PHOTOS: METRA AND CHICAGO AREA RAIL

[sturmovikdragon]

In the penultimate installment of photos covering my 2009 trip to Chicago I took a little loop trip using the CTA Blue Line to connect with the METRA Milwaukee North line at Mayfaire. I had previously taken a loop trip involving the Green Line and UP West Line at Oak Park and was anxious to try the same with a train that would head into Union

Comments

[derechodragon]

Good to see new ties laid out along the Monon for installation.

[sturmovikdragon]

Did the Monon Sub used to be 80mph as recently as 2005 or is my ETT just wrong?

[derechodragon]

I'm pretty sure your ETT is correct. But I'm just as sure it didn't last much past that.

[sturmovikdragon]

Ugh fucking CSX and their lousy track maintenance. The Monon would be sweet at 80mph and probably cut a good half hour off the trip. Add in a connection with NS at Charlottesville and you can chop an hour of 51/50's time.

[derechodragon]

They can't seem to make up their mind what they want to do with the route. Reluctant maintenance, no expansion, yet they're frequently diverting trains -- extra freights, or sometimes even the regular one -- that would normally run that way to run via >>>Marion, Ohio<<< using one more crew and many miles (and minutes, nay hours) longer than if they'd stuck to the Monon.