control box work at Rochelle IL diamonds

STEVEL · April 22, 2008, 2:55pm

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF WORK IS BEING DONE AT THE DIAMONDS AT ROCHELLE , ILLINOIS. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING WEBCAM FOR LAST MONTH AND TODAY THERE IS A CROWD OF RR WORKERS INSTALLING SOMETHING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE VIEWING STAND. STEVEL

eolafan · April 22, 2008, 3:01pm

Not sure as I have not been on the web-cam today but I am willing to bet it is regular maintenance on the diamonds, nothing likely unusual.

al-in-chgo · April 22, 2008, 3:17pm

[#welcome] Welcome! [#welcome]

Ted_Marshall · April 22, 2008, 5:19pm

I noticed on the webcam that the grass is greening up again. That means the leaves will soon return to the trees and we won’t be able to see the eastbound UP’s approaching until they’re right on top of the diamonds.[banghead]

EJE818 · April 22, 2008, 6:13pm

I’ve been noticing BNSF has been doing a lot of work on its mainline at Rochelle lately. Last time I went there they were putting in a new relay case for the grade crossing and there was another new relay box next to the signal bridge right by the park. It makes me wonder if BNSF is going to be replacing some things at Rochelle soon. I also heard a rumor that the pole line along the BNSF could be moved in the future, which would be a huge improvement to the sightline of that line from the park.

CShaveRR · April 22, 2008, 6:51pm

When JoeKoh and I were at the park late last month, we were told by a BNSF signalman that the railroad was rewiring everything to get rid of the DC. I’m not sure what the end result (physical or operational) will be, but it should be a technological improvement. The only thing I remember specifically is that he said they had to tunnel under the UP tracks to lay some of the new wiring.

al-in-chgo · April 22, 2008, 7:19pm

Just a point of information: the BNSF line thru Rochelle is not a main line. That would be the Transcon from Chicago thru Plano, Princeton and Galesburg, which runs about thirty miles south of Rochelle (nearest station stop–Mendota). You certainly can consider the UP’s track a “main line” as it was the old C&NW “Overland Route.” Since UP is an agglomerated megasystem, there may be other routes equally deserving of the main-line designation, though.

joegreen · April 22, 2008, 7:30pm

I happen to know a guy who works on that crew…my dad to be specific. They’re running wires into the houses mainly for the new crossings goin up in Rochelle among other reasons. I believe at least 4 road crossings east of the park will get a new set of gates. That cement house by the gift shop will be removed some time after everything is up and running. The railroad is also suppose to install electricode through there at somepoint in the future which means they will no longer need to run power on the poles…and of course that could possibly result in the removal of the poles. I dont know when they’re talkin about doin that but if i had to guess id say its gonna be awhile.

al-in-chgo · April 22, 2008, 8:07pm

Nothing like getting the inside dope! Thank you for posting! - a.s.

EJE818 · April 22, 2008, 8:48pm

I’m not shocked at all the crossings there are going to be replaced, the one at the park needs to be replaced badly. Autos sometimes hit the rails on that crossing it is so rough. I’d like to see the pole line come down personally. I heard the pole line rumor from the person working the gift shop.

al-in-chgo · April 22, 2008, 9:46pm

Does that mean I won’t get to see the frog move up and down anymore, when BNSF TOFC’s bang over it?? - a. s.

Poppa_Zit · April 22, 2008, 10:32pm

So what constitutes a main line? TRAINS magazine defines it as “The principal running track of a railroad, as contrasted with sidings, spurs, and yard tracks.” I’d say that fits. The C&I once was the main line to the northwest hookup with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route.

The C&I has a Traffic Density of “4” which means it handles 20.0 to 39.9 MGT (gross tons per mile per year). For comparison, the EJE is ranked Density “0” – 0 to 0.9 MGT. The CN northwest line is Density 3 (10.0 to 19.9 MGT) and the CP line is Density 1 (1.0 to 4.9 MGT).

The UP at Rochelle is Density 7 (Over 100 MGT) but that might change because of all the EB traffic that never gets east of Global III.

al-in-chgo · April 22, 2008, 11:16pm

Just a point of information: the BNSF line thru Rochelle is not a main line. That would be the Transcon from Chicago thru Plano, Princeton and Galesburg, which runs about thirty miles south of Rochelle (nearest station stop–Mendota). You certainly can consider the UP’s track a “main line” as it was the old C&NW “Overland Route.” Since UP is an agglomerated megasystem, there may be other routes equally deserving of the main-line designation, though.

So what constitutes a main line? TRAINS magazine defines it as “The principal running track of a railroad, as contrasted with sidings, spurs, and yard tracks.” I’d say that fits. The C&I once was the main line to the northwest hookup with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route.

The C&I has a Traffic Density of “4” which means it handles 20.0 to 39.9 MGT (gross tons per mile per year). For comparison, the EJE is ranked Density “0” – 0 to 0.9 MGT. The CN northwest line is Density 3 (10.0 to 19.9 MGT) and the CP line is Density 1 (1.0 to 4.9 MGT).

The UP at Rochelle is Density 7 (Over 100 MGT) but that might change because of all the EB traffic that never gets east of Global III.

There are two ways (sorry, Mr. Clinton) in this case to define “the.” One singles it out, like “the Mayor of Chicago,” that implies there is none other. One is more figuarative, like “Does the intercity passenger train have a future?” But why bother to say “main line” in either situation, which

Poppa_Zit · April 23, 2008, 1:02am

[D)]

[quote user=“al-in-chgo”]

Just a point of information: the BNSF line thru Rochelle is not a main line. That would be the Transcon from Chicago thru Plano, Princeton and Galesburg, which runs about thirty miles south of Rochelle (nearest station stop–Mendota). You certainly can consider the UP’s track a “main line” as it was the old C&NW “Overland Route.” Since UP is an agglomerated megasystem, there may be other routes equally deserving of the main-line designation, though.

So what constitutes a main line? TRAINS magazine defines it as “The principal running track of a railroad, as contrasted with sidings, spurs, and yard tracks.” I’d say that fits. The C&I once was the main line to the northwest hookup with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route.

The C&I has a Traffic Density of “4” which means it handles 20.0 to 39.9 MGT (gross tons per mile per year). For comparison, the EJE is ranked Density “0” – 0 to 0.9 MGT. The CN northwest line is Density 3 (10.0 to 19.9 MGT) and the CP line is Density 1 (1.0 to 4.9 MGT).

The UP at Rochelle is Density 7 (Over 100 MGT) but that might change because of all the EB traffic that never gets east of Global III.

There are two ways (sorry, Mr. Clinton) in this case to define “the.” One singles it out, like “the Mayor of Chicago,” that implies there is none other. One is more figuarative, like “Does the intercity passenger train have a future?” But why bother

al-in-chgo · April 23, 2008, 2:30am

[quote user=“Poppa_Zit”]
[D)]

[quote user=“al-in-chgo”]

Just a point of information: the BNSF line thru Rochelle is not a main line. That would be the Transcon from Chicago thru Plano, Princeton and Galesburg, which runs about thirty miles south of Rochelle (nearest station stop–Mendota). You certainly can consider the UP’s track a “main line” as it was the old C&NW “Overland Route.” Since UP is an agglomerated megasystem, there may be other routes equally deserving of the main-line designation, though.

So what constitutes a main line? TRAINS magazine defines it as “The principal running track of a railroad, as contrasted with sidings, spurs, and yard tracks.” I’d say that fits. The C&I once was the main line to the northwest hookup with the Great Northern and Northern Pacific. The Empire Builder used to stop in Rochelle on its way to Savanna and the Mississippi River Route.

The C&I has a Traffic Density of “4” which means it handles 20.0 to 39.9 MGT (gross tons per mile per year). For comparison, the EJE is ranked Density “0” – 0 to 0.9 MGT. The CN northwest line is Density 3 (10.0 to 19.9 MGT) and the CP line is Density 1 (1.0 to 4.9 MGT).

The UP at Rochelle is Density 7 (Over 100 MGT) but that might change because of all the EB traffic that never gets east of Global III.

There are two ways (sorry, Mr. Clinton) in this case to define “the.” One singles it out, like “the Mayor of Chicago,” that implies there is none other. One is more figuarative, like “Does the intercity passenger train have a future?”&n

Railway_Man · April 23, 2008, 9:03am

By any definition used in the railroad industry, the BNSF at Rochelle is a main line. It’s not a sloganed route in the present day like the Transcon, the High Line, the Joint Line, the Inside Gateway, etc., but that’s not very important. The slogans are just conveniences and do not imply status, as there are many sloganed main lines with modest traffic and some unsloganed main lines with immense traffic.

Main lines are not routes – they are principal through lines, as opposed to branch lines.

The work at Rochelle sounds like BNSF is installing electrocode and removing the pole line, but I’m just guessing based on the reports above.

RWM

Poppa_Zit · April 23, 2008, 11:53am

I agree. I choose to accept how the railroad industry defines a “main line” because they’d be the one to know best, right? I don’t have time or energy to engage in go-nowhere arguments over the validity of differing opinions.

STEVEL · April 23, 2008, 1:54pm

THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR THE INPUT ABOUT THEWIRING UPGRADE AND GRADE CROSSING WORK. I HOPE TO VISIT THE PARK THIS SUMMER FROM NJ. STEVEL

EJE818 · April 24, 2008, 11:12am

I just saw a video on Youtube where BNSF now has bases for new grade crossing signals up at 9th street by the park, so it looks like that is just a part of the work going on. They are completely replacing the crossing with all new equipment, not just resurfacing it. One thing is for sure though, BNSF isn’t wasting any time with this work.

Modelcar · April 24, 2008, 2:53pm

…Just turned over to the Rochelle cam and it is not showing a picture…Trouble of some kind.