Grade out of Hill Yard - Aurora, IL

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Every time I am at Eola train watching and see an eastbound Metra train come up the “hill” from Hill Yard (named after James J. Hill no doubt) I have wondered how severe the grade is coming out of the yard and onto the BNSF mainline to Chicago. From where I park and watch the action it certainly looks like they are climbing quite a grade for a short time coming onto the main from the yard. Does anybody know how steep the grade actually is?

2

I was good in English, but I stunk in math. I’m on the road and don’t have a calculator – plus, I am t0o dysfunctional to use the one built into Windows. [:D]

But here are the details and someone smarter than me can figure out the grade(s). All elevations are in feet above sea level, +/- one foot:

  • Loading platform elevation, Aurora 646 ft.
  • Center of Metra storage yard, 0.45 miles EB down line 658 ft.
  • Entrance to Metra Yard, 0.28 miles EB 666 ft.
  • Wood Street overpass, 0.17 miles EB 679 ft.
  • Ohio Street overpass, 0.22 miles EB 680 ft.
  • Farnsworth Avenue, 0.
3

Thanks for the info. PZ. I seem to recall a story a few years back about a car getting away from a switch move going on in the “west” yard that ended up rolling along the main then down the hill into the Metra yard, down the Metra loading track along side the station platforms, through the bumper post at end of track and coming to rest in the motel parking lot near the station. Now I know why.

4

How does the grade on the BNSF coming up, out of the Fox River Valley compare to other railroads in the area? I have some paperwork that shows the grades on th UP Geneva Sub west of Geneva, but not east. The EB UP climbs up, out of the Fox River Valley from just east of the river to about Roosevelt Rd. It’s a short quick climb, but also one of the reasons that the UP prefers to use DP on the coal trains. PZ, got anything in regards to the elevation changes on the UP?

CC

5

OK. Here we go, same +/- as above:

  • Randall Road 741 ft.
  • Geneva Metra station 702 ft.
  • Kirk Road 755 ft.
  • West Chicago yard 751 ft.
  • EJE diamond 758 ft.
  • West Chicago detector 740 ft.
6

[quote user=“Poppa_Zit”]

OK. Here we go, same +/- as above:

  • Randall Road 741 ft.
  • Geneva Metra station 702 ft.
  • Kirk Road 755 ft.
  • West Chicago yard 751 ft.
  • EJE diamond 758 ft.
  • West Chicago detector
7

Not responsive to the question about grades but I found this on the internet while trying to find the answer:

http://hometown.aol.com/chirailfan/amtkqbn.html

Dave Nelson

8

Thanks, PZ. The elevation changes for the UP Geneva sub make sense - all of the low spots are near river crossings - except for the W. Chicago Yard. The EB grade out of the Fox River Valley tops out near Roosevelt Rd. I didn’t realize that there was a dropoff back down into the W. Chicago Yard.

CC

9

Years ago, I bought an altimeter for my truck to use mainly for entertainment when driving through the mountains. It’s been fun to play with.

Obviously, it works via barometric pressure… you set it to a known elevation and go from there. You can get those elevations online as they list them for just about all airports.

You can buy a model to fit your budget and needs here:

The Altimeter Store

PopZ

10

Fantastic. Thanks!