Railfanning The Chicago Region In Northwest Indiana And Illinois, 4-20-10.

7:38AM-
I started my morning out at Pine Junction where things were interesting from the start. On the CSX Barr Subdivision, a NS intermodal moves West. It was routed off home trackage for some reason and will hop back on at Clarke Junction just a mile or so West.
NS C40-9W #9803
NS SD60 #6707
NS C40-9W #8986
NS C40-9W #9614

7:53AM-
Over on the NS Chicago Line, the IHB 110 job returns from Burns Harbor with a lot of cars.
IHB GP40-2 #4010
IHB GP40-2 #4018

8:17AM-
L513, the Whiting Turn departs Kirk Yard with an IC Geep in charge.
IC GP38-2 #3133

8:30AM-
Suddenly, a string of freight cars comes around the curve from Kirk Yard down into Pine. EJ&E SD38-2 #673 is pushing and meets up with a R991 job which has IC SW14s #1506 and #1505 on the point. Soon enough #673 drops it's cars and returns to Kirk light.

8:44AM-
Amtrak Wolverine 350 speeds by with the usual equipment.
P42DC #34
P42DC #37

8:47AM-
Fresh off NS rails at nearby Clarke Junction, this expedited Z-train runs on the CSX-B&OCT with trackage rights.
NS C40-9W #9538
NS C40-9W #9097

8:58AM-
U743, an empty taconite train from US Steel has a surprise today- an IC SD70 leading with no yellow safety stripes. This train is bound for BNSF rails at Eola, IL. My time at Pine is done as I now head to 5th Avenue to catch it again.
IC SD70 #1038
CN C44-9W #2688

9:15AM-
Approaching the NS and IHB lines at Van Loon, U743 empties chug West on the CN/EJ&E with the awesome leader.

10:27AM-
As I was about to make my way West to catch the taconite train again, I heard C740, the Stateline coal empties call itself out on the Lakefront Subdivision. I went out to Whiting and caught it at a crossing leading to a lakefront park.
CN SD75I #5708
CN SD75I #5800

11:44AM-
The U743 was several miles East of me as I swung by Chicago Heights Jay Tower to see what was happening. The UP Villa Grove Subdivision crosses the CN/EJ&E here. It didn't take long for this Southbound unit gondola train to show up with a modern EMD consist. Note that the engineer pokes out the window and takes a picture of me with a cell phone
UP SD70ACe #8519
UP SD70M #4213
UP SD70M #4905

1:07PM-
I've now arrived at my location where I'll shot the U743 again- Bobzin Road at Frankfort, IL. This area had changed a lot judging by the new e-bell signals complete with pedestrian gates. The old crossing had old flashers with mechanical bells and no gates. A second track is now in place at the crossing in preperation for a soon to come double track main. The siding East of the crossing will become part of the second main meaning the classic target signals will dissapear. Theres no ICs in sight yet but M302 came by going East and taking the siding.
CN C44-9W #2699
CN SD75I #5773
CN C44-9W #2725

1:09PM-
The tail end of M302 is seen going away when I suddenly see the U743 in the distance, still far from me. They still have to wait for one more Eastbound that needs to take the siding.

2:16AM-
That Eastbound turned out to be a UP loaded coal train probably bound for NIPSCO in Michigan City, IN. They'll get there via the CSX once they get to Pine Junction.
UP AC4400CW #5819
UP AC4400CW #5682

2:39PM-
Finally the U743 is clear to proceed through West Frankfort. Evidently, the CN crapbox that was second out is no longer in the consist. I don't know why it was dropped or where. Better yet, this train is led solo blast by the IC SD70 showing it's strength as it roars by. I really can't complain about the CN buyout.

(c) 9th Street Productions.

Category:

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[SSKar98k]

Hey Frank i remember those IC SW14's from our little incident at Calumet tower ;)) lol

[BoxcarFrank]

yeah faggots they were right?

[RailWolf7306]

Nice catches, great horns as well.



[NW917]

well the only thing i really can say is amazing catch with the SD70. i live in peotone next to the old IC line, and its been FOREVER since ive seen a black monster come down thru here. its always good to see not everything old has to be repainted or helped

[wasted6666]

Holy gigabytes nice horns -catchs Thanks

[SSKar98k]

@BoxcarFrank so agreed. we were totally innocent and then they hadda fuck it up. Oh and you'll never guess who i had lunch with? Do u remember a while back in the winter u and taylor were in villa park standing in the freeport sub and a female cop came up and talked to u guys? well turns out its my dad's friends wife lmao

[chessie5882]

Nice variety of stuff here!

[lahluv]

awsome

[UPHeritage]

Nice catches Frank

[JoaoT805]

yet another superb video from 9th street productions. haha