Ok, I’ve read all the Rochelle info on the trains.com site, and visited the railfan park site and Rochelle’s city site. Does anybody have any additional tips or info I can use?
I’m planning on going up there Monday, so now there’s an 80% chance I’ll be there (look for me on the webcam), and hopefully a 100% chance of UP 1995, that awesome CNW. I’ve heard that the duo plus one was split up, but seeing the heritage unit new is still worth it enough to me since I’ve seen 1982 and 1988. Info appriciated!
Yes, the 8701 has been separated from the 1995 and 8646. Those two are due to return today, I think, so there’s a good chance that they’ll also be through there on Monday, probably late morning.
E me, if you want–don’t know what other info you could possibly need.
global 3 the largest container yard on any rr has 1300 acres, and is hard to see except for 2 areas i like.
less than 2 miles from town on rt 38 west, take a left(south) and follow road half mile you come to the “circle” right across from the middle of glob 3.sometimes you can see the operations taking place right in front of you.cool. dont walk on tracks as security is there and will arrest you.
say 5 miles west of town a new bridge is built over the 4 track main at main entrance,by flagg. i rode my bike there and got great pix of 3 of 4 mains loaded up. with big lens 500-1000 mm can get pix of the yard
from bridge. you can see lot of action going on in yard. i can see bnsf trains crossing diamond with lens so i dont miss any to log in log.
bnsf has yard south east of town, just follow the bnsf tracks. lots of activity in that area at times. 3 million sq ft logistics freezer warehouse there where frenchfries are king. new ethanol plant out that way is going to make fuel out of corn squeezins. in future unit corn n tankers will originate youner.
davis jctn to north of roch has a ice engine or 2 in yard at times. ice main…old cmspp main.
railnet may have a switcher north of roach on bnsf main/branch.
30 miles south mendota il. has a great rr musuem, cb&q 2-8-2 steam, and wooden 1900 cabose made in auora il. also a fantastic ho layout of mendota in early 1900s. 3 rrs at mendota once,now bnsf.
6 amtracks a day thru mend, 4 stop,plus 20 frts. plenty or resturants,ect. cleaner town than roach.
enjoy!!!
I’d say you can get some better photos in the afternoon by going on the opposite side of the diamonds (the sun angle is better), so try that. I might see you there.
Having never been to Rochelle in person, can’t speak from personal experience – but as someone who has spent many days with the Rochelle webcam up on my screen while working, I can safely say that at least on weekdays, looks like afternoon is the busy time there – especially with the BNSF. Hope to get there some day – in the afternoon.
You mentioned Mendota in your post, and it reminded me about the webcam they used to have there at the depot. Do you, or anyone else, know if there are any plans to bring that cam back? Was nothing like the Rochelle cam, but used to have fun watching the Amtrak trains come through (used to be able to catch the Southwest Chief on the Ft. Madison cam, then later in the afternoon on the Mendota cam, if it wasn’t running too late).
For that matter, any knowedgeable Illinois fans know anything about the Galesburg webcam, the one that used to be at Willis Steel, and was then moved atop some building downtown? The new one was down most of the time, and then disappeared altogether.
Can’t say I have that problem. I’m addicted to them, not allergic to them. We’re still getting the plan’s kinks worked out, but I plan on trying to make the trip up there. It looks awful windy up there today on the webcam, sure is doing a lot of shaking! Did anybody see the CNW go by today, or has it made it up there yet? I believe it went through around 1:30, since it left Cortland (DeKalb) at 14:44. I hope it scoots through there on Monday, I’d like to catch it in DeKalb, but I might have to pick one.
AAR Channel 62 is UP’s frequency. I don’t know BNSF’s offhand, but they’re posted at the pavilion–where there’s a scanner that receives both frequecies better than my own scanner.
You may have to forget about 1995–it may be taken off the CB runs after this trip.
Cortland at 1444, huh? It’s taking its sweet time about getting here!
Have any idea what train they’re throwing it on after that? That’s really all I wanna see up there, I can catch BNSF and UP power a half mile from my house, I just thought I’d try a new location with the hopes of a rare unit.
CNW 8701 Empty Arrived Mason City, IA July 27 4:00 Scheduled Arrival South St. Paul, MN July 27 20:06
So, 8701 already headed off to the Twin Cities, are the other two to follow suit and join it? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow for sure. I hope they hang in on that Council Bluffs run for a few more days.
Nice to know that I’m not the only person who knows about Bush Grove Rd just west of Rochelle. A couple of addidtional tips on this location: you need to get out of your vehicle and climb up the small hill to track level to appreciate the view and there is no shade to be found anywhere. So if you’re going to be out there this upcoming Monday when the tempature is supposed to soar to around 100 degress - suntan lotion/water.
Went in latter May - froze in the shade, died in the sun. It was very windy in the pavillion where the shade is, so a jacket in other than the dead of summer would be required. Driver was in shorts and found it a tad cold.
If you are watching strictly UP, they come and go fairly slow and easy. The BNSF runsthroughtherereallyquick!
You can park in the shade on the side streets, if you can find a place or in the full sun in the parking lot. It is a busy place, but for the dedicated rail fan, it is well worth the trip. Plus the town of Rochelle is nice. Very small town feeling, but a nice town.
There is electric power under the shelter and I’m sure it would operate a fan if someone brought one. That’s what I’ve done in the past to make it more bearable if there is no cooling breeze on miserably hot days.