Blue Island.

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Hi everybody. This summer I was planning on taking my first trip to Blue Island. I have a few questions about it first though.

1: What is the neighborhood by the junction like?

2: Is ther good parking right next to the junction, or do I need to walk from the station. If I do need to walk, how far is the walk?

3: Are cops a big problem there?

Thanks!

2

I’m a fairly regular visitor to Blue Island Junction (at Broadway) so I think I can answer some of these questions.

  1. The neighborhood may be considered lower class but is not dangerous.

  2. I have always parked on the street near the grade crossing. DO NOT PARK in the gravel area north of Broadway just east of the tracks. It is CSX property and the special agents will talk to you about it.

  3. I always take my pictures from the sidewalk area of the grade crossing to just a few feet off of the walk. I have never been bothered by either Blue Island police or CSX special agents.

3

Agree with the above completely. The walk from the Metra stations in Blue Island is probably about 1/2 mile to the west and there is nothing nearby to obtain food or drink or restroom facilities. I would suggest travel by car as the easiest and best way to get there.

4

Awsome! Thanks guys!

5

I have another question. What time (day time) is the best time to see IHB activity or IAIS activity? Also, just in general what is the best time of what day to go to the junction?

6
7

Ok. So I plan to go their in the morning, maybe get their at 9 or 10 and spend until 12 or 1 their. That should be fine right?

Thanks for the answered everyone!

8

Hiya I will be coming from Ohio in Sept on my way to Rochelle. What are the nearest cross streets for Blue Island so that I can Mapquest as I would like to snag a look it on my way thru Chicago?[:)]

9

Western Ave is the nearest major north-south street (about 1/2 mile east of the Junction) and either Vermont Street or Broadway are east-west streets (Broadway goes right through the Junction).

10

Thanks is that North or Southside so I can get the directions from Mapquest? [:)]

NEVER MIND I found it. Thanks again. [:)]

Now another question how would you get from Blue Island to Brighton Park? [:)]

11

What city is Eola yard in & where is the best place to watch from? [:)]

12

FORGET WHAT I SAID, KEEP ON DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO ROCHELLE AND DON’T STOP HERE.

13

Sure it helps a ton to be able to get info from somebody that is there all the time. I already printed it. Thank you very much for your assistance. Maybe I will bump into you there before proceeding to Rochelle. [:)]

[quote user=“eolafan”]

Eola yard is basically in Aurora (there is a small town called Eola which is surrounded by Aurora and Naperville on the far East side of the yard, but I digress) and best place is the intersection of McClure and the BNSF main line. This is on the far west side of the yard and I suggest the Southeast corner of the intersection of McClure and the tracks where you will find a road that goes east from McClure into the yard and right off McClure you will find

14

This post has been deleted to protect the innocent, namely me.

15

OK do not know yet what car I am taking yet but if U see a car with Texas plates I would suspect that would be me.

16

Well this happens on everything I post. I asked about how you get to the dead engine yard in Homewood, and the second post is about Paris Hilton!!! Of all the things, why that skank? So stop changing the subject of the forum topic.

17

One can go from Blue Island to Brighton Park by simply going north on Western Avenue about 80 - 90 blocks. At certain times of the day, that will be quicker than taking the expressway.

Better hurry for Brighton Park. Going, going…

ed

18

Ok, but what is wrong with the highway? 89-90 blocks seems long. Please tell me that they are not city blocks!!!

19

Sorry, Andrew–we are talking city blocks, at eight to the mile. Western Avenue isn’t so bad to navigate in most places, especially when you figure in the construction on the Ryan.

20

Andrew, clearly you are on edge [:(!] and did not REALLY read the post in which I mention Paris Hilton but did NOT really change the subject. I recommended that (essentially) one NOT violate railroad property and END UP LIKE PARIS HILTON…I.E. IN JAIL…that was the intent but it is obvious you did not get it. By the way Andrew, if you want everybody to limit their responses to just the subjects you feel are directly related, you had better chose another forum because it has been proved over and over again that those of us who frequent this form can (and do) go astray once in a while…LIKE IT OR NOT. Having said all of that, I think I will refrain from involvement in any of your posting threads so as not to give you any unnecessary cause for hypertension (or whatever other disease my responses might cause or aggravate in you). [:-^]