurora into the Mendota Subdivision to Galesburg, Ill., and the Aurora Subdivision to La Crosse, Wis., and the Twin Cities. Cicero’s former freight yard now is an intermodal facility; Eola, east of Aurora, is a general freight yard. A few Union Pacific trackage-rights intermodals also use the Racetrack.
The Chicago Subdivision goes under Canadian National’s former Elgin, Joliet & Eastern at Eola, over the Indiana Harbor Belt in eastern La Grange, and under the Belt Railway in a rundown part of Cicero.
RAILROAD FREQUENCIES
FOR YOUR FAMILY
I grew up in Downers Grove, spent many hours watching trains starting in the mid 50s as a child. I have vague memories of seeing steam engines probably about 53 or 54, also of a crossing gate control tower at main st. about the same time.
Nice pics. Thanks for sharing.
How about a webcam setup on the Racetrack so we Australian railfans can see the trains run.. Now there's an opportunity.
Spent quite a bit of time in La Grange in 1995 when we were over there. I am quite a BN, – Metra fan.
Also shooting at the Du Page River crossing. A little work through a stand of trees off the paved trail leads to a signal bridge and no other fans, often a godsend.
In 1991 the Southern Pacific had trackage rights on the BN from Kansas City to Chicago via Quincy, IL…I was working as an Engineer on a westbound freight out of Chicago to Quincy…We left Cicero neck to neck with a BN freight…we were side by side on the triple track for five miles until the BN shot craps with one of their trailing units…we had won the race…until we reached Galesburg…we sat for 45minutes waiting on the crippled BN…guess who went first…Great Memmories
I was in Aurora for two days last August on business. I had no clue I was so close to a great location for train watching. A missed opportunity. I will definitely do a better job of planning my next trip to Aurora. Thank you for a good article.
Highlands & Hinsdale were my home. The Oak Street Bridge at Highlands is finally being replaced. It closed last week to much fanfare in the western suburbs. http://www.oakstreetbridgeproject.com has sketches of the new design. Looks like there will be a sidewalk on the east side to view westbound traffic!
thanks for that. I will us it for my trip to chiago
Grew up along this line, I remember the Es and the first F40s. Best places are La Verrne at the throat of Clyde Yard, Stone Ave (my "home" station), Highlands Station, which is very picturesque and of course Downers Grove. How about Aurora Transportation Center…..All are great locations.
If you are looking for evening rush hour action the best location is downtown Downers Grove. A number of trains "flip" (switch ends for a quick run back to Union Station for another load of passengers) within shooting distance of the platforms, which really adds to the activity level.
My Grandpa and I went here a couple years ago during rush hour and stayed for two hours. Non stop Metra but if you are looking to see BNSF go before rush hour. Only saw one BNSF train in the two hours. Very good spot in a very safe place, definitely visit this spot!