Saturday, June 9, 2012 was a great day to be railfanning in the Chicago area. First up was Franklin Park Railroad Daze, which I must say is, by far, the best train show I've ever been to. This was the 16th year in a row that I have attended it. It was well attended this year by railroad equipment and people. Equipment from Amtrak, Metra, Belt Railway of Chicago, Canadian National, Indiana Harbor Belt, and Union Pacific were on display, 15 pieces in all.
Included was an Amtrak Horizon Cafe Car, Amtrak's only remaining dome car, a Metra cab car and rebuilt F40PH-3 locomotive, a Belt Railway Genset locomotive and caboose, 2 Illinois Central business cars and an E9, a Canadian National business car and SD70-2, and Indiana Harbor Belt Genset locomotive, 2 Union Pacific SD70ACe's and a Union Pacific ES44. One of the UP SD70ACe's was the Chicago and North Western heritage unit. The other two UP units were brand new.
Then later in the day I went to West Chicago to catch Union Pacific's special business train that ran from Chicago to the Illinois Railway Museum and back. The afternoon train had three business cars (Feather River, Texas Eagle, and Columbine) bracketed by two locomotives. One was a brand new ES44 and the other was Chicago and North Western C44-9W #8701, one of only 2 remaining C&NW units on the UP roster, and the only one currently in operation.
Below you will find many of my pictures from the day. I hope you enjoy seeing them!
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| Union Pacific ES44 #7941 |
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| Union Pacific SD70ACe #1995 |
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| Union Pacific SD70ACe #8707 |
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| Indiana Harbor Belt 2GS14B #2141 |
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| Canadian National SD70-2 #8820 |
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| Illinois Central E9 #101 |
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| Canadian National Business Car "Gatineau" |
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| Illinois Central Business Car #MW101314 |
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| Illinois Central Business Car #800413 |
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| Belt Railway of Chicago Caboose #128 |
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| Belt Railway of Chicago 2GS14B #140 |
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| Metra F40PH-3 #148 "Village of Fox Lake" |
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| Metra Cab Car #8587 |
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| Amtrak Dome Lounge #10031 "Ocean View" |
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| Amtrak Horizon Cafe #58007 |
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| Inside of the Amtrak Dome Lounge |
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| A close up of Metra #148 |
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| Control Stand of Metra #148 |
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| Control Stand of Canadian National #8820 |
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| Control Stand of Union Pacific #1995 |
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| Control Stand of Union Pacific #7931 |
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| Control Stand of Union Pacific #8707 |
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| Close up of UP #1995 |
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| Union Pacific ES44 #7931 entering the West Chicago station with its special from IRM |
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| Union Pacific 'Texas Eagle" |
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| Union Pacific "Columbine" |
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| Chicago & North Western C44-9W #8701 |
