Head End View: SOUTH SHORE LINE TRAIN - Winter, Heavy Snow: Chicago, IL Eastbound to South Bend, IN
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- čas přidán 10. 02. 2018
- A view from the front window of the South Shore Line in Chicago, IL (USA) after heavy snowfall on February 9, 2018. Video shows a nearly continuous view starting near McCormick Place in Chicago, and running through Burns Harbor in Northwest IN, just past the Ogden Dunes, approaching the Indiana Dunes National Park.
There is more going on here than meets the eye!
Notice the details such as the engineer's use of the headlight, the snow always being completely melted around all track switches, train crossing to LEFT side, use of the Gauntlet track at the stations, rail signals and more.
17:34 Train changes sides over hidden tracks, looks like derailment
35:18 One taillight rear dented car, loses control, hits the outer guard rail on curve.
39:40 SAME CAR loses control AGAIN on a straightaway, hits the snow embankment.
38:13 Train returns to original side
41:25 Car ran into the back of a pickup truck, the car's front is mangled.
winter
The front window on the train was completely clean, but rear window was 100.0% covered with ice. Notice the northbound Metra trains stirring up snow as they pass.
Learn more about this train: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_S...
![South Shore Line - Gary, IN. to Michigan City, IN. [WINTER 2016]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y_WXbmMRF4I/mqdefault.jpg)
![South Shore Line - Gary, IN. to Michigan City, IN. [WINTER 2016]](/img/tr.png)
![South Shore Line - Chicago, IL. to Gary, IN. [WINTER 2016]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XlPAWrPAYqU/mqdefault.jpg)
This is one of the best head end videos that I have seen as the snow at night creates a great contrast with the rails, signals, crossovers and grade crossings. Thank you for sharing.
amtrakatsfnyc , yes it is, I'm a Model Railroder 👍🛤️🚇
Love the contrast of the snow, the gray sky, the twinkling lights in the residential buildings, and the red & green of the traffic lights as you're heading out of Chicago.
Always liked riding the old North Shore up to Waukegon ,Wisc. and back to Chicago then the Shore Line to Gary, Ind. my last ride was in 1959. Thanks for the south bound ride! And esp. the snow!
Waukegan is in Illinois
@@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife i meant Kenosha, wi.
That was the old Chicago and Northwestern line, whose air horn I can hear when the wind is coming off the lake. I'm almost a mile west of one of the north side stops and there's a brand new station being built around Loyola.
Why is this one of the best cab videos I've ever seen. Just fascinating.
That's not a cab view but still just as good...this is out the door just under the control car cab.
Love this video! I was able torecognize lamdmarks around Kensington that I remember from 60 years ago.
Love the "Stop Here" signs for the motormen. Can't be any clearer or simpler than that.
Great video! I haven't kept up with railroading outside of my own backyard, which is actually abandoned CRRNJ, but I took Amtrak's Lake Shore NYP-CHI and thought the South Shore was defunct. There it was in December 2019 splendor. And I have to check this out when I get home. It's likely that I will never get up there again to ride the line, so thanks for posting this video. Last time I was up that way was PRR Broadway Limited to Chicago and CNW to Great Lakes Naval Training Center in August 1967. What a trip!
I love how the light shines off the snow at night great spot to have the camera at
Nice, no commentary, just footage of an unobstructed operator's view. I almost felt like I was there. 44 minutes went by fast.
Great video. Love the city at night.
The south shore is painfully slow!
Not for long. They're going to double-track the line. Along with other improvements, this will reduce the time to Michigan City to just one hour. Faster than driving.
Great video Karl, and you are right there is a lot more going on than meets the eye, and I'm not even focusing on the railroad aspect of things...
1) 35:18 One taillight rear dented car, looses control and hits the outer guard rail on the curve.
2) 39:40 Car looses control on a straight and hits the snow embankment narrowly missing 3 other cars.
3) 41:25 Car ran into the back of a pickup truck, the cars front is mangled.
Nice catches 3 accidents on one trip ! Northwest Indi is sure a hot mess, in the cold snow!
I had missed these details! Deceptively dangerous those snowbanks. They'll "pull you in" if you even lightly brush against them at speed.
That's the Indiana Toll Road for you. They don't know s**t about cleaning snow off the roads. The Toll Road was always a nightmare after a snowfall. Hope no one was too badly hurt.
In weather like that, it's far better to ride the train.
@@Bobrogers99 Back in '98, I was stranded in New Carlyle, Indiana by the snow. The roads to Chicago were largely closed. I wonder if I could have taken the South Shore into the city.
Those first two incidents were the same car. That driver had to be absolutely hammered.
I enjoyed this. We don’t get this kind of snow, El Paso, but once every ten years,maybe. Thank you . Edward
What a great video. Would love to see more like this. Well Done!
I like this vid, wish you had more of them, thanks and I did not know about the heat one the snow always being completely melted around all track switches
The stations I remember have definitely been upgraded in the 60 years since I waa last in the area. TYVM for a nost enjoyable video.
I'm happy that you enjoyed it.
in the spring of 2024 all of the double-tracking and other line improvements will be complete. They've been underway since 2021, including double tracking the single-track parts of the line all the way to Carrol Ave in Michigan City, building of several new stations, new platforms, new catinary/OCS, high-speed crossovers and more. This marks one of the most important changes to the line since it first came into service in the late 1800's!
@@karlfife And now I see something about them running a new line down the Western edge of Indiana using the Monon route. That should get interesting
@@MrCateagle Yes, the West Lake Corridor project. It is already underway. It broke ground in early 2022 if I remember correctly www.nictdwestlake.com/construction/
@@karlfife Thanks for that link. 'Twould have been nice to have that "way back when" when my folks lived in Lansing, IL. Then again, that was over 60 years ago and the Monon was still running then, as was the Grand Trunk which cut diagonally through Lansing.
Beautiful snow.
Excellent....Thanks for the ride.
I rode to South Bend many years - it was super :)
Thank you much for sharing.
Hello! very nice video and impressive passing on turnout in the snow. Greeting from France.
The switching loco in the yard down on the right at 20:50 looks rather funny sitting there in a sea of pristine snow
I see that the switch heaters are working good tonight.
If, i had my life to live over again, i`d want to live there. With huge wide open spaces, you couldn`t feel claustrophobic anywhere. Plenty of space to spread your wings.
Nice footage. Its like there is no window!
Amazing video!
Thank you for the feedback.
17:35 That is trippy af lmao
I wish we had railroads like this up here in Rhode Island where no major freight railroads operate. But hey at least we get the NEC (Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor) and G&W’s Providence and Worcester RR.
Feel like I need a nice cup of steaming coffee after watching this! :-)
Gives a sence of eeriness to it, but strangely likable
That color of sky makes me so hyped cuz snow
thanks mr fike
Nice scenery
Although I'm watching this vid with a blanket wrapped around me. it is oneof the most pleasant video records of the CSS&SB Rwy I've seen. Used to ride these trains in & out of Chicago (currently renamed CHIRAQ b/c of the browns shooting the Hell out of the locale.)
You were doing good with your comment until that last parenthetical
Good job,keep it up
Why that shift to the left in the tracks at that station at 22:45? Never saw such a thing.
It's called a gauntlet track. It brings the train close to the platform to ease loading and unloading of passengers. Meanwhile, freight trains can barrel through the station without risk of striking the platform.
“Pretty blue lights along the way , help you right on by!”
Impressive video. Love the South Shore Line. Is that a Mars Searchlight Headlight? Sure looks like it going back and forth.
I'm unfamiliar with the Mars Searchlight Headlight, but the rail vehicle I'm aboard in this video is a Nippon Sharyo Highliner II split-level gallery car (EMU). IIRC it has a pair of headlights that alternate left/right/left/right when the train is approaching or departing a station.
Ditch lights.
@@karlfife Or whenever they blow the horn. It makes them alternate automatically for about a minute afterwards.
Was wondering why the ditch lights are on in the beginning as there are no grade crossings?
I used to take the Metra electric to school all the time
It’s not the metra electric it’s the south shoreline
Nice train ride
Including a 2 character state ABBR in the caption would have been very helpful.
We’re is the Gary station. I use to ride south shore from Gary to Chicago all the time. Love this train.
At 42:00 the train pulls into the Gary Airport station. Sadly I cut the video before arriving at Gary Metro station, and pick it up again after pulling out of the Miller station. I think everyone loves this train. It's like no other. :-)
John John Batman , yes me too, I'm a Model Railroder 👍🛤️🚇
I believe the stop here sign is just before the "gauntlet bridge" where there was a horrendous accident about 30 years ago. The eastbound train failed to stop at the red signal (claiming he couldn't see it because of the sun). The westbound train was going at full speed and was not able to stop in time while the eastbound train was blocking the switch.
The "solution" was to require the train to stop and blow their horn. Even if they made a mistake and both got on the bridge at the same time, they would be able to stop without colliding. The gauntlet bridge is only wide enough for one train, but has overlapping tracks.
Not that it matters to anyone, at the time I was commuting from Michigan City to Chicago, and probably would have been on that train in the front seat - except that weekend I fell and broke my elbow.
I thought it derailed at 17:34
so did at first
Also did, because of the snow
Lol yeah! It looked like a derail switch!
Choo choo! I'm a train and I approve this video ! :)
Those diverging tracjs are scary, They are completely covered with snow and the train's taking them at, I guess, regular diverging speed.
You notice they heat the turnouts thats why you dont see any snow around them.
Thank you , Karl! Great! I've thought about taking Amtrak to Michigan City and then the South Shore into Chicago. Don't know if any car rental places are near the South Shore's western terminus, though?
If the weather is nice, you could walk from the Amtrak terminal on Washington St, Michigan City, to the 11th Street SSL station in Michigan City. It's exactly one mile, past the Lighthouse Outlet Mall where you could kill time if you have a layover. There's also Uber/Lyft etc.
Last year during the polar vortex (-50°F) the SSL shut down briefly, so I took the Amtrak to Michigan City. Amtrak is faster (no stops) but their one-time performance is worse, so you could have an unexpected delay.
@@karlfife It actually got to -50 Fahrenheit? Wow. I thought it was bad in Michigan when we hit 11 below. It hasn't been that cold here in Western PA. I'm not even sure the Amtrak run from Pittsburgh goes through Michigan City. It would be nice to experience the last Interurban, though. Too bad no electric locomotives left in freight service.
Just checked, the Amtrak run from Pittsburgh stops in South Bend.
@@andreialexiev7858 As you probably know, the SSL is street running through Michigan City. It's something to experience, especially from the head car of the bi-level gallery car that this video was shot from. In a few years from now, the line will be improved, and it will stop street running, so if you're interested, put it on your bucket list before it's too late. :-)
@@karlfife Thank you. I'm interested. Maybe this summer.
The high pitched screech, along with the straightforward moving lines of perspective give this a 2001: A Space Odyssey effect. Like Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite. Can't wait to get to the classy room where Dave knocks his wine glass off the table.
I had to mute the video for a bit. I don't know the mechanics of a train to understand why it made that noise until the train was moving for awhile.
There was no more tape at the end?
What camera are u using?
Was that the Skyway at 6:30? I still remember when South Shore trains came all the way into downtown South Bend.
Yes, the train passes under the i-90 Skyway viaduct just before 6:30. It runs parallel to it starting at 31:30. Harder to see, but the train also crosses over the I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway at 10:12
@@karlfife Yep, the East Chicago Bypass. I know that stretch of the Toll Road out to South Bend like the back of my hand. We grew up together; the Toll Road was dedicated two months before I was born!
? type of loco or train set ? Thanks.
What is a red over flashing green?
Diverging Clear Medium?
Diverging Clear Approach Diverging - Diverge now, then diverge ahead (next signal).
Source: southshore.railfan.net/signals/
Why is he running without a headlight part of the time? And then he turns on the flashing ditch lights, but I could not tell if the regular solid headlight was on. The oncoming train had a headlight on.
I was wondering the same thing. It really doesn't appear like it's on all the time. It should be super noticeable on snow if it is...
The very beginning of the video shows the Highline cars, but the Head car views and the sound of the train seemed to be the single level Nippon Sharyo cars. I've been on both sets of cars ( single and bilevel) and can tell the difference between the two with just audio.
As the guy who shot the video, I can confirm that the video was shot standing at the pass-thru door at the head-end of the 'Highline' cars seen at the beginning of the video, also made by Nippon Sharyo, so-called. "Gallery type Bi-Level cars". The two trains' drive systems do in fact sound different, 3 speed steps on the DC shunt-motors on the single-level train sets, versus AC Variable Frequency Drive on the double-deckers. To get this shot from the single-level train, I would have needed to be in the cab, which is not allowed. .
@@karlfife the Highliners were purchased on a piggyback with Metra's purchase of Highluners for the Metra Electric Line. The Electric motors on these newer cars have a higher pitch than the single level cars.
The one thing that now makes me think that these are the Highline cars ( besides your statement) is the announcement in the background at the Hammond station, " caution, the doors are about to close." Those were never on the older cars and can be heard on all Metra Lines.
Around 39:45, a car on the freeway skids on the ice and slams into the median.
Indiana drivers lol
It always stinks when you go through Gary area because of Steel Mill.
Is the door closing announcements in this video?
Such a shame they aren't that's a really interesting thing that I think about all the time- I even have a cheeky quickone thinking about train announcements every now and again
Looooove your video, I'm a Model Railroder & please make more 🚇🛤️
Why does that track go off to the side in the stations?
Those are gauntlet tracks. The passenger trains take the tracks closer to the platform, the freight trains take the tracks further from the platform.
The Electric trains, South Shore, here, and Metra Electric, all have raised platforms. These cars are all uniform in their distance from the platforms, plus they don't sway that much.
Freights, on the other hand, tend to hang a few inches wider than the platforms. If it weren't for the gauntlet tracks then there would be a wide space between. Metra, at South Shore cars are 10' 5". Auto racks, for example. are about 3 inches wider.
These tracks at some stations are properly called "gantlet" tracks, not "gauntlet" tracks.
That's what's up
good morning ☀️🌞😃 pretty morning early early Saturday point to come over right now at Chicago sounds horrible see you soon please please call me 🤙 train 🚞
I appreciate the beginning. It starts at the station while getting on the train but why does the Video end halfway to the destination?
If I'd had any idea the video would get so many views, I'd have taken it all the way to South Bend :-)
@@karlfife Faire Enough.
@@karlfife Train videos Suck! I'm kidding. It very relaxing to watch. Good job on getting so many views!!
@@karlfifefor those who might be tempted, the trip from Michigan City to South Bend is extremely boring even for a railfan. There is no industry that I remember, and a straight track going through trees. The train used to end at the Amtrak station on the west side of South Bend, but they built new tracks out to the airport.
The premise was that in the event of weather problems in Chicago, planes could be diverted to South Bend and take the train to Chicago. But that would leave you at the Randolph street (Millennial) station in downtown Chicago. It would also require them to send a big train out from Michigan City to handle all of the people and the luggage. If there was more than one plane, there just isn't enough capacity to handle that kind of people. I doubt that was ever used.
If you go even farther back in time, the South Shore used to run all of the way to a station in downtown South Bend. They also ran special trains for football at Notre Dame university. The tracks originally went to within a couple blocks of the football stadium. The service is still offered, but they have bus service from the airport to the stadium.
@@ArtStoneUS I keep getting off in Michigan City, but I've been tempted. :-)
Watching this in FL dressed in ski jacket, hat, gloves, and boots.
You’re Kinky
Did you see the car that sun out lol.
That's some fantastic HO modeling!!! How did you all the figures to move like that? You must have used a literal ton of plaster on all the snow. And the weathering of the cars with snow effects. Now, how were you able to squeeze miles and miles of track into HO scale I wonder? LOL
Interesting vid. Just curious though, why does he blow the horn occasionally when there doesn't seem to be a crossing?
Not a railroad guy but it's my understanding that FRA requires long, long, short, long whistle before road grade crossings, entering/exiting tunnels and approaching bridges.
@@JERRYinCHS Hmm, didn't realize that. Thx.
Better sounding horns than in Europe. I don't know What they are thinking.
Headlights on at 15:48...
Wow that's really interesting thanks for pointing out out
I sho am glad we live in Georgia.
I'm glad you live in Georgia too!
Really lovely visuals, but the wind whistle is a little distracting, I'm sorry to say.
Wimpy comment
I understand blowing the horn when approaching a level crossing, but this guy was out of control. Blowing the horn while approaching a railroad bridge? Or nowhere near a crossing?
the SouthShore goes through a very flat area of suburbs. and many homes/businesses very near the tracks. there could be people/kids near the bridges.
Why is the beginning of the video so loud? What is that noise?
Is it true that all major cities, not just NYC, are allowing up to 1 million people a day to jump the fares ? Not having to pay, and the police and crews are told not to confront the fare jumpers, because they were attacking anyone who tried to make them pay ?
Increasingly, transit systems in the United States are going to "proof of payment", meaning you buy a ticket from a machine or use an app on your phone to activate an electronic ticket. It is mostly the honor system, with a chance that a fare inspector might ask to see your ticket or qrcode on your phone.
On the South Shore, and this applies other places like Metro-North in Connecticut, there is a problem with collecting outbound fares. When you're going towards Chicago, the conductor will see you got on the train, charge you the fare to Chicago unless you say you're not riding all the way to Chicago. They put a piece of paper in front of you (or above) so they know you paid the right fare.
On the outbound side, you will be asked for a ticket within the first few stops. In theory, you could buy a ticket for the first stop, but then stay on the train to your actual destination. It is too much of a nuisance to keep track of where each rider is supposed to get off, and stop the train looking for fare evasion. So they seem satisfied to get the right fare in one direction. If the system allows paying in cash on the train, then you have a problem that the conductor carrying cash outbound.
Any of above might have changed, and obviously fare evasion is wrong.
We’re Gary station??
17:30 ok that is creepy
Looks like it derails
At about 32:00, the train is running next to an interstate, The cars are going faster than the train. Not an impressive sight.
Despite the stops, much of CSS&SB right of way is 45-60mph in NW Indiana . I-90, the parallel Chicago Skyway, becomes 70 mph in Indiana.
@@SCRANE1115 70? more like 75+. Been on it many times.
@@thephantomeagle2 I guess. I'm talking the signage. Indiana's maximum posted speed limit on what they define as rural expressways is 70mph.
@@SCRANE1115 I know, I've been on that enough to know that Indiana, like Michigan, the signs are merely suggestions.
@@thephantomeagle2 Ha! Roger that.
Noticed a switch that failed to melt at 17:47... hopefully that was fixed
at 23:00 I've never seen that type of of track arrangement.
It's called a gauntlet track. Freight trains go on the outer track, passenger trains on the inner track to get close to the platform.
@@karlfife I surmised that may be the case. Thanks for that.
It's properly called a "gantlet," not a "gauntlet."
@@erie910every source that I can find spells it "gauntlet"
The whistle is uncomfortable over headphones
Tell me about it. I had to mute the video because of that.
What *was* that?
22:44 why are there two sets of tracks on top of one another?
Those are gauntlet tracks. The passenger trains take the tracks closer to the platform, the freight trains take the tracks further from the platform.
Oh, that's cool! Thanks for answering!
Why are they rolling on LHS
It changes sides more than once. With the tracks covered by snow it looks for a second like derailment There are time codes in the description if you want to see it.
And this is what state, province, and/or country?
Between the state of Illinois and Indiana in America.
I know this is not obvious, but the Chicago South Shore and South Bend railroad runs from Chicago Illinois to South Bend Indiana going along the south shore of Lake Michigan
Where is this ? Which Country ?
Starts in Chicago and ends in Indiana. It's in America.
United States
Goes from Chicago, Illinois to Indiana
@@briansivley2001 Thank you. I live in Scotland so, as there`s nothing in the title to say where this is, to me, it could have been anywhere,
@@atomstarfireproductions8695 Thank you.
@@smoothfags20the title does say where it is
car crash in wall 39:45 lol
what is that awful screeching sound?
That is the wind whistling through the front door of the train.
@@karlfife Please next time use a filter to suppress the high tones, if used headphones, so I'm already deaf. :D
I can't take the high pitch sound!
Nice video, but what in the name of the wee man is that annoying whistling at the start?
Please... please just remove the audio... my ears, they are bleeding
Sorry but that whistling noise makes it unwatchable...
insteed of this annoying whistle you could put some music in!!
The passengers put up with it. You have a volume control. You could simply use it... 😀
Too bad the republicans refuse to invest in high-speed rail. They have been paid off by the auto industry. Rail is safe and produces much less pollution.
Don't blame the Republicans. Both parties do it; transportation infrastructure in this country has been woefully underfunded for years no matter which party is in power, but rail is always tail-end Charlie to aviation and highway projects.
In fact, the South Shore Line is about to undergo large capital improvement project (double-tracking the line, and the West Lake Corridor project to Dyer, IN).
Republicans and Democrats have been cooperating for several years to make it happen. The project planning has received an award for its exemplary execution. The Double Tracking Project will make the train faster than driving.
The vast majority of the funding comes from the local communities it serves, the remainder from state and federal grants.
Fuck all Political Parties! They all suck COCK! Ignore Politics! Fuck it!
@Jonas Pell Typical, not even finished and already being trashed by you and others whom I have no doubt have any real reasons to be so negative other than your hatred of the party in power that approved the funding! At least they are TRYING to finally get something done. To bad we are already 30 years behind China when it comes to high speed rail networks!
@@tomswisher5305 Really, both parties are to blame? Last time I checked every single railroad infrastructure project proposed has be from the Democrats and every single time it killed instantly by Republicans.
edit: of course I am talking about Federal government here not local.