Hello everyone. Just got a question on the UP mainline that runs up by De kalb and Rochelle. I believe Its the old Northwestern Line? Anyways, I was headed west on I-88 around 9, 9:30 this morning and I was looking over at the mainline. For about 8 or 9 miles I seen stoped Stacks, Atleast 4 or 5 of them fairly close together. Just wondering why this would happen? If this had something to do with global III? Just curious… Dillon Harrison
Depends on which way they were haeaded Eastbounds would most likely be bound for Global 1 or 2 or a connecting road in Chicago. Westbounds may be waiting to get into Global 3 or just waiting to cross the BNSF in Rochelle or the could be doing track work in the area so only one track is open. Those are my best guesses any way
They were all headed eastbound. They were all also there when I was comig back home on 88, 45 minutes later! All the same trains for sure. When I was returning there was also then a long autorack as well.
I’m not sure exactly what kind of curfew is followed during Metra’s rush hour, but you might have seen the logjam before breakup. It’s been known to happen.
(I’m surprised that with “action” like that you didn’t get off 88 and take 38 back east for a while!)
I would have!
mmmmm Yes that could very well be it, Although it was a little after 9.
How many times do we each wish we could get off of the highway and “railfan” for a while but our business or personal schedules prohibit that (it usually happens just when you see something interesting to watch, and when there is nothing interesting you seem to have all the time in the world!).
Sometimes this ex-CNW, now UP “Overland Route,” at least between DeKalb and Rochelle, gets clogged simply from high traffic levels. The trains stop or slow for the same reason that a crowded urban freeway makes traffic slow or stop: it simply is unsafe to go any faster too near the next train (or vehicle).
Happy 'fanning! - al
Yep, sounds like the Metra morning rush got everything jammed up. With Metra west line service now extended out to Elburn the trains waiting to get into the Chicago area have to wait even further out. Sometimes it’s not that easy to get it unjammed. The four stack trains that you saw were waiting to get into / through Global 2.5 (DeKalb). I’m guessing that there were probably some trains parked at Global 3.5 (Nelson) as well.
CC
Tell me about it. It’s always when I’m doing something else really important that the best opportunities seem to present themselves. Of course, by the time I notice them it’s too late anyway.