Sunday, June 10, 2012

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!

Union Pacific ES44 #7941

Union Pacific SD70ACe #1995
Union Pacific SD70ACe #8707
Indiana Harbor Belt 2GS14B #2141
Canadian National SD70-2 #8820
Illinois Central E9 #101
Canadian National Business Car "Gatineau"
Illinois Central Business Car #MW101314
Illinois Central Business Car #800413
Belt Railway of Chicago Caboose #128
Belt Railway of Chicago 2GS14B #140

Metra F40PH-3 #148 "Village of Fox Lake"

Metra Cab Car #8587
Amtrak Dome Lounge #10031 "Ocean View"
Amtrak Horizon Cafe #58007

Inside of the Amtrak Dome Lounge


A close up of Metra #148

Control Stand of Metra #148
Control Stand of Canadian National #8820



Control Stand of Union Pacific #1995

Control Stand of Union Pacific #7931
Control Stand of Union Pacific #8707
Close up of UP #1995

Union Pacific ES44 #7931 entering the West Chicago station with its special from IRM

Union Pacific 'Texas Eagle"

Union Pacific "Columbine"
Chicago & North Western C44-9W #8701











2 comments:

  1. Brad, these are some great photos. I hope you monitor this blog because I would like to ask for permission to use one of your photos in a college I'm working on. I need a photo of the engineers controls and your Control Stand of Union Pacific #7931 photo would be perfect. I will of course give you credit for the photo. Thanks for your consideration.

    Sincerely,
    Scott Wyman

    ReplyDelete
  2. I apologize for not responding sooner. I don't monitor this blog but I did just see an email with your comment. I hope it's not too late, but you may use my photos for your collage. Thank you for your compliment!

    ReplyDelete