18-11-29 PHOTOS: Chicago Line Northwest - Part 1

I've been doing post-Thanksgiving trips to Chicago for a number of years now and 2018 was no exception. This year, like 2016, I decided to use some points on a roomette on the Capital Limited between Washington and the Windy Apple. Unfortunately, Amtrak had chosen to meddle with the food service on the Cap since I had last ridden it, converting the dining car into a first class lounge (which was good), but also replacing the prepared food with meal boxes (which wasn't). My goal in Chicago was to check out the METRA Union Pacific (aka CNW) Northwest Line, which I will be covering in a Part 2. You can find the photos for both parts right here.

We begin with Amtrak P42DC's #186 and #147 at the head of my Train 29, which is standing ready for an on time departure from Washington Union Station on track 15 adjacent to K TOWER.

While I was waiting for departure, a southbound Acela Express trainset wandered into one of the higher number tracks with power cars #2036 and #2017.

MARC MP36PH-3C #19 stood on the adjacent Track #16.

Further up the platform. MARC HHP-8 #4915 was also on track #15 alongside Amtrak Acela Express power car #2019 and behind MARC single level cab car #7754. Due to the limited storage space MARC will often double park trains on station tracks during the day, with short daytime trains arriving and departing from the outer berths.

Amtrak SW1000 #794 in painted in heritage Washington Terminal colors was performing its duties around the terminal area that day.

VRE MP36PH-3C #V59 was sitting in the VRE layover yard as we departed Washington Terminal.

I also caught Amtrak ACS-86 #625 on the wye track after having been previously spotted on WT Track #10 with an arrived regional.

Amtrak was at least making a small effort to make the service downgrades seem not like service downgrades and both myself and my riding buddy found rather fancy shower kits on our seats. (Note these had vanished on a subsequent Capitol Limited trip in March).

13-06-22 PHOTOS: METRA UP West Chicago

Well it is intermission time in my third annual cross country Amtrak trip featuring Train 4, the Southwest Chief. This year the target of my Chicago layover was JB Tower in West Chicago where the EJE Main Line crosses the Three Track former CNW "UP West" main line at grade. However one must still eat and see old friends in the Windy Apple, not to mention kill any time waiting to eat and meet old friends. This is why there are also going to be a good deal of CTA photos included in this set.

You can view all the photos here.

We begin with a video this time. While catching a Purple Line Express for a short loop trip I discovered that the rear cabs of the 4-car trains are halved by default so I decided to catch one and film a reverse RFW video all the way from Merchandise Mart to Howard. Unfortunately I would soon discover that what would be a rocket fast express run is barely faster than a local due to mile after mile of baffling speed restriction. WTF CTA?


Returning from Howard I took still images including this one of a northbound Red Line local train with 2600-series #2878.

Northbound Purple Line express train with 2400-series #2510.

Southbound Red Line local train being passed at Sheridan.

Northbound 5000-series Red Line train at BELMONT interlocking.

Interested in what a brand new 5000-series truck looks like? Too bad. See on #5256 at Belmont.

2600-series and 5000-series Red Line trains pass at Belmont.

WTF...Red Line trains running on the Green Line? What kind of crazy mixed up world is this! Train announcement board at 35 Bronzeville IIT.