Elgin, Joliet & Eastern- a couple of questions. - Trains Magazine
Murph:
I am not an expert on the J, but do see it and have it tuned on my scanner. I will pass on a little knowledge and hopefully others will correct me or add to my info.
As previously state, the J is the outer belt with a route which is about encircles Chicago about 30-40 miles from downtown. There are several branchlines in addition to the mainline. The mainline is pretty much a heavy duty railroad with some CTC, but mainly ABS and warrents. With it's location, it is obviously important as a "toll road" from carrier to carrier, or even from BNSF to BNSF (Eola to Joliet - Logistics Park).
Some moves on the J include (not all moves, but at least a few):
1. CN uses Leithton to Munger for moves from the old WC to access the ex IC Iowa line. This allows them to run trains from say Fond du Lac to Hawthorne, Markham, or perhaps Glenn Yards in Chicago. Also, there is a train 357 which runs from Battle Creek to Western Canada using this route. CN uses a stretch from Griffith, In to Mattson, Il to connect the old GTW with the IC line south. This stretch is used by a number of trains daily, including manifest trains 396, 397, 398, 399 plus several auto rack trains and coal trains off of the UP. I would guess that CN sends 10 trains daily over this stretch.
2. UP sends coal trains off of it's CNW track at West Chicago both north and south. I believe they send an autorack train to CN via West Chicago to Griffith. Perhaps more trains
3. BNSF sends coal trains from Eola both north and south. They also send a train from Eola to Joliet where it jumps on the former ATSF mainline to Logistics Park, south of Joliet.
The J generates and terminates a lot of freight. Again, all my info is subject to correction, but...
1. EJE is the house band for USX, Gary Works. I believe all coal/coke trains are interchanged to them for delivery. The NS delivers a couple of coal/coke trains to them at Van Loon....883/884/885/886. These run very frequently, often daily. NS also runs a daily turn from Ft Wayne to Van Loon for daily steel loads (and empties). In fact, that train 323, is passing thru Valpo now. They typically pickup 20 -70 coil cars daily, with empties coming back.
Take a look at a Google or your favorite satellite view of Gary and Kirk Yard. It is an operational hump yard. Pretty cool view from the Indiana Toll road.
2. EJE seems to serve just about every generating station in the Chicago area. I dont know who owns them, but at one time these were Commonwealth Edison. Trains run to Plaines (south of Joliet), Waukegan, State Line, and perhaps a couple more. In addition, UP delivers a NIPSCO train to the J at Gary which is then interchanged with the South Shore at Gary...just off of the Indiana Toll Road. Makes an interesting couple of miles thru Gary.
More to follow.
ed
