This is not my video. I was searching on YouTube for UP 1988 and found one video that I think was very interesting. I have to say this is the fastest yet I’ve seen the 1988 on YouTube. I have to say he’s doing 65 to 70 MPH. What you think. Remember this is not my video. I’ve never been to IL. I just thought it was interesting to see him at this high of speed. Sorry for using your video if your watching.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnBbFOGZyRI
Also where is 1988 at right now?
I’d say he’s doing a good 60-65. Trains don’t usually move that fast down the UP around Chicago period, but that is the hottest train on the line, ZCSLT.
70 MPH is timetable maximum for freight trains through here, so it’s possible (though unlikely, as Robby states) that he was traveling that fast. The location is familiar to me (check my avatar); at the other end of the platform is a decent curve which, though fairly sharp, is well-superelevated and does nothing to interfere with operations.
The 1988 was a visitor to Global 2 this past Friday and Saturday. This westbound must have been from an earlier foray to this end of the railroad. When last I checked (Sunday), the 1988 was closer to the Pacific Coast than it was to Chicago–not bad for one day’s distance!
One of the things that keeps trains from often reaching maximum speed on this line is the fact that they can’t come blowing through a commuter stop at the same time as a Metra train is stopping for passengers. One of the results of planned Metra/UP improvements to take place over the next couple of years is the addition of automatic second-train warning signals that will allow the trains to go through at top speed.
[:)] For all you non rails out there you now have an idea what it is like to do a rollby when either an I train or Z train goes by, but to be honest I would not be standing that close to the mainline Larry