For those of you who simply can’t forget those beautiful and great sounding E-9 units running back and forth on the (then) BN “racetrack” to Aurora back in the days before the F40 and MP units arrived, you will surely appreciate this eleven minute piece of video shot by an unknown railfan (great job if you are reading this). There are also some other interesting and rare shots from around the Chicago area. Enjoy!
Thanks great find! I loved watching those trains as a kid
Thanks Eolafan! Wish the sound could have picked up the growl of E’s a little better, but still a great video. I remember downtown Aurora being covered in smoke every morning rush from them units. You could here them all the way over on Highland Ave. The SD38-2/GP38-2 on the Ottowa Job sounded nice. Miss the SD45’s They’d open them up at the depot and really smoke it up.
Thanks, again. great find
Thanks Jim I would never have found this but for your mention and link. Great memories of the Es at Eola, Naperville and elsewhere. This guy had other lucky sightings too.
Dave Nelson
Dave, don’t forget that invitation to join us at Eola one warm day this spring or summer!
Warm day? What’s that? [;)]
Seriously, Jim, thanks for the renewed invite. There is a railroadiana show at College of Dupage in a few weeks and another one at St Charles early in the summer. Both are good chances to follow up with Eola railfanning. I have a new digital camera I need to learn how to use …
Dave
Actually April 6 may work out for me…as we get closer to April 6 if the day’s weather promises to be fairly decent let’s plan on it.
I remember those Es at Omahas Burlington Station along with the CGWS F units on thier Twin Cities passenger trains I always thought that that silver paint on them was really sharp I rode behind them a couple of times I remember riding the Nebrasak Zepher and the ARK SAN BEN zepgher Tghanks for the video Larry
We actually got to enjoy your BN E’s for awhile in the Mid-Atlantic region, when they were running between Baltimore-Washington-Brunswick MD. They never repainted them, but did reletter them with a white MARC.
BTW, anyone know what happened to BN’s executive F’s? The ones that were painted in the Dark green and creme with chrome BN.
All three of the executive units (2 Fs, 1 E9) are at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. BN 1 is a semi-regular on the museum’s coach train.
Mystery solved. Thanx 9911.
I remember when #9902 was brought up to the WC Shops here in town for body repair and some prime mover repair work. What a rust bucket! Took about 3 weeks just to do the rust repair, IIRC.
There was a rumor that WC was bidding to do all the work on the E’s, but nothing ever came of it, except for the 9902.
Ah those bring back memories, my grandfather used to take me down to Chicago to watch those Es whenever he came to town, thought I should have an education in first generation power while it was still around, smart man. I wish I’d been around to see the true glory days of Chicago commuter trains though, with Milwaukee’s Twin Cities Hiawatha, the CNW 400s and Bi-levels, also IC, PRR, South Shore, North Shore and others!
I’ve also seen the exec BN’s down at the IRM, maybe somewhere I’ve got a picture or two, I’ve always been more partial to pictures of that beautiful Burlington E5 they have there and the Electroliner. If anyone who hasn’t been there yet either lives in Northern IL, Southern WI or is going to be in the area, it’s very worth the trip!
Cheers!
~METRO