A Day Of Railfanning Illinois And Northwest Indiana, 7-11-10.

1:41AM-
After visiting friends in Chicago all night, I was only minutes from home on LaGrange Road when I looked West on the Metra Rock Island and saw a GEVO headlight. The IAIS CBBI (which now runs normally at this time) was approaching. I went to Mokena Hickory Creek Station where I saw it roll by with a DPU.
IAIS ES44AC #504
IAIS ES44AC #500


2:55PM-
Much later in the day after getting some sleep, I found myself going to Gary, Indiana's Van Loon Junction where the NS/NKP Chicago District and IHB Branch cross CN/EJ&E's Matteson Subdivision at Grade. Today, a nice lash-up was coming on CN's Stateline Coal Loads so this spot would be in the middle of a lot of action. Before it came, an NS Chicago District manifest slowly starts up after waiting a bit and crosses the former EJ&E tracks.
NS C40-9W #9377
NS C40-9W #9762

3:24PM-
Things began to get interesting when the Stateline Train C740 showed up with the great set of power I was expecting. The ex. LMSX unit leading was not only awesome, but check out that switcher behind it, turned on too.
IC C40-8W #2464
IC SW7RM #1204 (one of only four units like this)
CN SD75I #5771

3:42PM-
Today was a historic day at CP502. The old PRR Westbound control signals before Hick Tower were finally removed today with the new Vadors turned to the front and hooked up. Amtrak Wolverine 353 was the last train I filmed passing beneath the signal bridge with the old signals still up.

3:51PM-
With signals being removed on the NS, ArcelorMittal's East Chicago mill seemed busy as ever today. They've also got new leased power switching around the plant including this ex. BN GMTX SW1500.

3:55PM-
An NS manifest with a Conrail unit second out slowly passes through CP502 due to the signal work.
NS ES40DC #7578
NS C40-8W #8432 (Ex. CR)

4:35PM-
Looking back towards the mill, we see two GMTX switchers pulling a cut of coil cars to IHB Michigan Avenue Yard.
GMTX SW1200 #109 (ex. BNSF)
GMTX GP15-1 #417 (ex. BNSF)

4:56PM-
Further West of my previous location, we see ArcelorMittal units #114 and #303 cruise on by behind the fence.

5:06PM-
The old signals are now down and Amtrak Blue Water 364 was the first to pass under the new signals.
P42DC #126
P42DC #33

5:35PM-
I now went to Calumet Tower where a BNSF empty coal train travels down the CSX.
BNSF SD70ACe #9250
BNSF SD70MAC #9438 (Ex. BN)

5:44PM-
Standing along the IHB, we see a nice lash-up lead a train East on the CSX over the diamonds.
CSXT SD40-2 #8072
CSXT SD60 #8714

5:49PM-
IHB #1508 crosses the diamonds light.

5:52PM-
IHB GP40-2s #4015 and #4012 head for East Chicago Yard light.

6:32PM-
Over in Whiting, Indiana, I decided to meet up with the Stateline Train again which has since hopped on the CN/EJ&E Lakefront Sub which will take it to it's destination of Stateline ComEd.

7:10PM-
The day couldn't be eventful unless I get stopped by the police! I went up to a place known as CP 509 on the NS where the Chicago Main crosses a massive lift bridge. Just like Hick Tower and Ash Street, theres another bridge thats abandoned next to it that used to belong to B&O and the tracks leading up to it are gone. The bridges cross the Calumet River which serves as the border between Chicago, Illinois and Indiana (I was on the Illinois side) Anyways, I wasn't here for 5 minutes when I look West down the NS main and see a white SUV heading my way at speed, with a trail of ballest dust behind him. Then I heard something on the scanner about "checking out a vehicle parked by the bridge" so it was no doubt NS Police. Soon enough, the bull pulled up and flipped on the lights, and immediately got out and told me to put my hands on the side of my car, frisked me, and asked if I had any contraband on me, just like a general criminal. He then asked what I was doing up there so I told him I was railfanning and he saw the cameras and tripod. He told me I was trespassing and shouldn't be there. He ran his jaw a bit more then told me to hold on. He went into his car and I went to mine as soon as another unit pulled up and began running my plates, license, and record to see if I had warrents. I had more video before what is shown, but I won't post it since you hear my address called out over the scanner. Amtrak's Capitol Limited 30 passes by in the meantime with P42DCs #124 and #139. After everything came back clear, the cop got out and reminded me again I was trespassing and that I must leave. He gave me a warning but told me if I was seen up there again, I'd probably get arrested or at least heavily fined. I've had enough today!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• NS
• CSX
• CP502
• CP503
• CP509
• Amtrak
• Police
• Bridge
• Calumet
• Tower
• Arcelor
• Mittal
• Pine
• Junction
• East
• Chicago
• Whiting
• Illinois
• Indiana
• IAIS
• Mokena
• Metra
• Train
• Railfan
• Foamer

[wasted6666]

Told ya ya shoulda locked them in a boxcar with open barrels of hogshit on a nice long run

[BoxcarFrank]

@wasted6666 this was before you told me that. That'll be a good idea for a dickheaded faggot-assed Indiana Harbor Belt cop though! LOL

[UnionPacific466]

wat was up with the police near the ending??

[BoxcarFrank]

@UnionPacific466 NS police confronting me for trespassing by the bridge at CP 509.

[markieman3000]

You got an RWI huh?  That's Railfanning While Interogated

[NS3210]

Sounds like my situation back in May, a popular spot in Virginia gone wrong. No signs posted or anything, so here I am now waiting for 9/6/11 to have my court case with the lawyer i paid. Hope that $500 don't go to waste.

[Yestrooper1]

What direction was the Wolverine headed?

[soundwave000]

its gettin worse down her in FL  FEC cops are gettin bitchy luckily i know the yardmaster at FT PIERCE :D

[OhioRails]

nice!

[BlackCavalier52]

strength in number man, we oughta team up against the cinder dicks sometime :P

[TommyBNSF]

BUSTED!!

[gjhgjh]

Interesting signal array.

[bnfan11]

Alright nice catches i caught 1201 on CN 490 & CN 5771 is a SD70I

[michelinman8592]

@BoxcarFrank DAMN, THEY'RE PICKY!