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Northeastern IL Railfan
United States
Registrace 18. 09. 2021
I live in northeastern Illinois, and I’m a railfan. Pretty self explanatory really! I mostly upload once or twice a month, focusing on the railroads that make Chicago the railroad capital of the world.
Feel free to comment and ask any questions, but keep it civil. Name calling, racism, personal attacks, and politics have no place here and I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason.
Feel free to comment and ask any questions, but keep it civil. Name calling, racism, personal attacks, and politics have no place here and I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason.
I'm Moving Part 2: This Time, There's Trains
Ok, so nothing really about this video makes it a part 2 to the announcement video, but...just go with it. I really did mean to put this video on the end of that one but I ran out of time.
Instagram: neilrailfan
Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Threads: www.threads.net/@neilrailfan
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/200023939@N08/
Instagram: neilrailfan
Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Threads: www.threads.net/@neilrailfan
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/200023939@N08/
zhlédnutí: 304
Video
The CPKC Merger: One Year Later
zhlédnutí 602Před 2 měsíci
We take some time and assess what has changed in the Chicago area following the CPKC merger. Did the northwest suburbs turn to anarchy like the mayors tried to tell us would happen? Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/ Threads: www.threads.net/@neilrailfan Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/200023939@N08/
Pre-Winter Storm Railfanning: Schaumburg in January
zhlédnutí 169Před 4 měsíci
The day before a major snowstorm cripples the Chicago region for about a week, we head to Schaumburg and see a bit of a logjam on the CPKC Elgin Sub. Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/ Threads: www.threads.net/@neilrailfan Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/200023939@N08/
Roselle Railfanning: 181s, an I40, and a MACH
zhlédnutí 294Před 4 měsíci
First we head to the Roselle station and then Park Street to catch a few trains around Christmas and New Years! Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Every Train from 2023
zhlédnutí 198Před 5 měsíci
It's every train seen on the channel (minus ones I was on or saw while I was on another one) this year in one video! Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Catching the CPKC and a few Metra Holiday Trains in 2023
zhlédnutí 194Před 6 měsíci
We roam around the Chicago suburbs a bit and catch a few special holiday trains! Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Mixed Bag Episode 5
zhlédnutí 250Před 6 měsíci
We throw a bunch of unrelated video together and mix it all up! Diego's channel: www.youtube.com/@CPKCElginRailfan Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Railfanning Across Northern Illinois
zhlédnutí 353Před 7 měsíci
I take a nice early fall day and drive across northern Illinois in search of trains, and we get a few surprises along the way! Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Bloomington/Normal Part 5: The Quest for ZMQG4
zhlédnutí 312Před 8 měsíci
I forgo my normal mid morning railfanning slot for a different approach. Does it work? (I mean, you can see it does from the thumbnail...) Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Riding Amtrak's Empire Builder Part 2: Seattle to Chicago
zhlédnutí 3,4KPřed 9 měsíci
All good things must come to an end, including vacation. Riding back to Chicago from Seattle... Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Riding Amtrak's Empire Builder Part 1: Chicago to Seattle
zhlédnutí 3,3KPřed 9 měsíci
We hop on the Empire Builder west and head to Seattle! Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Mixed Bag Episode 4: CP in Minnesota, Franklin Park Railroad Day
zhlédnutí 182Před 10 měsíci
Grab bag returns with a new name! Catching a CPKC manifest along the Mississippi, and visiting Franklin Park for Railroad Day plus a couple freights. Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Rush Hour in Wheaton
zhlédnutí 304Před 10 měsíci
I go a bit away from home and catch some of the UP Geneva Sub at Wheaton. Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Back to Basics 3 Part 2: Radios
zhlédnutí 238Před 11 měsíci
Continuing the radios video, we talk about some of the specific channels you'll be listening to and listen to some examples of radio traffic. Instagram: neilrailfan Blog: thenortheasternillinoisrailfan.wordpress.com/
Catching the 1st CPKC 180 at Roselle & 181/253 Meet At Schaumburg
zhlédnutí 850Před 11 měsíci
Catching the 1st CPKC 180 at Roselle & 181/253 Meet At Schaumburg
Back to Basics 2: Types of Cars/A Brief Overview of Train Symbols
zhlédnutí 709Před rokem
Back to Basics 2: Types of Cars/A Brief Overview of Train Symbols
Riding Past Bensenville The Day Before CPKC
zhlédnutí 332Před rokem
Riding Past Bensenville The Day Before CPKC
Catching the last pre-merger CP 183 in Roselle/Thank you for 100 (now, 200+) subscribers!
zhlédnutí 3,7KPřed rokem
Catching the last pre-merger CP 183 in Roselle/Thank you for 100 (now, 200 ) subscribers!
1 Hour in Glen Ellyn (or, Don't Ever Do This)
zhlédnutí 8KPřed rokem
1 Hour in Glen Ellyn (or, Don't Ever Do This)
A Quick Overview of the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern Merger (February 2023)
zhlédnutí 17KPřed rokem
A Quick Overview of the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern Merger (February 2023)
Great video! How come IG4SIB trains have been short lately?
It should be because IG4LB has started running again. Before, Long Beach blocks ran to Santa Teresa on IG4SIB then moved on to ISILB. With G4LB running again those blocks were removed from G4SI. The difference would be noticed as less international containers on IG4SIB. I’m not sure what they’re doing with Tucson blocks, as far as I know they’re still running on G4SIB. Thanks for watching!
We are cutting jobs and losing trains and running less trains on the original kcs subdivisions .
Great video! I lived in BloNo between 2017 and 2022. Always enjoyed catching the MASBN/MBNAS trains.
I work that sub occasionally, nice!
Thanks for the info on the a&s power. Great video, looking forward to more.
Your videos have been helpful for research on this line’s coming visit from the beloved Empress. Little question if you’re able to give some advice. What are the top stations or crossings for high speed running? 2816 is limited to 50MPH apparently but I’d like to Catch it once on the MD-W before we try our luck getting it on the more rural stretches of the Chicago Sub.
Milwaukee's baseball team is staying in Milwaukee for years to come. The bridge at la Crosse is A swing bridge.
I'll Give It To You 180, If KCS Didn't Run In Mexico, I Wouldn't've Been Against CPKC'S Formation (As Much As I Am Now).
Schaumburg is our Metra station (Carol Stream resident). Love the video!
Hey, I saw a rare grey ghost up here in Alberta yesterday!
Fantastic Information
Welcome to town!
Congrats on the new job and the move. Recently moved and its bitter sweet. I think I speak for everyone on this no rush for new videos.
P r o m o s m 🤘
Very nice video Tyler! Got a question for you if you don't mind Does CPKC still ID their trains by symbol up there pretty frequently? From what I've gathered they almost never do down south anymore, in similar fashion to BNSF. Wondering if I could nab symbols at yards or something.
All the time, yes. Bensenville will usually only use symbol to ID, B17 usually only uses symbols unless they call multiple times and are trying to narrow down who they’re calling. The Elgin, C&M, and KC Drawbridge all use symbols except for things like track warrants on the Chicago Sub where you have to use engine numbers for safety. When calling dispatchers trains usually only use symbol, but can use both, and after passing a detector they’ll usually use both too.
I liked your video. Just wondering what is with the walkie talkie noise in the background. Do you listen to the engineers? That would be cool great idea.😊❤
Thank you...very informative. Plus, I subscribed - I like being informed!
Thanks and welcome!
I might be off for Elgin on a weekday in early March. Since that is west of the Bensenville yard, I'm not sure what to anticipate in terms of CP freight action. I know I asked about Franklin Park a while back, but I would like to ask again. Over the course of a day in Elgin, what can I anticipate in terms of freight, and is there a particular time where freight action ramps up a bit?
Regular eastbounds are 181 and 252, regular westbounds are 180 and 253. The eastbounds sometimes come in during daylight but can be all over the place as far as timing. 180 usually leaves Bensenville between 8-8:30 PM, 253 usually leaves between 9:30-11:30 PM. If you’re lucky you’ll get an ethanol train during the day, they’re averaging a couple a week lately, but these are pretty unpredictable and can run any time of day. K68 is the local for the Chicago Sub that runs during the day but it rarely goes east of Pingree Grove and never east of Randall Road.
Is there a lot of freight train traffic on that line still going out to Wisconsin?
Unfortunately no. There’s a local that runs south from Janesville sometime after evening rush hour to Proviso and back north the next morning but that’s about it unless they run an extra.
BAD can you videoa? JML
What do you use to edit your videos?
Photoshop for overlays and any stills, Audacity for audio, Adobe Premiere Elements to put it all together.
Nice video Tyler!
Thanks for watching!
Very cool, I really appreciate how a Canadian company comes down here and does this!
Excellent shot. Like...
Appreciate the shoutout my friend, looking forward to railfanning more together when we can!
I'm railfanning Franklin Park Metra on Saturday 12/30. What can I expect? I'm thinking about being there for 6-7 hours
As far as Metra, on Saturdays they generally run every 2 hours except they're every hour inbound in the morning and outbound in the afternoon. Intermodal, you won't see much. The only trains you may see are 132/133, which run most of the way as CSX I166/I165 and take the IHB. These (I think) run out of Schiller Park so you'd only be able to see them as they cross at Tower B12. I'm also not sure on the timing of these. The other C&M Sub intermodal trains always use the west end of Bensenville and do not run through FP. For manifests, your easiest catch will be 247 to St. Paul if it runs out the east end of Bensenville towards Tower A5 like normal. You can usually expect it sometime between 11 AM and 1 PM. It sometimes-but not normally-does run out the west end though at B17 and you wouldn't see it. Its southbound counterpart 246 very very very rarely can be seen east of Bensenville, it virtually always uses the west end. 248/249 are to/from the Belt Railway of Chicago's Clearing Yard and almost always runs through FP, although 249 has been known to shove back after coming off the BRC clear of A5 and running that way in which case it wouldn't. NS 17V from Elkhart to Bensenville also run through FP, although timing is a bit all over the place. I believe the IHB has a run too but I'm not familiar with it. 230 to Toronto usually runs out after the evening rush (7-9 PMish), but 231 usually comes in sometime in the morning or midday. Both those trains run via the BRC. 230/231 are manifests but MAY have intermodal: these trains were carved out of the former 130/131, which in turn was once 140/141. They became more manifest than intermodal so they changed the symbol. There are a ton of locals and transfers that run all throughout the day. YPRCP comes off the IHB from the UP at Proviso and comes in early, sometimes before sunrise and sometimes after. The power for that train (usually something UP) then becomes I41 back to Proviso at some point. I45 and I56 are to the BRC Clearing Yard, I57 and I59 are back from it. I52 runs to the NS Calumet Yard. I47 is the local that actually works the Elgin Sub, running east M-W-F, but usually runs at night. There are 2 intermodal transfer jobs that you can see running between Bensenville and Schiller Park: IY11 runs midday, IY21 runs evenings, although not sure they run on weekends. You've also got a metric ton of bulk trains that run at various times and various regularities. Ethanol is the most common, with sand probably 2nd. These run fairly regularly but are mostly unpredictable. For the ethanol trains if it has NS power it's probably 540/541. If it has CSX it's probably 546/547. Westbounds are interchanged from either CSX or NS at Bensenville, while eastbounds will run past Bensenville to either CSX Barr Yard on the IHB or Rockwell Street Yard on the BRC for the NS. You may also see 528/529 which is also ethanol but is entirely a CPKC train on either end of Bensenville and doesn't run very often. I believe these run via the BRC. There isn't really a time I would recommend that's better than any other on the weekends, it just depends on the day. If you can, bring a radio. You can get away with just listening to 161.520 (AAR 094, road channel for the Elgin Sub), although there are a bunch of channels that the yard uses that you may or may not want to listen to-sometimes I do, but I find if the yard is busy they can tie up the radio and make me miss things. Anything that leaves yard limits to the east will talk to the CPKC Elgin Dispatcher, anything to the west will talk to Tower B17 (and sometimes also the dispatcher to set up PTC or mark up). IHB also has their own channels, as does the CN that crosses at B12.
@@northeasternilrailfan6421 Thanks for the info
love it. You should swing down to Joliet union station if you haven't been already. My favorite spot in the area
I haven’t been there yet except riding through on Amtrak, but it is on the list! Problem is a lot of trips like this one are done in conjunction with something else I have to do in the area and I hardly ever have another reason to get down towards Joliet.
@@northeasternilrailfan6421 That is fair. def worth finding a reason to makeit down there! IAIS goes through about 7:30-9pm on weeknights, only reasonable time to see a freight cross all 4 diamonds. Hope you can make it down there sometime soon
About the ATCS, how do I get it?
Google ATCS Monitor, the group you have to join to download it should come up.
@@northeasternilrailfan6421 oh thanks
This is not your first trip to Earlville; I've been keeping track (so to speak). I caught your reference to your "property" in Earlville. I find that to be very interesting as Earlville was my home town.
Definitely not my first time! Yes, our property is actually a hair outside town but it’s close enough to say it’s in town. It’s been in my family for a very, very long time so I’ve made many trips out there. Actually was just out today and saw a very short LPJ05 (not on camera) headed back up north and a BNSF manifest.
Our farm was a few miles outside of town. I graduated from EHS in 1970 and move away in '74 after college and for a job. Do your roots go back to the '70s and '80s?@@northeasternilrailfan6421
Off the top of my head I can’t remember, I think my grandpa bought it back sometime in the mid to late 70s but I’m not positive on that. By the time I came around in the 90s we had already been out there for a long time, that’s about all I know.
I've been looking for this kind of information for ages, only to now realize that I need to learn CP instead for my local NCS crossings. 😁
Depends on where on the NCS. East of B12 you'll need CP (now CPKC) rules. North of it you'll need the CN US rules which can be somewhat hard to find. There are also separate sets of rules for signals on former Grand Trunk Western and former Illinois Central/Wisconsin Central/Elgin Joliet & Eastern. If you can find a copy of the Chicago Operating Rules Association (CORA) it'll be your best guide to all of them. Amtrak's Union Station and Metra's rulebooks are almost identical too, so if you learn one, you'll have a pretty good understanding of all of them. I also plan on revisiting this video deeper sometime next year!
I rode the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in 2003 in October, the journey was beautiful 😊
I rode the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle in 2003 in October, the journey was beautiful 😊
That BNSF ore train is actually coal, and it’s BNSF UCKBSWE, East Chicago, IN (CSS) to Sweetgrass, MT (CPKC interchange). That’s why it had KCS behind the BNSF engine
Nice video, thanks for not showing the food like all the others.
I was too busy eating it lol Thanks for watching!
How was the food on this train, what was your favorite meal on this train. Also if you slept on this train, how many hour of not interrupted sleep did you get.
Rode the Empire Builder Chi-Whitefish Mt 10/22. Return 3 days later. Enjoyable experience, very good Amtrak staff plus lots of helpful travelers for us Senior folks. Good food but Roomettes just not ok for 2 seniors. Next time get 2 Roomettes across hall from each. Much more comfortable day & night.
Roomettes are definitely a bit limiting. For 2 of us (both of which pretty tall) it was rather cramped and it was a bit of a puzzle but we kinda got into a rhythm by the end of the 1st full day. 1 person per roomette is perfect I’d say. Thanks for watching!
Enjoy the video as well I’d been thinking about doing the train to Seattle, that give me an idea what to expect thanks again 😊
Definitely recommend! Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Just had my first Amtrak experience on this line from Chicago to the Wis Dells, it was a great trip! I thought the crew did a great job! The returning train was about 3 hours late though but that gave all of us train riders time to chat! I also liked seeing all the Amish people riding the train
Overall I don’t think 3 hours is that bad for 8, unfortunately. I’m interested to see once they start up the additional CHI-STP run how it does as far as on time performance. CPKC usually plays nice and a shorter route in theory means less chance for regular delays, but we’ll see. It would be nice if they could draw some of the horrible Dells traffic off of the roads, but I think that’ll only happen with better performance than they currently get out of the Builder. Thanks for watching!
Good video Tyler. How about "Roundhouse Roundup" for your array of clips once in a while? (That just popped into my head as I was watching, if it's already taken somewhere else it's total coincidence.) - Bob (Toronto Canada)
Thanks for watching, and thanks for the suggestion!
Awesome video, i was there too
Nice video
Thanks for watching!
8:18 there’s me between two others in a navy blue shirt
I was at FP that day too! And I think I saw myself and my friend in your pic of all the locomotives with the CP GE in the front
P R O M O S M 🤗
That last freight with the CSX and NS power might’ve been MALG3 from Altoona, WI to Global 3 in Rochelle. I’m not exactly sure what it was myself but generally when there’s a manifest with a ton of sand hoppers on the Geneva it sometimes can be MALG3 and it does work proviso so it kind of makes sense it was getting lined out of proviso
Could be, but I usually hear it working Proviso later. Like I said, I just threw myself at the mercy of whoever was on the Rochelle railcam at the time. I have an idea of the daytime symbols but the later it gets the less I know.
Great catch with the Pullman car on 55. While these cars are often admired by rail fans, as well as me, they are sometimes problematic with door problems and I’ve also had to replace many services valves almost exclusively on those cars
I thought they had retired all of them so I was surprised to still see one in the wild. Thankfully between those and the old Milwaukee Road Budds there’s still remnants of the past if you know where to look.