Well, I just got back from a couple day’s trip to Chicago. I’m not one for detailed travelogues but I can tell a boring story along with the best of them. So, if you’re looking to catch some shut-eye, here we go. THE ITINERARY DAY ONE-Metra from Kenosha to Clybourn. Took a bus from Milwaukee. One stop was the Racine Transit Center which is based around the old C&NW depot, partially in anticipation of extending Metra service north from Kenosha. Sadly, those plans have been greatly, well, setback shall we say. Got to Clybourn (the junction of the UP’s ex-C&NW North and Northwest lines from downtown) in time for the evening rush. The station is just platforms but the immediate neighborhood is OK and there is a 7-11 handy for snacks and drinks. Spent a few hours enjoying both many trains and, occasionally, many trains at once. At about 5:30 two inbound and two outbound locals stopped and an outbound express went through. You could have caught them all easily in a single pan shot of no more than two minutes duration if you were recording video. After that, I rode into North Western Station (now called Ogilvie Transportation Center-just not by me) and caught the CTA Green Line to Oak Park. Caught dinner there and watched both CTA and Metra trains on the elevated line through town. Then, back downtown on the CTA and walked to Union Station and Metra’s BNSF line to my hotel in Brookfield. DAY TWO-Up gawdawfulearly to watch the morning inbound rush. I seem to recall reading that BNSF is Metra’s busiest single line? Well, if not it’s gotta be close. Inbound locals & expresses, outbound locals & expresses (empty equipment moves?), a couple of turn arounds and, at the finish, a couple of freight trains, got the day off to a good start. Then, downtown again, back to the UP’s West Line and off to check out suburban Wheaton. A few hours there was much more laid back, with a couple of afternoon Metra trains and 3-4 freights (all outbound-either double stacks or auto carriers). B
Wait!
You spent two days in Chicago.
You visited Union Station and mourned the loss of North Western Station.
But you didn’t take a walk through Dearborn Station?
For shame. [:(]
Rich
lol-LaSalle was on my itinerary last trip. Looks like Dearborn will have to be on the plan for next time.
After the old train shed at Dearborn Station was torn down in the 1970s, the station itself fell into disrepair and just sat there waiting for the wrecker’s ball. But, instead, the building was saved and restored. Today, there are retail shops and restaurants in the first floor lobby. While all of the station tracks are long gone, you can still walk around in that area which is now a park behind the station itself. The station still looks like its old self.
Rich