Lake Forest Railfanning

Lake Forest Railfanning

Recorded on 4/28/17

The weather wasn’t bad today so A-Train4014 Productions returns to Lake Forest station for some railfanning. In addition, we decided to surprise our friend, Jeff just in time for his inbound run into Chicago. We also stayed a bit longer for his outbound run back to Fox Lake in the afternoon during the rush hour. It was a pretty good variety of trains but surprisingly, not many freight trains showed up than expected. I guess we missed out on the majority of the action during the early morning on Friday. Overall, it was a good day though.

1. Amtrak Hiawatha*
2. Inbound Metra*
3. Outbound Metra*
4. CSX Crude Oil
5. Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Manifest
6. Inbound Metra*
7. Outbound Metra*
8. Amtrak Hiawatha*
9. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal
10. Amtrak Hiawatha*
11. Inbound Metra
12. Outbound Metra*
13. Amtrak Empire Builder
14. Amtrak Empire Builder
15. Inbound Metra*
16. Outbound Metra*
17. Amtrak Hiawatha*
18. Amtrak Hiawatha*
19. Inbound Metra
20. Canadian Pacific-CEFX Manifest
21. Outbound Metra**

Highlight of the Day:

21. Outbound Metra

*Hornshow

Grayslake Railfanning

Grayslake Railfanning

Recorded on 4/27/17

A-Train4014 Productions goes railfanning at Grayslake station once again to meet up with our friend, Jeff on Metra before he leaves on his inbound run to Chicago. The weather was cloudy and rainy especially in the morning. We start out at Grayslake station on Lake Street. But as we left, we overheard a northbound CN freight train is approaching Grayslake on the CN Waukesha Sub. So after when Jeff left for Chicago, we drove to the other Grayslake station on Washington Street to catch the northbound freight train. Honestly didn’t expect a little surprise on the consist (Hint: The Second Locomotive).

Lake Villa Railfanning

Lake Villa Railfanning

Recorded on 4/25/17

A-Train4014 Productions returns to the CN Waukesha Sub on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. The weather forecast wasn’t looking good for the next couple of days due to rain and wind. So we decided to take advantage of this nice weather before the storms pass through Chicago. Rail traffic was pretty average but the action started to pick up around 2-3pm. We would’ve stayed longer but we had to run some last minute errands after our trip to Lake Villa. No worries though! We can’t wait for more railfanning this summer! Also stay tuned to our social media platforms as we’re on the verge of making our announcement with The Joliet Rocket this summer with the Nickel Plate Road 765!

1. Canadian National-Illinois Central Closed Hopper
2. Canadian National Intermodal
3. Canadian National Manifest
4. Outbound Metra
5. Canadian National Manifest
6. Inbound Metra
7. Canadian National Intermodal

No Hornshows

No Highlight of the Day

Rondout Railfanning

Rondout Railfanning

Recorded on 4/22/17

A-Train4014 Productions joins our friend, SamLovesTrains at Rondout. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other so it’s been great catching up. Before heading to Rondout, we heard about SOO Line on CP 281. We didn’t think we wouldn’t be able to catch it at Rondout in time. Fortunately, Lake Forest was close by so we started there for a minute until CP 281 passed.  It was pretty fun. The weather still played nice but it got cold at times but it was still nice enough where I didn’t have to wear more than one layer of clothing.

1. Outbound Metra
2. BNSF-Canadian Pacific-SOO Line Manifest
3. Inbound Metra*
4. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal*
5. Outbound Metra*
6. Amtrak Empire Builder**
7. Amtrak Empire Builder*
8. Inbound Metra*
9. Outbound Metra*
10. Amtrak Hiawatha*
11. Amtrak Hiawatha*
12. Outbound Metra*

Highlight of the Day:

6. Amtrak Empire Builder*

*ALL Trains included Hornshows

Grayslake Railfanning

Grayslake Railfanning

Recorded on 4/19/17

After briefly catching the Siemens Charger Test Train in Gurnee, A-Train4014 Productions heads to Grayslake before the Test Train returns back to Chicago Union Station. We met up with our Metra engineer friend, Jeff as we talked more about trains and even squeezed a brief discussion about coyotes. Luckily it didn’t rain yet but we had a great time talking with Jeff.

Siemens Charger Train Test

Siemens Charger Test Train

Recorded on 4/19/17

A-Train4014 Productions goes “train chasing” as we heard about a test train on the CP C&M Sub that will be running on 4/19/17. Amtrak is testing its brand new Siemens Charger locomotive that is reported to be replace the Amtrak P42DC and F59PHI locomotives. We were supposed to be catching it in Wadsworth in hopes of hearing the Siemens Charger’s horn. Unfortunately, our parking spot next to the train tracks in Wadsworth was blocked off so we rushed over to Gurnee, IL in the morning to catch it. While we waited for the Test Train to return to Chicago, we briefly made a stop at Grayslake station on Lake Street to talk with our Metra engineer friend, Jeff.

I had to go to school but when class was released early, I rushed over to Rondout in time to catch the Siemens Charger Test Train once again. While I waited in Rondout, we caught an Outbound Metra and an Amtrak Hiawatha. However, rain started to pour down. It got pretty heavy but luckily there was no thunder and lightning. Overall, it was a pretty good day. Everything worked perfectly.

Rondout Railfanning

Rondout Railfanning

Recorded on 4/18/17

A-Train4014 Productions takes advantage of the nice weather on a Tuesday afternoon to go railfanning at Rondout. A pretty good variety of trains showed up ranging from freight trains. At Rondout, construction workers continue to do construction. More specifically, workers did construction on the bridge overlooking the tracks. On the other hand, it was a pretty good day especially when the weather cooperates nicely.

1. Amtrak Hiawatha*
2. Inbound Metra*
3. CSX Crude Oil*
4. Canadian Pacific-Canadian National Closed Hopper**
5. Outbound Metra*
6. Canadian Pacific Crude Oil*
7. Canadian Pacific Crude Oil*
8. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal*
9. Inbound Metra*
10. Outbound Metra*
11. Amtrak Hiawatha*
12. Amtrak Hiawatha*
13. Inbound Metra*
14. Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Manifest*
15. Outbound Metra*
16. Amtrak Empire Builder*
17. Amtrak Empire Builder*
18. Inbound Metra*
19. Canadian Pacific-BNSF Manifest*
20. Outbound Metra*
21. Amtrak Hiawatha*
22. Amtrak Hiawatha*

Highlight of the Day:

4. Canadian Pacific-Canadian National Closed Hopper*

*Hornshow

Lake Forest Railfanning

Lake Forest Railfanning

Recorded on 4/14/17

A-Train4014 Productions heads to Lake Forest station with our closest friends, Casey Walker (Warbonnet 669 Productions) for some railfanning fun. It was pretty cold in the morning but at least the weather started to warm up a little bit. We caught a couple freight trains that included some unique power. For the first time in a while, we had hornshows that came from a freight train, Metra, and Amtrak. Possibly one of the busiest days of railfanning we’ve had in awhile. Overall, it was a successful and fun day as always with Casey.

1. Inbound Metra (Express)*
2. Inbound Metra
3. Amtrak Hiawatha
4. Inbound Metra (Express)*
5. Inbound Metra
6. Outbound Metra*
7. Inbound Metra
8. Outbound Metra*
9. Inbound Metra
10. Canadian Pacific Intermodal
11. Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Manifest*
12. Outbound Metra*
13. Amtrak Hiawatha*
14. Amtrak Hiawatha
15. Inbound Metra*
16. Union Pacific Closed Hopper*
17. Outbound Metra
18. Inbound Metra*
19. Outbound Metra*
20. Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Crude Oil
21. Amtrak Hiawatha*
22. Inbound Metra
23. Outbound Metra*
24. Amtrak Hiawatha*
25. Union Pacific-SOO Line Manifest
26. DME-Canadian Pacific Manifest**
27. Inbound Metra*
28. Outbound Metra*
29. Inbound Metra
30. Outbound Metra*
31. Amtrak Hiawatha*
32. Amtrak Hiawatha*
33. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal
34. Inbound Metra*
35. Outbound Metra*
36. Amtrak Empire Builder (Did NOT make it on air due to video difficulties)
37. Amtrak Empire Builder*
38. Outbound Metra

Highlight of the Day:

26. DME-Canadian Pacific Manifest**

Wadsworth Railfanning

Wadsworth Railfanning

Recorded on 4/11/17

After making a stop at Grayslake station, A-Train4014 Productions heads to Wadsworth in hopes of catching Amtrak 156 on Empire Builder 7 since it arrived in Chicago Union Station yesterday as it was delayed for over an hour. We caught it on Empire Builder 7 but it was trailing. After both Empire Builder trains passed through Wadsworth, we almost called it until we overheard on the scanner that there are more trains heading towards Wadsworth so we stayed a bit longer. In addition, we tried to wait on CP 470 which had Union Pacific power but it never showed. Honestly, it was the most fun at Wadsworth that we had.

1. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal*
2. Amtrak Hiawatha*
3. Amtrak Hiawatha*
4. Amtrak Empire Builder*
5. CSX-Kansas City Southern Crude Oil*
6. Amtrak Empire Builder*
7. Canadian Pacific-Norfolk Southern Manifest*
8. Amtrak Hiawatha*
9. Norfolk Southern Crude Oil*
10. Amtrak Hiawatha**

*ALL trains included hornshows

Highlight of the Day

10. Amtrak Hiawatha*

Grayslake Railfanning

Grayslake Railfanning

Recorded on 4/11/17

A-Train4014 Productions heads to Grayslake station on Lake Street to meet with our friend, Jeff before he heads out on his inbound run into Chicago. As usual, we witnessed two other Metra trains before Jeff departs Grayslake for Chicago. Mother Nature was trying to mess with us before Jeff arrived as it did previously at Rondout yesterday. In addition, stay tuned to our YouTube channel for another railfanning video as we go from Grayslake to Wadsworth.

Rondout Railfanning

Rondout Railfanning

Recorded on 4/10/17

A-Train4014 Productions makes a short trip to Rondout for some railfanning. However, we didn’t anticipate to have construction/maintenance on the scene. Unfortunately, we had to cut our railfanning session short due to the threat of severe weather. Before that, we were enjoying ourselves. We thought that we would try to take advantage of the nice weather but mother nature decide to rain on our parade as Amtrak Empire Builder 7 passed us. Unfortunately, we were expecting to have an idea on what we’re going to do with the Nickel Plate Road 765 when it comes to Chicago this summer for The Joliet Rocket. But we will have a good idea by the end of the month.

1. Outbound Metra*
2. Inbound Metra*
3. Outbound Metra*
4. Amtrak Hiawatha*
5. Amtrak Hiawatha**
6. Canadian Pacific Autorack-Intermodal*
7. Inbound Metra*
8. Canadian Pacific Crude Oil*
9. Union Pacific-Canadian Pacific Manifest*
10. Outbound Metra*
11. Amtrak Empire Builder*

Note: ALL trains seen included a hornshow

Highlight of the Day:

5. Amtrak Hiawatha