I’m starting to see stack trains on the EJE. I saw a stack train going south on the “J” in Aurora (IL) on a Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago. I thought that it was a little strange and might have been due to congestion. This morning (Sunday) I picked up a northbound BNSFstack train entering the connection to the BNSF Eola yard at Liberty St in Aurora at @10:30. After the engines and part of the train past, I drove over to the east end of Eola Yard and watched the train come off the connection and enter Eola Yard. Does anybody have any idea why the BNSF is running stack trains over the “J”?? Are these run-through from CSX/NS? I don’t believe that they could be connecting to the old ATSF/Willow Springs or Corwith Yard at Joliet because there isn’t a proper connection with the “J” there (or is there?)
Also worth mentioning is after I finished watching the BNSF stack train and running a few quick errands, I was headed back to my house on Liberty St and as I approached the “J” crossing, down came the gates. About 20min after the BNSF stack train had cleared the “J” main an empty northbound UP coal hopper train - with DPU - came rolling through. To me that’s the best kind of railfanning. Two trains in a half-hour at a location that doesn’t have a high volume of rail traffic when you’re not even out railfanning in the first place.
Chris, I also live near the J and see or hear lots of trains lately going both North and South. I also have seen BNSF and UP stack trains and just yesterday saw a Southbound UP empty auto rack train on the J.
I believe the BNSF tains are headed for the new intermodal terminal in Joliet at the old****nal complex in order to avoid Cicero’s Clyde yard. I also believe the UP trains are coming through on the J in order to avoid a lengthly wait to get into Proviso yard…you likely have seen many UP trains stacked up coming East waiting to get into Proviso, so I think they block solid trains for points East of Chicago and in order to save big amounts of time they simply run them South and East on the J.
Anybody out there agree or disagree with my theory?
However, the auto-rack trains are sent by UP to an interchange with the CN directly at Griffith, Indiana.
And the coal trains go to the power plant at Plaines (Midwest Generation, formerly ComEd), probably at the rate of one a day or better.
Interesting to see that BNSF uses the J for some moves, too–I’m curious as to why trains would have to do that to get to “Logistics Park” (I’m not sure I’m allowed to say “arsenal”), unless they’re coming from up north. Intermodal from anywhere west (to almost coin a phrase) could switch over to the former ATSF via the Cameron Connection west of Galesburg.
Jim (EolaFan) has a point. I forgot about the new BNSF Joliet Facility. The stack trains that would be using the “J” are trains that probably run via the C&I line to Minnesota and points west. Where’s the connection to the ATSF then?
The normal routing for the UP auto racks is the IHB directly to Griffith. UP primarily uses the “J” for movements to a few power plants and also for trains that can be routed via the “J” to avoid any Chicago area congestion and/or the Metra morning/evening rush. I’ve never seen a UP stack train on the “J” south of W Chicago (UP has used the “J” main to park some stack trains in the past).
I think there is a line that runs north from Galesburg, and connects to the C&I somewhere around Savana. The trains then connect to the SF at Galesburg.
When did that happen. I just got back from camping not to far from Streator. Did it happen at the junction?
As for UP autoracks, I ahev seen a few of them while railfanning on The J. I have even seen Canadian Nationla once in West Chicago on the J tracks. It was a coal train. SD50F and a Dash9-44CWL. I don’t want to see the BNSF use the EJ&E tarcks. Their is already an oarenge company using the line. [;)] I have seen some pretty weird stuff on the J in the last few months. I have seen a Norflok Southern engine leading a UP autorack, which is rare al together, and once, in Janurary, I saw a UP SD70M, CSX C40-8. and NS Dash9-40C.
up wanted to buy the eje but got too much oppisition from locals as they were going to build a connecting track in west chicago. a lot of house and buisnesses were to be torn down as a result !!
-I don’t think the BNSF stack trains on the “J” are a result of any derailment as I’ve seen two over a two week time frame. That would have to be a big cleanup. Maybe a derailment/maintenance project combo. I’m still not sure.
-The connecting track still got built in W. Chicago. Not the way the UP wanted it originally, but in hindsight what they have now is probably better than what they wanted in the first place.
-W Chicago does/did run a string of empty auto racks to Gibson Yard when needed over the “J”. Also there is/was ADVPR (Denver-Proviso) (I don’t know if still runs) that operates once, or twice, a week. ADVPR would always seem to get to W Chicago shortly before the afternoon scoot rush. So the powers to be would yard the train at WC, drop the Proviso block (the Belvidere Turn or LPJ02 Proviso transfer would pick it up later) and tack on as many empty auto racks as possible and then head east on the “J” to Gibson Yard.
-CN runs coal trains over the “J” from Munger to Gary, IN. One to three last I heard. I’m not sure if the empties go back the same way. Also, last I heard, the CN coal movements handled by “J” cres and power. Maybe that has changed.