| Does the Iowa Interstate run a “scheldule” type operation? Or are the trains just ordered when needed? I’d like to know when they usually come around the joliet area. I live in shorewood just down the road from the tracks so i’d like to kinda get an idea of when I can catch them. Any info at all would be great! Thanks guys… Dillon Harrison |
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You might find this website informational. iaisrailfans.org When you finally come across an IAIS freight trundleing by, do yourself a favor and close your eyes for a moment, and visualize a set of Maroon and Yellow U-Boat’s to get the full effect…[:)]
As much as I love the Rock, wouldn’t the “full effect” also require immagination more of a deteriorating physical plant, a looming labor dispute, and a looming bankruptcy?
They have a train that heads east in the morning and returns from Blue Island around 7PM at night. When the eastbound arrives in the Joliet area is a function of how many set outs and pick ups it has along the way plus when it can get through the single track in the Joliet station if Metra is there. It was pretty regular to come through New Lenox beteen ten and eleven AM but lately it has been more like seven to eight AM. You can always tell when the end is coming because the next to last cars are a string of tank cars followed by the TOFC flats and well cars. From My experience that is the way it is set up running both directions. I don’t know where the tanks are set out but I believe the flats are in the Princeton illinois area as I remember. I have talked with the crews and they always complain about being underpowered but I have never seen them stall going up the hill in either direction out of New Lenox. Most trains I have seen have three spotless GP38’s on the head end.
Whenever I’ve been able to catch Iowa Interstate at Blue Island Jct., one thing that stands out is that their power is always spotless.