I seem to recall a new(er) railfan park, similar to Rochelle, in the south Chicagoland suburbs…I believe it is either Homewood or something like that. I am taking a day of vacation on Friday and would like to visit this spot. Has anyone been there yet and what can you tell me about location, safety, train frequency, etc., etc.? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Safety is of no concern. Homewood is a very safe area. It is a small pavillion less than half the size of Rochelle on the east side of the tracks so you would want to go there in the morning and move over to the amtrak station platform about one block north in the PM for sun and picture lighting reasons. If you are not familiar with the area I would get off at the Dixie Highway exit after going through the 161st Street tollbooth. Take it south about one to two miles. It will be paralleling the IC main at that point. Go down the hill and go under the railroad bridge and make an immediate right on the east side of the bridge. That will take you up to a stop sign at Ridge Road. Just pass the buildings on the south side of Ridge Road is a public parking lot. Do not be tempted to use the commuter lot on the railroad side as they will tow you. After parking walk south about one block looking for the pavillion on the west side of Harwood Ave. When you leave take Ridge Road east to the first traffic light and turn left and keep going straight when the main road turns left. That will take you to the Woodcrest Engine facilities. You never know what shows up there and the railroad personnel are friendly toward railfans. When the road deadends into the dispatch center turn left and go a couple of hundred yards and turn left into the main parking lot. you can drive west over to rhe ready tracks and then continue north alongside them and turn east at the north end of the lot to come back out to the street. When that street deadends at the north end turn left and go under the tracks. Turn left at the first street and an almost immediate right to go back up onto the TriState.
My 16 yr old nephew has brought this up to me. He is a Cubs fan and we have struck a deal if he does well in school next yr and is still interested, I’ll take him to a Cubs game plus a sidetrip to Homewood but it won’t be until 2010. Let us know how this park is as I need the info and atleast I’ll have a yr to get a plan together. Then on the othr hand, I have a 6 yr old nephew who is just getting into trains and I’ve been promosing him since last summer I would take him around town to watch trains and that has yet to be done and I need to get in gear on that move.