Light--more light!

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

(That’s actually the motto of Lawrence University, which my baby girl attended for a couple of years.)

And, given the timing, you might think I’m bemoaning how early it gets dark in the evening, thanks to resumption of standard time.

But it actually happens to do with a sighting I made in broad daylight yesterday. Driving (ugh!) to work, I saw that the gates were down at the Grace Street crossing. This is good–the trains run interference for me to get through that intersection, and I can stop and look if I want to. This time, though, I couldn’t see any trains in either direction right away. As I was moving a little above the speed limit, a pair of UP SD70Ms blew by me from behind. No train, just the two light engines, headed east (toward Proviso).

Then I saw a westbound headlight. As I got to the crossing (just behind those SD70Ms), I saw two former CNW SD40-2s (full UP paint) headed west. No train–just the light engines!

Both of these could have been light movements involving trains traveling west of Rochelle, but crews going on duty or tying up at Proviso. I really don’t have a clue. Unfortunately, though, the railroad didn’t look too efficient at that point!

2

Worked a job once where we took light power to West Chicago to pick up empty hoppers off of the J. We got the train together, did our airtest, and headed West. A few miles along we get this call saying we need to go back to West Chicago - seems we missed some cars that had been buried on one of the tracks. [:I][oops]

3

You sure someone didn’t steal them cars? [;)]

4

Global 3 may not yet be established as a crew basing point so crews have to come out of Proviso. There was a similar set-up on BNSF for the UPS Willow Springs facility where power would deadhead to and from Corwith.

5

Could they be light moves between West Chicago & Proviso related to auto racks? I don’t know how those trains are handled normally, but it is new model introduction time.