Going to WC tomorrow for business and I wont be too far from JB Tower.
What are the frequencies for the lines thru town? My CORA map shows a BNSF branch, but looking at Wikimap (aerial view) it appears to be abandoned.
It has been years since I was at JB and I would like a couple of shots for the archives. Any suggestions for parking, photos, etc?
ed
Ed
just southeast of the tower there is an office building with some parking available.We got a up local some metra and a up coal train coming east then turning south on the EJ&E when we were with Carl in march.
stay safe
joe
No BNSF branch active anywhere near the West Chicago tower for many years now. When I go there I usually park in the gravel spot right behind the tower (that would be North of the tower along the EJ&E main), but don’t walk around out side of your car as they get kind of nervous there about safety (and rightly so with all the trains), you will find that area shaded by trees and in good visual range of the U.P. main line). Another parking spot has been near in the lot owned by the jewelery business about 100 feet from the diamonds but sometimes they don’t want anybody parking there and have had signs saying “parking for jewelery store only”…so watch out. Have fun!
With any luck you’ll be able to park on Washington Street northeast of the tracks, not too far from the tower. The place I took Joe and Matt was on Wood Street, just across the tracks and to the left.
The BNSF still runs into West Chicago, but stops short of its former crossing with the EJ&E–they still serve General Mills there. One can see where it went through to connect with the UP–historically, this was the first rail junction west of Chicago.
Are you around at all in the afternoon, Ed?
Carl, thanks for the clarification on the BNSF in West Chicago…goes to show we all learn something new every day.
I’d suggest the area along the UP mainline to park, I’ve heard EJ&E really doesn’t like people hanging out by the tower so stay well clear of the tracks and tower, stay near the roads and you shouldn’t have any problems. You can park and walk over to the diamond area and get good views of both mainlines through the junction. The UP is normally busy but you have to be pretty lucky to see a EJ&E powered train that far north, there are probably more UP and BNSF trains than EJ&E’s own trains.
UP main freq = 160.89
CC
Carl:
Not sure.
Hopefully all will go well and the project will be done quickly.
ed
I was at JB Tower today for about 45 minutes today and was fortunate to see a SB BNSF coal train on the J, followed by a WB stack, EB spine train carrying empty UP trailer chassis, and finally a EB Metra.
Very interesting locale with the tower, street crossings, yard, and activity.
Thanks for the info.
ed