Railfanning the Western Suburbs: West Chicago & Naperville, 10 Dec 2010

Spent some time in West Chicago and Naperville today, spending more time at Naperville than West Chicago to see the Amtrak "rush" there.

West Chicago-
Train 1:
UP SD70Ms #5122, 5148 and 4120, and Dash-9 #9603 lead a stack/TOFC train east across the CN/EJ&E at JB Tower.

Train 2:
Metra F40PH #173, the "City of Zion" leads 7 bilevels west towards Elburn.

Train 3:
While another UP stack train waits to proceed east out of West Chicago, Metra Nippon-Sharyo bilevel cab car #8146 leads just 3 others east, pushed by F40PH #168. This is an equipment move from Elburn Yard to UP's commuter coach yard in Chicago.

Naperville-
Train 1:
Amtrak's eastbound train #5, the Southwest Chief, arrives at Naperville to the sound of a Metra delay announcement over the P.A. system.

Train 2:
The Chief leaves and passes the westbound California Zephyr, led by P42DCs #150 and 204. Interestingly, the Superliner sleeping car on the end of the train still bears its old name, "South Dakota", visible in the vestibule.

Train 3:
As the Zephyr departs, cab car #8602 leads an inbound Metra/BNSF line train arriving at Naperville. Power is F40PHM-2 #192, a "racetrack" regular. Check out the poor guy missing his train!

Train 4:
An outbound Metra arrives with F40PHM #198 as the power.

Train 5:
BNSF ES44DC #6180 and a Dash-9 lead a fast stack train east

Train 6:
Two Dash-9s sandwiching an ex-BN SD60M lead a rather short mixed freight west, probably to Eola Yard.

Train 7:
Metra F40PHM-2 #186, the "Village of Streamwood", arrives with an outbound commuter as it begins to snow lightly.

Train 8:
Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief, led by P42DCs #98 and 198 arrives.

Later, at Belmont Road station, a fresh snow has fallen, and my inbound Metra/BNSF line train back to the city arrives. A westbound mixed freight is seen from the window.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Metra
• BNSF
• BN
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe
• freight
• mixed
• manifest
• stacks
• containers
• TOFC
• West Chicago
• Naperville
• Amtrak
• California Zephyr
• Southwest Chief
• P42DC
• Superliner
• bilevel
• commuter
• racetrack
• Chicago
• SD60M
• railfan
• railfanning

[xtremepadrefan]

typo south west cheif east is # 4 West is #3

[sethamtrak]

where is the baggage car on the southwest chief?

[sethamtrak]

173 is city of lake bluff!