Railfanning on the CP Elgin Sub

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Blaze06
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Railfanning on the CP Elgin Sub

Unread post by Blaze06 »

So if you don’t know about the Elgin Sub, it’s a line originally owned by the Milwaukee Road running from Chicago to Elgin which is now owned by Metra and they use that as their Milwaukee District West Line (MDW). However, Canadian Pacific runs freight trains through the line and action is very well, complicated. You see the line was (and kind of is) pretty busy with freight traffic but after the Soo Line takeover of Milwaukee Road and later the CP purchase of Soo in the early 90s, things were still solid. But then in the late 90s a new regional railroad took over known as the Iowa Chicago and Eastern (IC&E). But in the late 2000s CP bought IC&E and it’s owner DM&E (Dakota Minnesota and Eastern) and freight traffic is relatively “interesting”these days. CP runs two daily manifests on the line which are 253 (westbound from Bensenville to Nahant, Iowa) and 252 (eastbound variant from Nahant to Bville). There are also tanker trains (547/546) and sand/potash trains (forgot the numbers) that are sadly as needed and are unpredictable so getting these guys is tough. 252 normally runs late at night and can get to Bville around 3-4am while 253 normally leaves Bville between 2-4pm so that’s probably the only train you can easily get honestly. Other than that, you need to be in the right place at the right time in order to get these guys! Good luck!
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GreatLakesRailfan
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Re: Railfanning on the CP Elgin Sub

Unread post by GreatLakesRailfan »

In the late 2000's I lived about 5 miles north of Elgin for a while. I remember the pair of trains now numbered 252/253, but that was it for freight that I was able to catch. I recall CN running even fewer trains over the ex-Chicago Central between Munger and Rockford in the same time period, although I was eventually able to catch a couple trains on the CN in decent light. If I recall correctly, it's hard to get good shots of trains on the Elgin Sub in the Elgin area, but once you get out west beyond (Illinois) Route 47, there's less clutter between the road and the railroad track.

The thing I remember most from when I moved out there was the disappointment in just how few (freight) trains there were to see in the daylight in the extreme NW Chicago suburbs. Even the UP line to Belvidere was dead as the Chrysler plant was shut down for several months during that time period. It got better as time went on and the economy picked back up out there, but for a while it was really hard to find trains to watch when I wasn't working.
~ Charles W.

Blaze06
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Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:25 pm
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Re: Railfanning on the CP Elgin Sub

Unread post by Blaze06 »

Yeah the Freeport Sub as far as daily stuff goes is complicated as M337 (WB) is the only thing you can really get but that’s unpredictable and I tried to get last weekend but changed my mind bc of a BC Rail Dash 9 on A490 which travels on the “main” part of CN’s operations in Chicago which is the former EJ&E or better known as the “J”
Here’s my channel! Take a look if you want! 8)
https://youtube.com/channel/UCu8Qs-E8QInEwg-Po4zXLmQ

And just for the hell of it my Flickr page!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/197054142@N06/

Blaze06
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Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:25 pm
Location: Downers Grove, IL
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Re: Railfanning on the CP Elgin Sub

Unread post by Blaze06 »

Update: I might rename this in the near future to CPKC but I’m not to worried about it rn lol. But anyway, the Elgin Sub has recently had “some” traffic growth in the form of intermodal trains 180/181. These run between Bensenville yard in the Chicago and San Luis Potosi in Mexico (180) and the other way around (181). 180 runs at the worst time ever in my opinion (aka night lol) in the Chicago area as its window is between like 9-10pm while 181 is a hit or miss since it’s coming too Chicago and it can always vary on how much stuff CPKC and other railroads can throw in its way. Good luck catching these as I’ve yet to see either of these!
Here’s my channel! Take a look if you want! 8)
https://youtube.com/channel/UCu8Qs-E8QInEwg-Po4zXLmQ

And just for the hell of it my Flickr page!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/197054142@N06/

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