*Railfanning action on the CN Leithton, CN Matteson, UP Joliet and BNSF Chillicothe Subs. 01/11/10*

After checking the weather the night before, and reading that it was going to be cloudy, I decided that I was going to sleep in. Something woke me up just after daybreak. Not sure what it was, but I looked out the window and saw that it was going to be clear outside. A nice mis-forecast! I gathered a few things and was on my way to the tracks.

I passed over the CSX tracks in Rockdale to see what was going on. I saw an eastbound, IAIS ethanol train sitting at the crew change point. IAIS 505 was in charge. The crew was onboard, but they were waiting for a bridge tender to arrive at Bridge 407. While waiting for the train to move, I heard EJ&E 658 approaching the CN Yard, with State Line loads. I was quite delighted to hear that, so I headed to the old EJ&E tracks. When I arrived, I could see the train crossing Bridge 198. EJ&E SD38-2 658 leads the way, followed by EJ&E SD38-2 672 (back home at Joliet, after spending quite some time, assigned to Homewood) and UP AC4400CW 6773. The entrance to the yard is directly behind me.

After receiving its track authorities (one from Joliet to W. Frankfort, one from W. Frankfort to E. Frankfort, one from E. Frankfort to CTC Robin and one from CTC Robin to CTC Griffith), the eastbound State Line thunders up the hill in Joliet, passing South Rowell Avenue. One of the local junkyard dogs made its presence known. An EJ&E going up the hill will never get old, no matter how many times it happens.

The eastbound State Line exits Joliet and enters New Lenox, IL., struggling to get going and making for an easy chase. The train is passing Gougar Road.

Now, passing Schoolhouse Road in New Lenox, the three units are still working hard to keep their train at a respectable speed.

This is about the point where the State Lines finally get going at a somewhat decent clip. In Frankfort, IL., EJ&E 658, EJ&E 672 and UP 6773 roll east, passing Center Street.

I decided to follow Rt. 53 into Wilmington, IL., since the UP's North Local was due soon. As I was traveling down 53, I saw the local working the Prairie Creek Crossing, with a LHF GP40-2. You usually don't see too many LHF units on this line, but anything is possible on a local. The train was finishing up its switching work, but it had to wait for the inbound, Amtrak Texas Eagle to pass. At Water Street, train 22 heads north through town, about fifteen miles from its stop at Joliet.

After the Amtrak passed, I headed a little south of town to Coal City Road, to set up for the local. UP 1532 highballed south, kicking up a good deal of snow, home free for Bloomington.

While driving home, I passed through downtown Joliet to see if I could find anything. A BNSF GEVO and an ATSF Warbonnet Dash 9, stopped short of the diamonds...no big deal, right? I took a closer look at the GEVO and noticed that it was 7695, the one of a kind yellow swoosh. I made my way through town and got to Ohio Street, where the BNSF Chillicothe Sub crosses the road on an overpass. Pretty sweet, considering I had no idea that the train was coming.

01/11/10

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CN Matteson

[railfan95]

Pretty Cool! Did you hear about the new Rock Island Heritage Unit that Iowa Interstate just put out.

[NicTrain35]

Thanks, Josh! Yep, you betcha. I can't wait to see it in action.

[Weiberts]

Why do you have well cars as your profile picture? Why not an engine?

[NicTrain35]

YouTube chose the well cars picture for me, but I plan to pick something else out in the near future.

[michelinman8592]

What a rare site to see "Santa Fe" on a BNSF locomotive.

[NicTrain35]

Sure is a refreshing sight!

[lordbemylight]

5:29: You got a text message.

[miklyd]

those SD38-2s could wake up the dead!

[maniacmarklewin52]

great video

[cifn2]

Never saw a "j" in person but, from the pictures I love them. Will much miss them if they get repainted.

[NicTrain35]

Thanks, Andy!

[NicTrain35]

Thanks, Patrick!

[NicTrain35]

Thanks, Jeff!