Trackside With Mike (Episode 4) Blue Island Junction

[RailWolf7306]

You have a great video series here. I love the Soo Line SD60M at 5:34.

[johnredhd]

Iowa nixed the Amtrak train , but it will go to Rock Island, IL>

[Rtchugg]

I guess every railroad through there has a job they do there!

[claimless]

The place you guys were videotaping at: Were you guys given permission to watch from there or did you just park there and watch? And if you drove there, did you park there? and if you did, were you asked to leave?

[Lightwolf333]

Very nice.

[attlevi]

I hope it happens. Im in S. Florida. We just got word that Amtrak may expand the route along FEC (a short line that vowed to never have passenger service since 1968). Currently they are on the CSX line that connects Jacksonville to Miami. If I took Amtrak up there , What city would I get off ?

[attlevi]

Does anyone has this branch on ATCS?

[attlevi]

If I could pick a place to live out my days, it would be there. I would build a 4 story home on an elevation overlooking the tracks. with an attic and a full walkaround basement (at least 8000 sq ft just for my HO and Lionel Scale). I would have my property adjacent to the tracks with a camera with night light and motion sensors overlooking the tracks streaming to the house, just so that I wont miss anything when I'm on the crapper. Great Video. All is missing is Amtrak.

[qnuts]

That may come soon, Iowa is fighting to get a route added that would possibly use the IAIS. Amtrak just needs funding and approval from the Surface Transportation Board.

[otef434]

There is public access to B.I. Junction, via a walk from Metra Rock Island's Vermont street station, or Pace bus on Western Avenue.

[MattBNSF1991]

and dont forget to add the J in the list now!

:)

[qnuts]

Yea, Tell me about it!

[attlevi]

Awesome. I can imagine how it wouldve looked during the steam era.

[otef434]

During the steam era, it was actually a lot busier with transfer and yard jobs from GTW, as well as industry jobs along both the Harbor and B&OCT. GTW was not known to have much business in the area, but closer to Elsdon.

Into the late 80's, you had the BRC Alco's, BN SD9's, GTW geeps and 38-2's, Harbor SW's and NW's, B&O, Chessie, SBD, IAIS, CSL, ATSF, CP, CNW, and MILW on a daily basis.

[incidious13]

Superb!!! Too bad we didn't have this technology 30 years ago when there was still a handful of PC & B&O paint schemes around. I sure miss the Mopac blue through there though.

[Aaron200707]

Is there public access to this crossing? Can you get here with public transportation?

[Spongebobhankey]

I took the Metra to Blue Island and walked about a mile or two to this spot.

[freddycupples]

I guess Chicagoland has lots of these 'megacrossings' like the BNSF-UP with the webcam. Here is Calif there is one megacrossing but it's a monster. Also BNSF-UP, I'd say it handles 110-130 trains a day.

[BlueIslandGirl]

I went to school in Blue Island. Our graduation ceremony had to be delayed for a half-hour -- half the graduating class hadn't arrived yet, because they got caught by one or another train! God help you if you ever had to get somewhere in a hurry.

[9988cancer]

gnufs,what excellent footage of all of these trains! 90 to 100 trains a day. I would be in hog heaven watching trains from Blue Island You have excellent knowledge of the trains ,yhe train companies and which track they are on. Congratulations for an excellent video and commentary.Great Job!!! 9988cancer

[NJT4111]

I got to stop there today. It's great!! We stood right where everyone stood in the video, and parked there too. we where there for 5 minutes and saw a Southbound UP. But since we had to go back to our to the house for dinner, we only saw one train, but we will be there and in Joliet tomorrow. We spend most of the time in Blue Island at the metra Station, because we took the train from Chicago, but we saw the Iowa Interstate train at the metra station.

[Nec1228]

i wish i could go there, it looks like a railfan's dream!

[NJT4111]

What time of day was this taken, and what is the bussiest time of day. I'm going there in August and tips would be much appriciated! Great Video.

[qnuts]

This was filmed on a sunday from 9am to 4pm, but Blue Island is pretty much busy the entire day. The Iowa Interstate is there usualy around 11am-1pm doing switching on their track.

[NJT4111]

ok, thanks a lot, I can't wait to try it out!

[ChessieSeaboardX]

What is the street name where you are filming?

[NJT4111]

I haven't been there yet, I'm going in August, but I know the street is Broadway St.

[back2thefuture79]

How do you get the horns to sound so good? mine always get distorted even with teh little GP units. I wish I lived near this junction, seems amazing!!!!

[ThuaTaurn07]

On the first train, was UPs ditch lights flashing?! Thats very unusual for UP

[NJT4111]

I must have been a Ex- CNW unit.

[author]

One of those trains, perhaps the Iowa Interstate, was using a caboose. I didn't know there were any railroads that were still using cabooses.

[qnuts]

The Iowa Interstate uses the caboose for the back-up move they make on the old Rock Island line.

[jdawgsworld]

I'd love to fan this site...thanks for posting

[BNSF9250]

why was a BNSF warbonnet on that UP?

[qnuts]

Maybe paying back horsepower hours.

[NsRailfan083]

10:00 minutes! wow! good job!

[consistadore]

Excellent video! Lot's of nice action! Keep 'em coming!

[pimposcar1000]

if i ever get a chance i will got there. good job.

[akatrain]

that first UP had flashing ditch omg good catch and great video

[Andrewsaxamophone]

Wow, I never noticed that until just now! That is a rare catch! EXCELLANT!!!

[MitchAceSpadez]

Man that was 1 awsome videon definetly make more :D

[qnuts]

Thank You All. I am currently working on the next episode, Rail fanning the UP Geneva Sub (Proviso to Geneva). The top photo locations will be revealed. If you have any on this line from Proviso to Geneva (East of the Fox River) send me a message or visit the yahoo group for details.

[CSXkid22]

looks like a great spot! Nice job!

[stuntedcards]

you failed too mention BNSF

[qnuts]

BNSF does not have any track through Blue Island. They use trackage rights over the IHB and CSX here.

[stuntedcards]

you said 8 tracks crossing says 7 not that its a big deal

[qnuts]

There is actually 7 then 1. 2 CSX, 2 IHB, 2 CN, 1 CN/IHB Connection. Then 150' distance, then there is a single IAIS track that CN calls a separate grade crossing division (Has own gates) but is controlled by the crossing tower and operates at the same time the other gates do.

[stuntedcards]

very confusing if you never been in that area

[qnuts]

Yea i know. You will understand what i am saying when you go there. Look at the track diagram on the Trackside with Mike Yahoo group. It is under Files/Blue Island.

[stuntedcards]

i gotta hard enough time just getting up in the morning

[ghcghc]

this is a great video.i have got to go there sometime.90 to 100 trains.wow.

[Andrewsaxamophone]

How long did it take the IAIS train on the bridge to get to Broadway?

[qnuts]

About 10-15 minutes.

[Andrewsaxamophone]

ok, thx!

[stuntedcards]

wondering if IHB still owns the track in Bellwood ill and you did mention BNSF my bad LOL