Im looking to get some video of some switching action around Joliet or in will county in general? Any suggestions would be gladly appreciated! Thanks, Dillon
Your best bet for switching action in the Joliet area would be to visit the EJ&E Yard. It is located off of US Route 6 just east of downtown Joliet.
While the action is pretty good, I would be very careful if you decide to go there. Not exactly the best part of town if you get my drift.
Bert
Yes. This would become a much more popular railfan location if Illinois ever decides to become the 50th and final state to legalize concealed carry.
PZ
There’s a better part of Joliet?
There’s one great part, right on the station platform.
Getting there, though…
It’s safer, and alot of action. Was just making a comment on Joliet as a whole. As far as teh J yard goes, the only safe place is on the west(north) end, but they dont work that end. If your lucky, they’ll (the local crew on duty) will let you hang out by the office on the east end. otherwise, you got to find a place to park and walk up the bridge. The bridge is safe, but where you park and getting to it carrying camera equiptment is, well, interesting. You can park on the south side of the bridge, but don’t get to see much of the yard. The local police don’t care much for being there, either. There is some open drug dealing there and any car they don’t recgonize is always suspect.
One place ya don’t wanna go fer sure is the EJE crossing with the Rock Island District line, south of the yard.
What about the old ATSF yard on the north side (or is it S. Lockport?). Only been there once, don’t remeber how to get down in to it, but they didn’t seem to mind us being their as long as we stayed in one place out of the way.
I was once making a sales/marketing call on the EJ&E. Thier guy was giving me driving directiions to their office in Joliet. He said something like “OK, then you’ll be between two prisons, make a left at the next light.”
The directions were accurate.
And the one looks more like a military fort than a prison. Make a left, 1/2 cross the tracks and make first right and follow road around to office on the right, right? or something close? That’s the same prison they did the Blues Bros. in. An old freind of mine looked for that lighter (would have been the road on the N. side) for hours! [(-D]
Wisconsin doesn’t allow concealed carry either.
Thanks Everybody for their input. Snagletooth: I know the yard your talking about, I have actually been their once this past year. Absolutly nothing going on, Switching wise, The location is hard to get too, but its worth it. once you get there, To the left is the EJ&E Lift Bridge #198, and The BNSF goes right under the J as well as the near by CN/IC tracks. The yard is actually quite small, When I was there, There were 2 Locos sitting Near by, a B23-7 and a repainted Geep. But they were’nt doing anything. Now on the other hand, I have been by that EJ&E Yard but only at night, I was crossing The Jackson Street bridge going to Silver cross and I looked down and seen a number of switchers and a loaded UP coal train. I havent been down near the yard so i’ll have to check it out. Once again, Thanks Everybody
Well, good hunting in Joliet. And be safe.