Morning Railfanning at Melrose Park 1/30/13

Yesterday's weather was just a one-hit wonder. In the overnight hours, a cold front moved through the area, bringing with it snow showers and lower temps. Yes, it was a slap back into reality. I knew the cooler weather would hinder me from going out to railfan, so I decided to take advantage of the final hours of above-average temperatures by filming the morning rush on the UP West Line from the Melrose Park station.

I brought along my tripod and used it to better position my camcorder as I filmed the trains, and rightfully so, because snow showers fell throughout much of the morning, and I needed one hand to hold a green umbrella I carried with me to keep dry. The camcorder required two-hand operation, but use of the tripod narrowed it down to one, and practically zero on several occasions. I should've used the umbrella to shelter the camcorder from the snow showers because water drops got on the lens during the first two trains. I did not notice that until after the second train had passed. Luckily, I used my phone to tweet the train run numbers along with the number of the locomotive on each train, except for Train #24. I did not pay much attention to the number of the locomotive on the back of that one. T24's trip originates at West Chicago. T49, which leaves Ogilvie at 5:09 pm, terminates at West Chicago and doesn't come back for the night, so I'm guessing whichever locomotive was on T49 the day before was on T24 today. I was not at Melrose yesterday, so I'll never know which engine was on T24. I did film T49 the day before yesterday however.

When I filmed the PM rush at MPK two days earlier, I noticed that the crossing gates at MP 11.38 reactivated not long after a westbound train passed through. I called UP and notified them about this as soon as I got home, but today, it didn't seem like anything had been done to fix the problem. I filmed Train #17 with METX 131 just to get extra video footage of this happening, and I got it! Not long after 131's began to sound, the lights, bells, and gates reactivated. They stayed in the down position for about five seconds before going up again.

Here is a photo of METX 131 at Melrose after returning with now Train #34. This picture shows you how sloppy it was at the station on this day.

An interesting catch of the day happened to be a horn duel between the cabcar of Train #26, pushed by METX #146, and METX #143 as it approached MPK with Train #19. The cabcar won the horn duel because it eeked out a few blows after 143's final blow. The horn duel took place near the 9th Avenue grade crossing, approximately 5/8 of a mile east of where I was. It would've been so much better if it took place by me! I love it when the quiet zone is neglected for a few seconds. There may be the "Danger Another Train Coming" signs at the 9th Avenue crossing, but because I've never ventured over there, and neither do I plan to, I am not so sure of that. I mention this because there are two at MP 11.38, and when one train is present as another train is approaching, the signs go off and the approaching train sounds its horn. I have yet to hear a horn duel by two moving trains at the Melrose Park depot.

Here is the video of the morning rush at Melrose
RE-UPLOAD: UP West Line AM Rush @Melrose Park 1/30/13 22:54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0rpy2_JIiw

Morning Railfanning at Brookfield 1/29/13

I couldn't believe it! 60 degrees in January in Chicago! Normally, the temperatures aren't any higher than 30-something. January's a harsh month. It is the coldest, most brutal month of the 12-month calendar year in Chicago. Yes, today was a delicacy, and I took advantage of it by visiting the Brookfield Metra station for the first time in 2013 to film the morning rush. Brookfield is one of my most favorite railfanning spots for a reason, and the action encountered on this day served as an example of that. As soon as I got to the station, I was greeted with the high-energy splendor that makes it such a desirable place to railfan. I also got some cool catches!

Nearly halfway into my visit to Brookfield, an inbound express train led by METX #8601 raced eastbound along Main 2. At the back of the train was METX #214, the Operation Lifesaver unit. METX #8601 was one of two cabcars that were covered with adwrap promoting BMO Harris Bank. The second cabcar would be METX #8600. Speaking of 8600, less than 15 minutes after 8601 and 214 came through, 8600 and METX #117 proceeded past the Prairie Avenue crossing as they headed east with an inbound train.

The BMO Harris bank cars weren't the only catch of the day. About three-quarters into my Brookfield visit came a westbound Carl Sandburg Amtrak train with a heritage unit, AMTK #66, one of several 40th Anniversary locomotives. Here's a shocking piece of information. AMTK #66 was built in 1997, not 2011 or 2010! Brief research is showing that the locomotive received the Phase III paint scheme sometime between January-March 2011.

The next train to race through the Prairie Avenue crossing would be an inbound Metra train pushed by METX 210. When I saw Twotenny (my nickname for the locomotive), I was pretty shocked. I did not expect to see the locomotive today. An interesting thing to note is that 210, and most of the locomotives on inbound trains, were extremely quiet today for some odd reason. Maybe their engines weren't positioned in the 8th notch.

A post about the Brookfield AM rush wouldn't be complete without talking about the stoppers. Train #1230 was pushed by METX #196, which showed signs of a desperately-needed bath on the engineer's side. I can never understand why locomotives tend to get so dirty in that spot. Most of the locomotives were dirty, 210 included, despite earlier rainfall. Train #1244 was pushed by METX #190 today. I am not sure what the deal was, but 190's engine or whatever, made a very odd rattling noise. The sound concerned me somewhat, but I liked it for the most part. Train #1254 happened to be pushed by METX 214. You guessed it! At the front of the train was METX 8601, one of the BMO Harris Bank cabcars. As it approached Congress Park before reversing its train into the Brookfield station, METX 214's horn was blown as a warning to anyone standing near the crossing. 214's horn sounded pretty different when compared to that of the other F40PHMs.

Below is a nice photo of 214 as it sat at Brookfield with T1254.

I cannot finish this post without mentioning the two freights I caught. As expected, they came through at the very end of the Metra rush. The first train, an intermodal, happened to include an Executive Mac in the locomotive consist. Leading was a GE C44-9W, BNSF #4166. Approximately 10 minutes later, the second freight came through. BNSF #4810 and BNSF #5885 led the train eastbound along Main 3. BNSF #9313, an SD70ACe, brought up the rear as a DPU (Distributed Power Unit).

Here are the links to the videos from Brookfield on January 29th, 2013
Brookfield AM Rush 1/29/13 9:09
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=579-07egXmE

BNSF Line Train #1230 @Brookfield 1/29/13 2:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bok0NqKzg5U

BNSF Line Trains 1244/54 @Brookfield 1/29/13 14:34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwfHiGvjRf0

Fast BNSF Freights in Brookfield 4:04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZS4Gwrs-1g

Coming Soon, New Posts!

I know, I know. I haven't updated this blog in 1.5 years, but that's because I've been so tied up and couldn't find the time to write anything to submit to this blog. I've had many fun and exciting, and also sad, moments since I last posted to this blog. Starting August 27th, I will submit new posts, and let me tell you, I am really looking forward to it. It would be a good idea to start with my recent most significant railfanning episodes, but I would rather pick up from where I left off and submit anywhere between 2-4 posts each day I log in and decide to blog. The first post you will see will focus on my railfanning adventures at the Brookfield Metra Station on a very pleasant January 29th, 2013, and the one after that will focus on my railfanning adventures at the Melrose Park station a day after that. I have 59 stories that are queued for posting, and I hope to post anywhere between 4-8, or possibly even more, per week. My only major obstacle right now is time, and time only.

Unexpected Encounter

JANUARY 16TH, 2013

So on this day, I experienced a major frustration during the midday hours that made me desperate to see some trains, Metras preferably. I had to choose between either the Melrose Park station or the Brookfield station. I was at Melrose on the 12th, the Saturday past. I hadn't visited Brookfield since November 2nd, 2012! After several minutes of deciding between either or, I decided to settle with Brookfield, and after the visit, I know I made the right decision. Something told me to go to Brookfield whilst I was on a southbound #331 Pace bus.

When my bus got to the Maple Avenue crossing, an outbound Metra train rolled through, traveling at a pretty slow clip, but the greatest thing happened just minutes after I arrived at the station. Pushing an inbound train through the Brookfield Station just two minutes after I stepped off the 331 bus was my most favorite Metra locomotive ever, F40PHM-2 #210! I was so shocked to see 210 again, and it became apparent by the way I accidentally shook the camera as 210 passed me! The words I use to describe this unexpected meeting are as follows:

"Like a little puppy dog, 210 leapt into my arms and eyesight, like it missed me, and was eagerly anticipating my arrival!"

210 came through a second time that night, but before it did, my concerns were placed on one of 210's twins, #209. 209 shot through the Brookfield station with an outbound express train, but at the exact same speed 209 traveled, its bell kept pace! More air than usual may have got into 209's bell, causing it to ring uncontrollably I thought the bell problems experienced by F40PH-3 #132 back in 2012 were as bad as things could possibly get in this case, but no! 209's bell problems made me think twice! A joke I made later on in regards to 209's bell issues was that 209 was reminding everyone it passed that dinner's ready! Yeah, corny I know, probably the corniest joke anyone has ever made!

When 210 came through the Brookfield Station a second time with an outbound train (pictured below; sorry about the blur of the photo, I didn't notice a smudge on the camera lens until after I left Brookfield), it crept towards the station at a slower than usual speed, but as it came closer to me, it sped up a little, before slowing down again, immediately after passing me. I am not sure why that was. I don't recall seeing any yellow-over-red signals for the Racetrack in the vicinity of Congress Park. However, the signal on the westside of the Prairie Avenue crossing was red over green, so I'm assuming that that had something to do with it.

As I was awaiting my northbound 331 bus after calling it a night at Brookfield, two outbounders shot through the station on the Racetrack. About a minute after the second outbound train passed through the Prairie Avenue crossing, here came an inbounder. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! Pushing that inbound train was...210!!! Wow! After choosing to visit Brookfield over Melrose on this day, never would I have ever thought that I'd see my most favorite locomotive of all, three times on the same day, within a two-hour period!

I would return to Brookfield two days later on the 18th for the first Railfanning Friday of 2013, and approximately 15 minutes into my visit, 210 shot through the station, as I excitedly said, in my usual low voice, "Ohhhhh my baby!" "My baby," that's my little pet name for 210, since I love the hell out of it so darn much! Unfortunately, 210 did not make a return trip to Union Station on Friday January 18th, and also unfortunate was that 209 never came through Brookfield during my two-hour-long stay at the station. My guess is that it was in the shop, being worked on to correct the problems with its bell and airline.

Here are the videos of 209 on the 16th, and 210 on both the 16th & the 18th:
What the Hell's Wrong With 209's Bell? 0:55
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dDovsBOuk8

210 Returns, Three Times!!! 1/16/13 2:07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtZdCHp0spw

We Meet Again! 1/18/13 0:44 (I really love this video!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrTOLPvI8k4

If you would like to also see all of the action on the BNSF Racetrack on both the 16th and the 18th, visit this link:
400TH VIDEO!!! Brookfield Speedballs 19:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1eZN6OGUeA

Two More Great Catches!

JANUARY 8TH, 2013

2013 was only one week young, and oh my gosh, the great catches just kept on coming! There were two catches on this day, the first being the best catch of the two because it involved a disappearing breed of locomotive on a railroad that sees very little traffic these days.

As I was walking to 17th and Cermak to catch a westbound 322 Pace bus to visit a friend at Yorktown Mall, I heard a sound similar to that made by the blades and motor of a helicopter, and it was coming from the east. My first thought as I approached the lightly used CN Freeport Sub was "What in the world is going on? No! It can't be a train on this dead railroad! It can't be!"

Less than 10 seconds after that thought went through my head, railroad crossing bells sounded, the crossing gates of the CN Freeport Sub at 17th Avenue went down, and I hastily pulled my camcorder out of my coat pocket to film what would be an amazing catch! Pulling a mixed freight westbound along the CNFS was EJ&E #664, an EMD SD38-2 locomotive! 664 is pictured below.

I've researched the "J" before, but after doing so in the evening hours on the day I caught this locomotive, I was very disheartened to learn that the railroad finally went under on January 1st, 2013! CN bought the EJ&E in 2009. Now I want to catch as many EJ&E locomotives as possible before greedy CN decides to paint them all into CN's trademark colors, something I pray doesn't happen entirely.

Second catch of the day. As I was on a Purple Line Express train on my to Evanston to run an errand that required me to go there, I saw a northbound Red Line train, on an adjacent track. This wasn't just any ol' Red Line train, this was a Red Line train consisting entirely of 5000 Series cars, built by Bombardier Transportation in Plattsburg, New York! Now, I'm looking at this train, and I'm thinking to myself, "No way! I'm dreaming! CTA wasn't suppose to put 5000 Series cars on the Red Line until after the five-month-long reconstruction of the Dan Ryan portion of the line! Several news sources stated this in 2012, including the Red Eye, and speaking of, I think I still have that article! I'm glad I caught this train as proof of my sighting! Wow, two nice catches within eight hours! I was a very lucky girl on this day!

Here are the videos of the two great catches for you to watch!
I COULDN'T Believe My Eyes!!! 2:14 NOTE: Excuse the shakiness of the video. I was just so shocked to see a train on this near-dead railroad that I had to get closer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kgxLTUqfW4

5000 Series Cars on the Red Line?!?! 1:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0blhhodZqo

Using A Tripod For the Very First Time

JANUARY 5TH, 2013
On this day, I decided to pay a visit to the Melrose Park Station to film UP West Line Metra trains #509, 511, and 513 with my new aluminum tripod that I purchased from a Radio Shack store on North Avenue in Melrose Park exactly two weeks prior. I filmed four trains total, two of the outbounders, along with an inbounder, Train #512, and a westbound freight. I could have filmed UP-W T513, but I had to go home. The reason why? The battery inside my Samsung camcorder discharged much faster than I initially expected it to, and the only culprit  I could immediately think of was the cold weather. There was a little snow on the ground, light snow showers fell during the latter half of my stay at MK, and throughout my stay, light, but cold, winds blew. I was bundled up, and I was warm, but the same couldn't be said about my camcorder.

The first train I filmed was UP West Line Train #509. This train does not stop at Melrose, so it blew right past the station at a pretty high rate of speed.

The second train to enter the vicinity of Melrose was, and what a great catch this turned out to be, UP West Line Train #512, which makes a stop at MPK. Instead of stopping at Platform 1, the usual platform, the train stopped at the opposite platform, Platform 2, which is where the Elburn-bound trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers. Moves like this are pretty uncommon, so it was worth filming No one got on or off the train. Shortly after the departure of T512, snow showers began to fall.

This catch turned out to be the first of two great back-to-back catches, because the third train I filmed would be the reason behind T512 stopping at the south platform instead of the north platform. The third train was, and this was the best moment, a westbound freight train consisting mainly of stacked trailers, pulled by, not one, but TWO BNSF locomotives! The lead locomotive is pictured below. Sorry for not being able to get a better picture.

This was only the second time that I've seen a BNSF locomotive on the UP Geneva Sub, the first time being over the summer of 2012 when I lived next to the railroad by the Kedzie station, at milepost 3.82. I think this train had a final destination of the UP Global Two Yard, a.k.a. Proviso Yard, because it traveled so slowly, eventually coming to a halt. I terminated filming of the train when that happened. It resumed the journey to Global Two about 10 minutes later, clearing the area, and allowing the crossing gates to return to the "Up" position, which in turn, allowed a long line of vehicles on either side of the tracks to go through the intersection.

The fourth and final train I filmed would be UP West Line Train #511. This train makes a stop at MPK on its way to Elburn. After T511 cleared the area, I took down my tripod and placed it, along with my camcorder, into my backpack , and then I cleared the area. The snow showers were heavier at this point.

To see the videos of my visit to MPK on 1/5/13 in their entirety, visit the links below
Fun With A Tripod 5:33
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvAk5-rVaEg
Rarity on the UP Geneva Sub 8:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk6bZuRZw5w

Melrose Park to Kedzie and Back

JANUARY 3RD, 2013
On this day, I had to run a very important errand, and that was returning a book checked out from the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Branch, its main branch, a couple months before. I had to do this in order to avoid a fine for an overdue book, which is twenty cents a day. Instead of returning the book to HWL, I chose to return it to the new Richard M. Daley Library, located approximately half a mile north of the Kedzie Station.

Not only was it a good opportunity to take care of this critical task, it was also a good opportunity for me to start using my Zone A-C 10-Ride Ticket that I purchased through Metra's Ticket-By-Mail program the month before. I boarded a northbound 303 Pace bus, and took it to the Melrose Park Station, where I awaited my inbound train, Train #52. While awaiting T52, an outbounder, Train #37, made a stop at the station on its way to Elburn. This train, pictured above, consisted of seven cars and was pulled by F40PH-2 locomotive #159.

It was approximately 3:30 when Train #52 pulled into MPK. At the very same time, a UP intermodal freight train, traveling westbound, approached the station on Main 1. I wish that train would've came behind T37, because I could've filmed it. I was at a loss again because as my train pulled into the Oak Park Station, a second UP intermodal train passed it, heading westbound! The only exclamation running through my head was DAMN!

Funny thing that happened on board this train. As it departed OP, the two conductors on board came into the vestibule where I was (and for the entire trip) and had a couple trivial conversations, after checking tickets of the two people who boarded the train at that station. They were gossiping, and I wasn't going to feed into it because I don't feed into gossip, but when they mentioned the Chicago Bears player Cedric Benson, and then the Green Bay Packers, I jumped into their conversation and said, "I'm a Packers fan!"

My remark prompted one conductor to say to the other, "Every time we discuss the Packers, someone in the vestibule says they're a Packers fan!"

LOL Funny indeed!

After dropping off the book at the Richard M. Daley Library, I decided to go to the Aldi, and the Subway, at Chicago & Kedzie to kill some time while waiting for Train #53, the outbound train I would take back to Melrose. Immediately after taking care of that, I stood at the corner of Chicago & Kedzie and filmed an outbound Metra train on the old Milwaukee Road trackage before walking to the Kedzie station where I would shoot some more trains. The best part occurred just after my arrival to Kedzie, and that was the meetup between T47, and a deadhead that usually comes right before that train in this neck of the woods. As the trains approached one another, they dimmed their headlights, and then the deadhead did something I've never seen it do before in reaction to a train coming from the opposite direction - it stopped!

Two more trains rolled through the station, T49 pulled by 165, and T51 pulled by 163. After T51 passed, a familiar face stepped onto the station platform. This guy would always take T53 from Kedzie to a point unknown. Every time I stood on the Kedzie platform and filmed the Metras in the 5:00 hour when I lived by the station in 2012, I would see this guy. Because of my very shy attitude, I never exchanged names with him, therefore missing my chances of snagging another friend.

Four minutes after T51 passed, T53, pulled by #137, an F40PH-3 locomotive, came to a stop at Kedzie. I boarded the train, along with four others, including the guy mentioned above, getting off at Melrose. When I got there, I had just missed the southbound 303 bus that I planned to catch, so I had to wait for the next one, filming the next three outbounders as I did so. I filmed Train #55 from the south side of the Melrose Park station, Train #57 from the north side of the station (where I decided to wait for the bus), and Train #59 while on board the bus. T59 is the deadheader that always came right before T47 when I lived at Kedzie. Its last stop is Elmhurst, and it makes another trip to Ogilvie Transportation Center as Train #60.

If you'd like to see the entire video, which contains all the Metras mentioned above, click the link below:
NEW TO OLD, OLD TO NEW 17:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ob5Lietilw