Amtrak rerouted into Chicago

Was having lunch at Burger King in New Lenox today(Sunday) at 12:15PM and what appears eastbound on the old Rock Island but A pepsi can with four amfleet cars moving at about 20mph. No idea why but perhaps either the IC or BNSF between Joliet and chicago has a wreck or maintenance going on

There was signal maintanence going on on the CN line that heads to Joliet When things like this happen, they usually run down RI because BNSF is already jammed up with freight traffic. By Pepsi Can in the lead, I would think a P32 was in the lead. If so, that is a very rare occurance! The P32s are usually not used anymore out of yard service unless they need them for backup.

Interesting title for thread. Didn’t know that AMTK had been routed out of Chicago and now was routed back in.[oops][banghead][%-)]

LOL freight traffic comes to a standstill on BNSF for the Dinks or the Amtrak’s Called Nap time for me.

Amtrak will be detouring again July 7th (Saturday) down Rock Island betweemn 16th Street Junction and Joliet. This is becuase they will be replacing the signals and remodeling Brighton Park Junction. They will be taking the old junction with the semaphores out of service at 7PM tommorow and putting the new interlocking in service sometime July 8th. As a result, Amtrak trains will no longer have to stop and proceed through the junction at 10MPH. Amtrak will be able to go through the junction at 40MPH and not stop, which should improve running times between Chicago and Joliet. It will be a major improvement for all railroads involved, but it is too bad this vintage junction and semaphores will be the price of the upgrade.

I saw #122 with four cars last Sunday. What I don’t understand is Amtrak travels through New Lenox at about ten miles an hour. Even Iowa Interstate moves a lot faster and Metra is hauling at 40-50.