Good places for Railfanning in Chicago

Looking for some suggestions for some good Railfanning in Chicago, more so in the South Suburbs.

I live in Lockport and was thinking of Joliet's Union Station.... any other good suggestions.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Joliet Union Station is a good place to start.Follow the old Rock in either direction ( better going east for trains anyway) You can follow BNSF tracks the Heritage Corridor or the J just there in Joliet.If you walk out on the Jackson St Bridge you can see the J's Joliet Yard and not get yelled at.Go up to Woodruff and you can see the north end of the yard.
You can head out to Markham and check out the old IC I think Flossmoor has a locomotive and caboose on display.Matteson has Lowes Loop. Go up onto the Metra Electric platform to get a good look at it.Just dont get the Metra Police angry ( they tend to be kinda rude lol) If you go to Chicago Heights you can see the UP and J crossings. You might see the UP switching the Hill track interchange with their Genset ( if its still there I havent seen it but I dont get that way often.)Griffith Indiana has some good watching. Nice area too.
You can always go to Dolton Junction by Blue Island I know a few fans that hang there.
Also if you live in Lockport you have a few areas close to you. The old Leithon Sub has a lot of traffic, go down to the IC mains in Lockport and you have quite a bit of IC and Amtrak from the sounds of it. Good luck and stay safe.

 

Thanks guys..... A friend belongs to the Forestors Photo Club in Palos Heights and one of their upcoming sessions is on trains. I think I may join him for that session to get some ideas as well.

Chris

 

I can't speak to the south side, because I never did much railfanning south of Riverside and LaGrange.
I grew up in River Forest and that is just a great location for a lazy day of railfanning. Just go camp out at the River Forest Metra station at Keystone park. The Forest preserve and broad lawns give a more rural feel than there really is and there are tons of freight running between Chicago and Proviso.
Also running through River Forest is the CN portion of the Old B&O Chicago Terminal railroad which used to be Wisconsin Central (twice actually) and SOO. With the purchase of the J, I assume traffic on here is way way way down, but it's another really interesting route running through a very expensive neighborhood.