A few days ago, in a thread about access to rail yards, it appeared that Eola, at the crossing of McClure Road, would be the place to go on a Saturday afternoon to meet averybody.
So today, after work, my wife and I took a trip out there. We got there a little after 4:00, and parked south of the crossing. Plenty of action was seen–a couple of dinkies, a westbound Amtrak, some coal, and a manifest apparently doubling up in anticipation of departure. This was all in less than an hour.
But the other action–the crowds of fans I’d expected–didn’t really show up. One older guy in a brown car came, parked, watched for a while, then left without taking out a camera, notepad, or anything I could see. We also saw a mother bringing her blind son to the crossing, where he set up his recording equipment, and would give the universal “sound your horn” sign to the passing trains (which would respond with a couple of extra toots).
So what caused others to stay away in droves? It was hot, all right, but we parked in a way that the breeze went through the car, and it was quite bearable. My wife just read in the book she’d brought along, and I killed some of the time with the August Trains, which arrived today (will this be the subject of another thread?).
I was hoping to meet some of the Forum Regulars out there. You know who you are–how about e-mailing me next time you all plan on going, so we can get together?
Carl,
I noticed it seemed like on the BNSF at Hinsdale it was slower then Heck, I saw 22 Trains in 6 Hours Oh Yes 12 of those were Metra, 6 Freights, 4 Amtrak’s but I did miss 1 Amtrak due to having use the Facilities.
Well I live right down the street and I didn’t know about it. (If anybody sent me an email - my fault cause I haven’t checked my email in a few days.) Funny thing is, I was honestly thinking about heading over there about 4:15 this afternoon (7/1) but decided to do something else instead. Maybe next time…
My excuse is that I haven’t been reading that thread. Oh, and we’re also too busy getting ready to entertain our future son-in-law’s parents on Tuesday (wedding planning get-together).
Actually I was out at Eola yesterday afternoon from about 2:00 to about 3:30 and was all aone as well. It was really hot there and there was not a whole lot of action at the yard or on the main. This is a little unusual for a Saturday afternoon so who knows what happened. I am certain the heat kept a lot of folks away (as I recall it was about 92F). Come out again and you are more than likely going to find lots of us there provided the weather cooperates. I have been there on weekends with nobody but me there and other times with about ten to fifteen cars there…you never can tell from one day to the next.
I shall return sometime. As I said, the heat wasn’t as bad a problem as one might expect–there was a good breeze (and good programming on the radio).
And we stopped for ice cream afterwards at the new place in Downers Grove with a view of the tracks (even though my wife didn’t really need placating!).
Chris (CopCar), with a daughter out in California, I may get to Colorado one way or the other one of these years. I would definitely look a couple of Forum guys up while out that way!
OtherChris (and others)–if I do return on a weekend, I couldn’t get there much before 3:30 or 4:00, since I work until 2:30 or so.
I took a ride out to Eola today. As a regular watcher on the racetrack in Berwyn and the Lagrange/Western Springs area,I found Eola less than impressive.[:(]
Well EXXXCCCCUSSSSSE ME…while I have been to LaGrange and your regular watching area many times myself, I personally find watching left, right and back to left on a mainline also boring as heck (kind of the way it sounds like you found Eola). Seriously now, Eola is a large yard with lots of action from yard switching and set outs and pick ups by mainline freights in addition to the through mainline action that goes on all day and night just like LaGrange and just about any other place on the main, but if you get bored easily and want lots of “little” action between the “big” ones, Eola is a good palce to be. Despite your slap at our sacred place, you are always welcome back.
Rabel, train watching can be a little slow in many areas on a Sunday. Try Eola on a nice sunny sumer Saturday afternoon sometime. Maybe your opinion will be changed.
I was out at Eola Monday afternoon and there were about five cars there with about eight railfans total when I was there from about 1:30 to about 4:00. The traffic was very brisk with quite a few stackers including one from Seattle to LPC (Logistics Park Chicago - near Joliet) via the EJ&E, as well as Metra, Amtrak and lots of switching, coal, etc., etc.
Just goes to show you can’t tell when its going to be very, very busy and when it will not be. You just gotta come on down and take your chances.
eola is a good place for action, 3 mainlines connect there a few miles to the west. and going to paytons place a restored resturant round house buildin with good food and drink. metra yard to east of rest.
oh yes, the ej&e is 2 miles east of west end of eola yard.[:)]
Carl-Feel free to email me next time you head out there and I’ll do my best to meet up with you! We just got another puppy so my trackside time is going to be reuced for a while but I’d like to meet up with you and Jim sometime! Just let me know as the college is closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the summer.