Thunderstorm by Elburn, Illinois along the UP Geneva sub

Severe weather hits the Fox River Valley in the evening near Elburn, Illinois on August 13, 2010.

Combination storm chaser and rail video. I had shot some earlier video of the storm approaching. ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/basicbill/4892155673/ ) After it passed, I tried to get ahead of it again by driving east to a spot along the Union Pacific tracks where I had a view to the northwest. I barely had time to set up when the storm hit.

The camera was mounted on a tripod in my car and pointed out the open passenger side front window. Once the full fury of the storm hit and rain was blasting into the car and onto the camera lens I figured it was too late to roll up the window and so just kept it rolling. Camera was pretty well soaked as well as my right side.

I was huddled in the driver's seat with my laptop watching the ATCS Monitor. An eastbound commuter was lined up to come out of the Elburn yard just to the west. I hoped it would run by soon since everything was getting waterlogged. Finally the Metra commuter lit up the area. I figured that was a good finale and I was about to shut down when a westbound ran by. So that was even better.

One of the craziest storm and/or train videos I've ever made. Back in the day, we might have called the rain distorted lights "psychedelic."

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• storm
• rain
• thunderstorm
• lightning
• thunder
• rail
• railfan
• train
• Metra
• passenger train
• commuter
• Canon
• S100
• HD

[newworldin2010]

This video was sublime. I greatly enjoyed the zen of it all. I liked reading your description of the events surrounding this video. I saw the video before I read your description so I just thought it was an automated camera. Kudos for sticking through the rain to get this!

[basicbill1]

@newworldin2010 Thanks for the kind words. Makes the soaking worthwhile.

Bill

[basicbill1]

@Randoman35 Heh he. No problem.

Bill

[Randoman35]

@basicbill1 Except I'm not much for that crossing bell I like the RACO and WC Hayes bells. If I'm being a little too chatty, sorry

[Randoman35]

@basicbill1 Hm. Wouldn't it be awesome if this storm hit at 10:00? XD It would be like it's pouring rain outside and it's like 10pm black skies and all of a sudden u c a big blue flash and then the crossing gets activated, lighting up the night with it's red glow that would be awesome! Gotta love those Illinois storms. We don't get weather like that here in the SF Bay Area...

[basicbill1]

@Randoman35 Don't remember exactly. Probably about 7:30.

Bill

[Randoman35]

@basicbill1 Say what time of evening is that?

[Randoman35]

@basicbill1 No prob dude! Ps: I posted this comment at an Apple store! I'm using a public sample laptop XD

[basicbill1]

@Randoman35 Hey thanks!

Bill

[Randoman35]

Don't get too close to this video. Why? Bcuz its HAZARDOUSLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! XD