The Milwaukee West Line was the target of my 2019 METRA video project. With significant portions of three track running the MILW-West line offers a robust express service during the peak periods between the town of Schaumburg and Union Station. My plan was to take a North Central train from where I was staying to the town of River Grove where I would then transfer to a reverse peak local out to Schaumburg. Trains on the Milwaukee district are operated by METRA and it is their policy to run with the front cars closed on non-peak trains, so the deadhead portion of the trip would be pretty much useless. However my express run would present me with a front facing window to capture an express run all the way into Union Station with only two stops at Franklin Park and Western Ave. For those and other videos from this trip check out my accompanying video post.
After arriving at Union Station I performed the traditional walk out to Roosevelt Ave and took a few more photos on the CTA both that day and on the way to Midway airport for the flight back east. You can see the entire set of photos here ( mirror ).
I pick up on my journey getting dropped off at River Grove by the North Central Service train. The MILW-West line here has three tracks with a Clear signal displayed for #2 track on the MP 11.4 signal bridge.
Even at dark-o-clock in the morning there was plenty of eastbound commuter traffic at the River Grove station. This inbound local was being propelled by METRA F40PH-3 #104.
My outbound train arrived with MP36PH-3C #414.
At Schaumburg I arrived in time to meet an inbound train with MP36PH-3S #411, ex-Amtrak Surfliner F59PHI #81 and a carbon steel Pullman gallery coach. The double heading was likely due to #81 still being under evaluation for reliability. My outbound train was equipped with gallery cab car #8582.
Before my express, a short local headed by gallery cab car #8510 arrived. The short length indicates the relative popularity of the express runs.
On the express, we encountered an outbound MILW-West train with F40PH-3 #102 just prior to the run's only major station stop at Franklin Park.
This crossing of Grand Ave in Elmwood park is actually safer than many other crossings on the METRA system, which are known to cut straight across major intersections at 45 degree angles.
Passing METRA F40PH-3 #107 at CICERO WEST. The Y/Y Approach Diverging signal on the MP 6.2 signal off in the distance indicates a diverging move at Pacific Junction.
At Pacific Junction another new used METRA Surfliner F59PHI was pushing an inbound Milwaukee North Line train past the now closed Tower A-5.
At Western Ave Yard the two surviving Milwaukee Road F40C's, #614 and #611, were on the story track ahead of a long cut of Pullman gallery cars.
Rolling into Western Ave with a clear route from TOWER A-2, my train met an outbound deadhead led by lighting stripe painted F40PH-3 #217 heading to the Western Ave yard. Also note the lightning stripe painted carbon steel Pullman gallery car.
The three tracks of the Milwaukee Road crossing the four tracks of the Chicago Northwestern was actually once a Pennsylvania Railroad interlocking as its Panhandle route came up the west side of Chicago and hooked into Union Station from the north via the empty trackbed at the upper right of the photo. In fact TOWER A-2's signal bridges only recently lost their PRR position light signals.
As inbound trainsets head to their various layover yards, a conga line quickly forms on the CNW tracks as the deadheads give way to the inbound peak Milwaukee district trains. Today METRA F4PH-2 #152 and F40PH-3 #140 were stacked up on CNW track #1 waiting their turn.
A third train, hauled by METRA F40PH-3 #131, was on CNW track #2 as it was passed by METRA MP36PH-3S #421 leading an outbound Milwaukee district train.
Approaching the Chicago Northwestern overpass at Clinton St, my train passed an outbound Amtrak Hiawatha service train heading to Milwaukee.
Passing Canal St just before the Chicago Union Station overbuild, my train passed another F40PH-3/F59PHI combo with METRA #120 leading.
The front of gallery cab car #8523 that I had been riding, in front of the bumper blocks at Union Station.
Christmas Union Station was festive as always. Amtrak had deployed a miniature steam locomotive model likely associated with the Polar Express display train that had been at Union Station in years past.
At Roosevelt Ave, south of Chicago Union Station, METRA F40PH-3 #113 pulls a deadhead trainset towards the CUS layover yard. This was followed by freshly painted METRA F40PHM-3 #196.
Some of the scissors double slip crossovers at CP-ROOSEVELT were being replaced.
Amtrak P42DC's #186 and #204 at the head of a transet in the long distance layover yard.
Over on the METRA Rock Island district, a cut of three light engines including F40PHM-3 #209 were taking some sort of relay move within the terminal interlocking.
The new 5000 series cars have caused a general reshuffling of CTA fleet asignments. The Blue line has shifted from 2600-series Budds to 3200 series MK cars such as #3358 and #3257 seen here at Rosemont.
CTA #5123 on what I think is a Green routing at Lake St.
Turns out the 2600-series Budds had been moved to the Orange Line with #2831 and #2723 shown here at Midway Airport.
The Midway Airport Yard also appeared to be undergoing a makeover.
That wraps up my 2019 Chicago trip. Hope you all enjoyed it. Next week I'll have a small set of photos from a trip to Denver.
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