11/28/2009 - Railfanning the CN Leithton, BNSF Chillicothe, and CN Matteson Subdivisions.

My morning starts off with the M391 heading north through Joliet, with a cool CN, C40-8M leader. A CN GEVO follows.

While driving around, I crossed the BNSF tracks in Joliet and heard "293 east, UD Tower over." I had thought it was some Dash 9, but I decided to stop and wait for it, since it was about a minute away. Glad I decided to stay. A BNSF GP38 and a BN GP28M highball, light.

I heard the CN RTC Desk 11 talking to the southbound M342. Knowing that he had to be getting close, I headed into Crest Hill to set up. Sure enough, the detector went off and he was to me in no time. An IC (CN) Dash 9 is in charge, followed by a "true" IC SD70 and a CN SD75I.

M301 came in off the Matteson Sub and headed north out of the yard. Here, it slows to a stop, to perform a crew change. The new crew was in their van, ready to go. The new crew got on, talked with the RTC Desk 11 and headed north. Power for the train is a CN Dash 9, a CN C40-8M and an IC (CN) Dash 9.

The CN slowed down for a bit, which made me make my way to Lockport, hoping that the BNSF would have a couple trains in store for me. Not long after I arrived, the gates activated and three BNSF ES44DC's headed east with a Z train. Cool sound with the trio working hard.

Right behind the three GEVO's was another Z train, this one led by four BNSF Dash 9's.

About a half hour went by when I heard a conversation on the CN channel. I heard the RTC Desk 11 say, "I copy. Your lead unit is the B-C-O-L 4-6-0-6." It was M343, sitting in Matteson, waiting for the highball. He then received two track authorities, one from CTC Robin to West Frankfort and one from West Frankfort to M.P. 2. I immediately left Lockport and headed for the CN Matteson Sub, in New Lenox. As I was arriving to the tracks, I heard M343 and the RTC discussing a good time at the Rock. 15:10 it was! At 14:45, the train passed my location, headed west. What a great K5H! Beautiful sunshine adds to the scene. My wait for a perfectly lit BCOL finally paid off. Cool lash-up as well, as a CN SD70M-2 and a CN Canadian cab C44-9WL were trailing.

M343 pulls out of the yard for head room, as it performs its switching, in Joliet.

A field view of 343 pulling out of the yard for head room.

The show! Now clear of the bridge, BCOL 4606, CN 8830 and CN 2504 thunder out of Joliet, entering Crest Hill, continuing their journey, northbound.

No better way to end the day than an EJ&E SD38-2 in full throttle. 664 heads south through Plainfield, after clearing the Illinois River Sub connector. Unfortunately, this is the last crossing in the city of Plainfield that isn't in the whistle ban zone. To the citizens of Plainfield who were fighting for the whistle ban...yeah, you got your whistle ban. Now you're going to have a good 30 extra trains rolling through town. Like the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

Comments welcomed.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BNSF Chillicothe
• and CN Matteson Subdivisions.

[moon47mars]

I love this one!!!!! Nice to see a crew change!!!

[Railfan108]

aweome, i love that leading unit on the first tain

[skinnyshit8888]

Hopefully they wont get what I've got in Mundelein...WAYSIDE HORNS! I FUCKING HATE THOSE THINGS!

[aaron13133]

how come all i see is JB hunt boxes? on the bnsf that is.

[CP359]

Brother Nick!

Man, I must have been with you in spirit when you were catching the BCOL! I can't believe you caught it that many times! That horn is incredible -- all bells sounding, and perfectly in tune! I'm gonna have to move to Chicagoland if that thing's going to be hanging around there! Beautiful catches, man!

I think you shouldn't be shy about telling us about the whistle bans in Plainfield. How do you REALLY feel? LOL!!!

Superb job, as always!! Talk to ya soon.

Dave

[dragonhighlorde]

Some great action, pal!!

[RailFanDavid]

i like the shots of BCOL 4606 leading the train.

the EJ&E night shot was nice.

the whole video was great.