I have several questions about the BNSF and UP Diamond traffic at Rochelle ILL.
#1 How far from diamond is the apposing traffic stopped?
#2 How far past the diamond does rolling traffic go before the waiting traffic is released to enter?
#3 A train is crossing the diamond. A train is approching in the opposite direction. There is traffic waiting for clearance. Who is given priority to cross?
#4 How far back is the first indication that a train is approching the diamond? A-- another train has priority, B-- a train takes priority.
Hi, Spike, great questions all, but some of them yield fairly complex answers. I’d recommend you also post your question on the “Railroad” site at Trains, because it gets a lot more traffic than this site.
No. 1 - opposing traffic: Just for orientation, beyond the crossing, the tracks on the left at the far end of the Rochelle webcam’s scope (which is quite similar to what we humans can see from the RR Park shelter) belong to UP. The bldg. in the middle is or was a cannery, and then the tracks to the far right of the picture are BNSF’s.
Traffic across the diamonds is on a first-come, first-served basis. There used to be a local tower, but it was closed years and years ago, in the 1960s I think. Control routinely now emanates electronically from corporate headquarters in BNSF’s case (Ft. Worth, TX); but I’m not sure if UP directions come from corporate headquarters in Omaha or from somewhere else. Both lines are under CTC. So permission to cross is usually a long-distance affair, except that I’ve seen very occasional exceptions listed below.
You can’t see it from the cam (park), but just west of Rochelle UP owns a newish and HUGE intermodal facility called &q
Thanks for the note of appreciation! My car odometer showed 1,051 mi. from Folkston to Chicago (Northside), so I am definitely in sympathy with the sacrifices of time and travel we are willing to make to cultivate our hobby.
For what it’s worth, on your trip I hope you have time to drive the remaining 75 miles or so eastward to Chicago. The four largest commuter stations are concentrated downtown, pretty close outside the boundaries of the L’s (elevated’s) “Loop.” In fact, the largest terminal, Union Station (which also handles all Amtrak) is pretty much kitty-corner leading from its north-facing platforms across the street into the (ex-CNW) Ogilvie Transportation Center.
If you go online – I think it’s just Metra.com – you can find out not only the schedules but info about the cheap weekend pass, sightseeing points near the lines, etc.
Feel free to e-mail if you’d like to try working out a rendezvous.