Train watching in and around Chicago?

swissboy Mar 22, 2008

  1. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Train watching around Chicago?

    I have a rather oldish book by John Szwajkart titled "Train Watcher's Guide to Chicago". It's the 3rd edition. It was already somewhat outdated when I bought it in 1995 (the copyright says 1987). But it has served me very well on several occasions. As another trip is coming up, and the book is less and less up to date, I wonder whether there are any updates, maybe in print or on the internet? I realize also that many former spots are no longer accessible due to increasing security concerns. Just the more, it would be fine to know where one still has a chance to enjoy some action, preferably without having to trespass. The purpose of my upcoming trip is mainly family-related. So I may not have more that about a day for train watching. Some diversity would be preferred, therefore. What I did on recent visits, was watching around the O'Hare airport in various places (mainly CP and UP). But there might be better places in the south of the city? I was thrown out in a rather rude manner once by the then Santa Fe. That was before 9-11, if I remember correctly. I am from Europe (Switzerland to be more precise), and those impressive diesels have a fascination all of their own. Our trains are either run by electric power, or the diesel engines are much smaller and they rarely run in multiples. Commuter trains, on the other hand, are very common here. Thus, that type of train is not of the same interest to me.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2008
  2. Ed M

    Ed M Passed away May 2012 In Memoriam

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    Here's the website of the author. Guides are listed on the "Books" tab.
    http://home.earthlink.net/~szwajkartj/index.html

    He doesn't show an edition number for the guides. But he does say "All the Train Watcher's Guides have been out of print for quite some time and presently there are no plans to update them."

    On his contact page you can get his email from the "Contact me" link. You might contact him directly and see if the version you have is the latest.

    Best regards

    Ed
    .
     
  3. CHARGER

    CHARGER TrainBoard Member

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    If you can ride the Metra train to the Joliet Station. You can train watch all you want from the platform there, station is right at the points of a crossing of two lines. You will see lots of Amtrak, Metra, and frieght traffic. If can go on the weekend and you can buy a pass for $5 that will let you ride the entire METRA system all weekend.
     
  4. mikado

    mikado TrainBoard Member

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    Homewood, on the C N (ex IC) main line has a train viewing platform across the tracks from the station.
     
  5. ICfan

    ICfan TrainBoard Member

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    You can watch train west of Chicago from Switzerland , via web cam ...

    TRAINS Magazine - Railroad News, Web Cam, Railroading Video - BNSF and Union Pacific Web Cam - Rochelle, Illinois


    Homewood , IL is definitely a great spot to watch trains ...
     
  6. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Great, thanks Ed, I just contacted John. We'll see what comes out. I did not realize he had a web site, but I obviously also did not search for it. I kind of simply did not expect any success. Makes me think about prejudices, once again, and how they can hinder progress, and be it only on a personal level.
     
  7. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, Charger and Mikado, for your input. I know the Joliet station, but I don't think I have visited Homewood. Will have to check that place. And I did not know Metra had such a cheap weekend pass. That is definitely something to enjoy in the future!

    Though I expect more freight action during the week?
     
  8. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Is Homewood on one of the Metra Lines? Thanks.

    ICfan: Welcome to TrainBoard.
     
  9. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, on the ME, the one to University Park, according to the Metra map which I just downloaded.
     
  10. CHARGER

    CHARGER TrainBoard Member

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  11. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks ICfan, I just registered. But from what I got to see so far, that is not really the way I enjoy trains. Just a small and blurry screen! At least, so far I have not managed to enlarge the picture. Those diesels provide a different excitement in the real world. I guess, it's OK to get a general idea about the intensity of the activities, but not more.
     
  12. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Got a reply now. He did not do any updating of the 3rd edition that I own. So it's the info on the internet I need to rely on. Are there any links to the local Chicago scene that might help, by any chance?
     
  13. CHARGER

    CHARGER TrainBoard Member

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    I forgot to mention West Chicago, on the METRA UP-W line, has a lot of UP mainline action and a crossing with the EJE. I was there last summer and felt relatively safe.
     
  14. mikado

    mikado TrainBoard Member

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  15. mikado

    mikado TrainBoard Member

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    If the link abovr doesn't work try: 'dhke.com'
     
  16. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    GREAT! Thanks a lot. That is the kind of web site I had been looking for. That will give me something to go into for some details.

    Best regards.
     
  17. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    I presume that is the place called Turner Junction? I had marked it in my book, but so far have never been there. Good to know it might be worth a visit this time. Thanks!
     
  18. CHARGER

    CHARGER TrainBoard Member

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  19. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

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    The $5 Metra wekend pass is great, driving around Chicago can waste a lot of time.
    I found that Elmhurst on the former CNW (now UP) line will get you quite a bit of UP action while anywhere on the BN Triple Track Aurora line will provide much BNSF frt action as well as Amtrak trains along with the Metra commuters. If you get off the train around La Grange you can walk down to the IHB main where it goes under the BN main and a variety of frt action can be seen, all from a public road crossing. Last fall I took a Metra out to Vermont St and walked the mile or so over to Blue Island crossing which also provides a great deal of frt action involving several different roads. The old book you have can give you good directions to these locations which are"safe & legal" to railfan at. I'm from Detroit and ride Amtrak to Chicago 2-3 times a year to railfan.
     
  20. swissboy

    swissboy TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Fred. I know what you mean about wasting time driving around Chicago by car! But how about freights on weekends? Is there much going on at all then?
     

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