CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Illinois.
fr8train
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CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

Hello, I just moved to Illinois from Wyoming, where most of the trains I saw were Union Pacific, with the occasional BNSF. Now that I've been here a little while I've been to Rochelle a number of times, but most of the trains through there are UP or BNSF. I know Illinois has a little bit of everything, but a lot of the best junctions are in questionable neighborhoods, or in areas not friendly to railfans.

I'd really like to see more CSX, CN, NS and anything else different. And where are odds higher to see mixed freight cars, rather than intermodal or coal trains. I've never caught Canadian wheat hoppers, I assume they're on CN lines?

Here is a CSX engine from Ottawa, Illinois, from this afternoon, but the area doesn't seem very busy in terms of traffic. Is there any area that's busy like Rochelle, but with CSX or CN, and safe? Hope that made sense, thanks to anyone who read through this.
Image

And here's a Operation Lifesaver engine from Wyoming from this April, just beacuse :)
Image

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MP73point4
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by MP73point4 »

Where in IL are you and how far do you want to travel?
Here's a couple suggestions to get you started.
http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/
http://www.chicagorailfan.com/watching.html
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fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

MP73point4 wrote:Where in IL are you and how far do you want to travel?
Here's a couple suggestions to get you started.
http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/
http://www.chicagorailfan.com/watching.html
I'm in Ottawa, I wouldn't mind traveling a bit, but the closer the better. Thanks for the links.

CSX_CO
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by CSX_CO »

If you like odd cars, Dolton, IL is your best bet. Wide variety of freights, but more importantly the NS bottle train should come through.

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

CSX_CO wrote:If you like odd cars, Dolton, IL is your best bet. Wide variety of freights, but more importantly the NS bottle train should come through.
How safe and accessible is Dolton, and how does the railroad park in Matteson compare to Rochelle?

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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by CSX_CO »

fr8train wrote:
CSX_CO wrote:If you like odd cars, Dolton, IL is your best bet. Wide variety of freights, but more importantly the NS bottle train should come through.
How safe and accessible is Dolton, and how does the railroad park in Matteson compare to Rochelle?
Park in the lot of the Dolton Police. I never felt in danger in Dolton, but I wouldn't go too far north on the UP around there.

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

Has anyone else caught these cars before in the area? I've never seen them.
Image

Image

GTW6401
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by GTW6401 »

Try Joliet for CN.

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ConrailMan5
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by ConrailMan5 »

fr8train wrote:Has anyone else caught these cars before in the area? I've never seen them.
Image

Image
Yes, they come through Michigan on CP trackage rights trains every so often. See my avatar
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fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

GTW6401 wrote:Try Joliet for CN.
Will have to check it out, thanks.
ConrailMan5 wrote: Yes, they come through Michigan on CP trackage rights trains every so often. See my avatar
Nice, I did some searching and found this CP junction:
http://www.trainweb.org/midrail/railfan/il_rondout.html
Has anyone been there? Are there better places to catch CP trains in Illinois? What's their main line for grain? Franklin Park looks interesting as well.
http://www.cpr.ca/en/our-markets/grain
This map isn't too exact.

Does it matter what day you go? Sorry for all the noob questions.

GreatLakesRailfan
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by GreatLakesRailfan »

fr8train wrote:
ConrailMan5 wrote: Yes, they come through Michigan on CP trackage rights trains every so often. See my avatar
Nice, I did some searching and found this CP junction:
http://www.trainweb.org/midrail/railfan/il_rondout.html
Has anyone been there? Are there better places to catch CP trains in Illinois? What's their main line for grain? Franklin Park looks interesting as well.
http://www.cpr.ca/en/our-markets/grain
This map isn't too exact.

Does it matter what day you go? Sorry for all the noob questions.
There was a link posted a few threads up with a guide to most of the major Chicago area junctions. That's one of your best bets for solid information for the Chicago area. A few years ago, when I was living out there, I also got a fair amount of information from the IlliniRail list on Yahoo, especially regarding current events and happenings.
~ Charles W.

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

GreatLakesRailfan wrote: A few years ago, when I was living out there, I also got a fair amount of information from the IlliniRail list on Yahoo, especially regarding current events and happenings.
I sent a request for membership there. Thanks for the information. :)

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

Okay, so I've been to Chesterton, IN and Franklin Park, IL. Chesterton was good, while mostly NS, I caught two CN trains and saw a lot of cars I've never seen before from the east coast. A lot of manifest trains, I think that's what they're called, which is what I like seeing the most. Franklin Park wasn't that great, maybe it was because I was there on a Sunday, things were pretty slow. It's supposed to be CP's mainline I think, but I only saw two NS trains there, though one, the manifest, was pulling some interesting grain cars, including an old blue "Pillsbury" car.

Image

Does anyone know which days are best for manifest trains, which areas?

Matt Short Line H
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by Matt Short Line H »

fr8train wrote:Hello, I just moved to Illinois from Wyoming, where most of the trains I saw were Union Pacific, with the occasional BNSF. Now that I've been here a little while I've been to Rochelle a number of times, but most of the trains through there are UP or BNSF. I know Illinois has a little bit of everything, but a lot of the best junctions are in questionable neighborhoods, or in areas not friendly to railfans.

I'd really like to see more CSX, CN, NS and anything else different. And where are odds higher to see mixed freight cars, rather than intermodal or coal trains. I've never caught Canadian wheat hoppers, I assume they're on CN lines?



And here's a Operation Lifesaver engine from Wyoming from this April, just beacuse :)
Image
Blue Island, IL is a great place to see assortments of locomotives and freight. CSX, CN, IHB & IAIS all own lines there but you could see all 7 Class I RR's power there.

P.S.: Great shot of the Ex CNW AC4400CW and I love how it wasnt repainted when it got PTC.
"You want to be original, you want to be yourself, and whether that's accepted or not accepted, that's not as important as being you" - Tyler Hubbard, Half of Duo Florida Georgia Line

Matt Short Line H
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by Matt Short Line H »

Here is a map of BI.
Attachments
blumap.jpg
"You want to be original, you want to be yourself, and whether that's accepted or not accepted, that's not as important as being you" - Tyler Hubbard, Half of Duo Florida Georgia Line

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railohio
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by railohio »

fr8train wrote:Has anyone else caught these cars before in the area? I've never seen them.
Yes, they are used for Canadian grain traffic and are fairly common on CP and CN main lines:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8495951565

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8454198193

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8455293918

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8454093845
"I shot the freight train / But I did not shoot the fantrip"

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railohio
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by railohio »

fr8train wrote:Okay, so I've been to Chesterton, IN and Franklin Park, IL. Chesterton was good, while mostly NS, I caught two CN trains and saw a lot of cars I've never seen before from the east coast.
CN does not operate through Chesterton; do you mean CP instead? If not, then you likely saw CN power on NS trains.

It's supposed to be CP's mainline I think, but I only saw two NS trains there,
Likely NS power running through on CP trains. I saw it on two eastbound CP trains this morning.

though one, the manifest, was pulling some interesting grain cars, including an old blue "Pillsbury" car.
They have SOO reporting marks now and are part of the regular CP pool:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8454200725/
"I shot the freight train / But I did not shoot the fantrip"

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

Matt Short Line H wrote: Blue Island, IL is a great place to see assortments of locomotives and freight. CSX, CN, IHB & IAIS all own lines there but you could see all 7 Class I RR's power there.

P.S.: Great shot of the Ex CNW AC4400CW and I love how it wasnt repainted when it got PTC.
Looks promising, how safe and accessible is it? I'm a bit leery about a lot of the southern suburbs as it's pretty easy to end up in the ghetto down there. Thanks btw, here's another shot from Wyoming 8)
Image
Yeah I finally saw some in Chesterton and in Franklin Park, I still haven't seen the Saskatchewan or Alberta cars however. I'll have to get out more :)
railohio wrote: CN does not operate through Chesterton; do you mean CP instead? If not, then you likely saw CN power on NS trains.

Likely NS power running through on CP trains. I saw it on two eastbound CP trains this morning.

They have SOO reporting marks now and are part of the regular CP pool:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/railohio/8454200725/
Interesting. That must have been what was going on.

I'm 25 and a bit of a noob, I'm trying to learn as much as I can from those more knowledgeable than myself, thanks for the info.

Matt Short Line H
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by Matt Short Line H »

fr8train wrote:
Matt Short Line H wrote: Blue Island, IL is a great place to see assortments of locomotives and freight. CSX, CN, IHB & IAIS all own lines there but you could see all 7 Class I RR's power there.

P.S.: Great shot of the Ex CNW AC4400CW and I love how it wasnt repainted when it got PTC.
Looks promising, how safe and accessible is it? I'm a bit leery about a lot of the southern suburbs as it's pretty easy to end up in the ghetto down there. Thanks btw, here's another shot from Wyoming 8)
Image

Robbins, which is not a great area is right next to it. Blue Island is a safe spot I guess. I have never had a problem with the people there. It is readily accessible from the crossing. There are is a spot on either side of the crossing. Hope this helps.
"You want to be original, you want to be yourself, and whether that's accepted or not accepted, that's not as important as being you" - Tyler Hubbard, Half of Duo Florida Georgia Line

fr8train
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Re: CSX, CN and where to find odd railcars...

Unread post by fr8train »

Matt Short Line H wrote: Robbins, which is not a great area is right next to it. Blue Island is a safe spot I guess. I have never had a problem with the people there. It is readily accessible from the crossing. There are is a spot on either side of the crossing. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the feedback. How busy is it to someplace like Rochelle?

Is there anyway, online or otherwise, to predict where and when what trains will be? I noticed that train frequencies are listed online, how useful is getting a radio?

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