Aurora/Eola Yard Railfanning.

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Hello everyone,

I have often read of some of our forum members going out to the area around Eola Yard. This is one of the places on my list that I would like to see. I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to see Downers Grove and Elmhurst and plan to go back to these areas in the future. I gather that some of our railfans go to a specific location near the yard. I would like to see this location and possibly meet some of our writers if they are present while I am there. I would most likely take Metra from Chicago Union Station. Is there a station nearby that I could walk from?

As always, I thank you for your responses.

Take care,

Gregory

2

Gregory, on behalf of all of us fans who “hang” at Eola we would certainly welcome your visit. Sorry, but the closest Metra stations to Eola yard are Aurora…which is about 1.5 miles west of the yard…and Route 59 station…which is about three miles plus east of the yard office area. FYI we typically hang out at the intersection of McClure Road and the mainline tracks, right across the main line from the yard offices…there is a pretty big dirt “parking lot” which we all use and has a good view of the yard and mainline tracks. Eola yard is about two miles tops from a McDonald’s, etc. for food and restroom facilities. Y’all come on up to see us, 'ya hear?

3

Jim, I read your other post from today, and wish I could have been out there with the crowd. My wife, however, had a local historical society function (her homemade Victorian hat took the highest honors!). But the weather’s been nice, and one of these weekends we’ll be able to make it back out that way after work.

(Where was everyone when I took Joe and Matt out there a couple of weeks ago? [sigh])

4

Thank you for the invitation! As I mentioned before, this is one of the spots I really would like to see. I usually travel from Indianapolis to Chicago on Megabus which is a non-stop all the way to Chicago Union Station on Canal Street. From there I take one of the Metra lines out to where ever I’m going. This is cheaper than a tank of fuel and I don’t have to worry about traffic…plus I get to ride Metra. While I don’t mind walking one or two miles, it sounds like this spot might be better reached by driving up in my truck.

I usually have a camera with me but, most of the time, I’m usually content to just put down the tailgate and watch whatever happens to go by. The Eola “hang out” sounds like my kind of spot.

Hope to be there someday soon,

Gregory

5

Take your pictures of the Ohio Street bridge as it is now, it won’t be that way for long.

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Last weekend, we went to visit Eola Yard, to see what we could see.

We drove up twords the yard office, and noticed there were some no trsspassing signs around. So, we got out of there, after taking a few pics of the offices, old turntable area, etc.

All of the sudden on the scanner, we heard some woman saying that there is a suspicious silver van driving around in circles near the offices. We pulled into a business to see what was going on. A van drove out, and parked across from us, watching us closely, and getting all of our car information, including model, make, color, licsence plate, etc.

They particuarly didn’t like all of the antennas on the car (Considering I’m a ham radio operator, nothing wrong there).

They followed us around there, and when she read the licsence plate to the yard master (?) they said they would take care of it. “CNW” is in the licsence, so I think the guy saw that we were railfans and causing no harm.

Definatly my last visit to Eola for a while…

In Aurora, we were told by everybody that we couldn’t take pictures. Of course, after the Eola encounter, and being IN the car on public property, we told the guys where to go, with no opposition.

I do love the area’s history, though. Especially the “First Roundhouse in America”.

All and all, a fun trip.

Phil

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wgnrr, I have been “hanging” at Eola since 1978 and have never been hassled by the police (local or BNSF) although once in a great while (about once ever two years or so) the local or BNSF police will stop by and say hello. Us regulars used to have a great relationship with BNSF police Lt. Patrovich who drove a marked white BNSF Ford Explorer and he would give us calendars, playing cards, etc. from BNSF…a great guy who retired a few years back to the sunny south I recall.

The Metra yard in Aurora near the “roundhouse” station is way off limits and the b

8

Hmmm…must have been a fluke by a first visit.

We drove back to the Metra Yard, and just turned around because we saw nothing very interiesting.

We were told that we couldn’t take pictures in the parking lot at the Aurora Depot…not the platform or anywhere else. That upset me a bit, but I was also told that at Ogilve Station in Chicago a few years back. I didn’t take the man’s advice, as he was not a security guard or anything.

Phil

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There is another option for G Mack if he wants to take Metra out to Eola yard - it’s a long shot - but you never know. Eola Yard is just before the last stop at Aurora so there might not be too many passengers left on the train. Also, the Metra trains have to slow down as they go accross McClure road to take the switch for the passenger mains leading to Aurora. If you’re very friendly with the conductor, explain where you are going and why and the conductor is in a very good mood… Lets just say that there’s a chance - however slim - that they just might make a quickie stop and let you off at McClure. Never say never. Of course, you will have to find a way back to the Aurora station for the return trip. Also, don’t forget that bicycles are now allowed on non-peak and almost all weekend service.

CC

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Chris, THAT would certainly be a first as I have NEVER seen that done before, and I would bet you any remotely cautious conductor would never take the chance of letting a passenger off on the mainline tracks like that…however good or even great his mood might be that day as the chance of an accident (even the passenger breaking an ankle or leg de-training on the ballast, if just too great to risk.

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Yeah, I give it about a snowball in July type odds of working… You can ask though. De-train on the McClure Road crossing off the north main so that you’re not crossing any main tracks. If you play the role of dumb tourist and explain that you’re going to be walking back to the same spot you just passed… I’ve never seen it done either - at least not in the modern lawsuit happy age.

CC