Amtrak in the Windy City: A Look at the Chicago Yard 

If you're wondering why there's a bridge permanently in the up position with no tracks... Prior to the Amtrak take over, there was a station on the east side of the river called B&O Grand Central. With most of the passenger rail now centralized in Union Station, they tore down the B&O station and ripped up the tracks. But it and the still active bridge were built as a pair in 1930. The abandoned bridge's weight is necessary to support the active bridge (the St Charles Air Line) now mostly controlled by Canadian National

I was there in the 80's, and filmed Ex BN E8's pulling in, and out of Union Station, with trains.

I like to joke that you can’t go 90 minutes without seeing a train in Ashland, but here, I don’t think you can go 90 seconds without at least 1 train showing up.

Love this location. You can see the entire fleet that Amtrak owns in one area

from the perspective of the drone this looks like a very detailed model railroad 😄 excellent video !!

I don't know how they keep track of the track they are suppose to be on.

As a Chicagoan, Union Station when it was build was not a stub-end station. To this day is still not one. they just use the station that way for 90% of the time. there are still 4 tracks that run continuously under the station and all the buildings on the east side of the station to the north and connect to the UP and CP tracks. they use it from time to time and the private railroads still use it at night to move freight between railroads.

There are at least two tracks on the east end of Amtrak's concourses that go through northsouth. They handle the Empire Builder and other Superliner type trains plus they provide access for all Hiawatha etc trains to get to the coach yards on the south side.

Never realized that Amtrak had such a Large Presence in the Windy City but did know there are a Large Number of Trains Arriving and Departing from Union Station.

Union Pacific Railroad back in early 40's and 50's was operated passenger as well freight service like San Fe passenger service an including their freight

That's a Union Pacific passenger car

6:05 Looks like the Illinois Service/Missouri River Runner from CHI to Kansas City via St. Louis consist. Amtrak Train #319.

LOL you sped up the footage. At first, I wondered if these Amtrak trains were actually traveling that fast through the yard, then the "L" train sped by. At that point, I knew the footage had been sped up. I greatly enjoyed this Thanks!

When the narrator asked about the car named 'Promontory Point'. I think it's either a private rail car refurbed, or a corporate car for UP.

just before the trains enter the tunnels, there is an large office building to the left. i used to work there. on the 3rd floor overlooking the tracks there is a large patio/outdoor space adjacent to the cafeteria. it was a great space to lean over and watch the trains.

This is absolutely one of the best videos i have ever watched. Thank you so much for your hard work.

I really enjoyed your video. As a model railroader, rail fan and Chicagoan, it was very nice to see the operations in the Amtrak yard. I enjoyed seeing them make up long distance trains and using the "Y". Great video. I wish I could have seen some more of the North operations but overall it was great to see this place from all of your different perspectives.

The two lift bridges served the Harrison Street station, origin for the AT&SF, Chicago & Eastern Illinois RR, Soo Line, B&O, Rock Island RR, and at least two other rail lines. The station is still there, but all of the rail has been removed.

That 🚆 backing into Union @ 2:13 is probably City of 🆕 Orleans 58

1:15 If this was filmed around the end of the morning rush, the Superliner could be the City of New Orleans backing into the station. Because it runs on Illinois Central tracks (next to Metra Electric/South Shore Line) it has to back into/out of Union Station when arriving/departing.

Nice video. The train around the 5:30 mark with the mulititude of baggage cars is the Missouri River Runner. It has them to meet the 32 axle count the host railroad (either CN or CP) requires for railroad crossings

I just saw this from the river and it was amazing to see this yard up close

Anybody know when the chargers are going to fully replace the p40,p32 and p42 units? Plus those passenger cars look nice. Cant wait to see them on the east coast sometime.

An observation.. In the 1950-60-70s Emory gulash filmed in Chicago,have all the green 🐸 videos he shot in Chicago thee r.r.capial of USA for 70 yrs...👍👋

i truly appreciate this video it gives me many so references i can model my n scale train from great video

1:21 the train right here is either The City of New Orleans or the Illini (Chicago-Carbondale)

That's pretty complete coverage, especially the way you switch to the view at the wye! Did the drone battery have to be replaced at some point? Your video really drives home the fact of the multiple switching moves involved with daily operation of Chicago Union Station!

Excellent job with this Video. Impressive coverage at the Action Packed Amtrak Yard in Chicago. Keep up the Strong Efforts because it ‘s Appreciated. 👍🙏

I WORKED for the chicago and western indiana railroad which controlled the rail junction at 21 street , a tower next to the lift bridge, this 1980 when i was there and it was the busiest junction poin in chicago

Just about the lift bridges, you are correct about the Dearborn -& Harrison station, those bridges also served the 12th Street station, end of the line for the Illinois Central R.R. Those two left bridges plus the C&NW at Kenzie, and the Milwaukee Road bridge at North Ave at Halsted are just some of the reasons why Chicago was at one time the GREATEST rail road cities in the U.S.

Didn’t think freight trains passed through here. Excellent camera work by the way!

You wonder looking at all that equipment how much of it never moves or has not moved in years.

Boy, do I love trains and this is another reason I absolutely love Chicago. You got tracks everywhere and the sound of trains flying through the city. Thank you for your time to make this video.

Wow beautiful Amtrak 🚆 Midwest red white and blue 💙 car

Awesome opening scene man!!! Great footage!!!

Doing my best to identify all Amtrak consists, I'm not from the Midwest but many of the trains, especially long-distance trains, are pretty easily recognizable given timing and equipment. 1:15 that's the Northbound City of New Orleans #58 doing its famous reverse-move into Union Station 3:11 Cardinal #51 as stated in the video 4:58 Capitol Limited #29 wying and will head into the yard 5:28 Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner through train #319, easily recognizable by its Venture cars and multiple baggage cars out front to meet the axle requirements when he hits Missouri 6:39 Given timing and routing, I'd guess that this is Lincoln Service #300 8:44 #29 completing its wye manuver 9:55 Amtrak Lake Shore Limited #449/#49, recognizable by the 11-car consist bookended by Viewliners with Amfleets in the middle, and an ACSES-equipped P42 leader #106 suitable for service on the Northeast (#105 is ACSES-equipped as well), which is required for running into Albany and Boston 10:54 #29 again 13:41 given the timing of everything else, this should be Wolverine #351, express from Kalamazoo to Chicago 14:55 Amtrak crew qualification train? 16:16 dinky venture set could be #380 the eastbound Illinois Zephyr. not as confident with the midwest trains since they don't run through my area 25:20 #58 wying and heading into the yard 34:37 another shot in the dark with a midwest train but could be #302 Lincoln Service 36:42 #390 northbound Saluki, the Illini/Saluki, as well as the City of New Orleans reverse in/out of Union Station to head onto the IC and use Superliners as mandated by CN 38:03 #449/#49 taking the wye 38:30 #51 taking the wye 40:12 #300 taking the wye

A great video spoiled by speeding it up with trains running at unrealistic speeds. Makes me want to record it and edit it to run at the correct speed.

The drone footage makes the yard look like it’s out of a model railroad layout somewhere

great train video bro

Great video! By the way, locomotives pull but don't "Back up, or push." They either proceed and pull cars or shove them. If you say "The locomotive (not an engine) shoves" then assume the locomotive is shoving the cars with the locomotive at the tail end.

Pax Rail in the UK has had secure digital radio between Signalman (dispatcher) & Driver (Engineer) for decades..... Why is US rail so backwards with CB open type radio.?

If only they went that fast to the actual station

Another great video Christian. Hope you had a good time in Chicago

do you know the online scanner app you use for that?

What is the average salary of a locomotive engineer?

Great video. The Amtrak train around the 10-minute mark with the double header looks like train 48. The lake shore Limited.

Chicago union station does have a through track that goes from one side to the other how do u think the empire builder gets to the yard for servicing it does have a through track

Do you need to inform Amtrak or anybody else about using a drone over the tracks & yard?

Superb video! Well done sir!

Great camera on the drone

with no car...for long distance travel.... I DEPEND on Amtrak....and am a very satisfied customer...live in central PA. my Amtrak of choice..... the Pennsylvanian(#42,43)

I hope you weren't alone in that area It is not a friendly neighborhood

9:55 Lake Shore Limited. Boston section in the front, NY section on the rear

Those beef sandwiches are LIFE CHANGING lol loved the trains too. but that pizza and beef sandwich I would go back just for that

10:22 this train is the Lakeshore Limited

American passenger railroads are shame. We're behind Europe, Japan and the rest of the civilization by probably 75 years and chances for future and grim. Chicago is pitiful scene for whole public transportation. Yes, there are cities with much less availability of public transportation, but.... Just visit the Union Station....... Every time I'm there, under the buildings passing by working diesel locomotive surrounded by dirt, fumes and crazy noise I turn around to see if there will be steam locomotive coming behind me. I've been to the 3rd world countries with much better transportation. What a shame

Makieta xd albo transport fiver 2

At 5:06, you notice how the train is pulling into Union station and another is backing out and going around the curve. Union station is the only place where the locomotive is inside along with the passengers. Most everywhere else they pull trains into stations so passenger can’t see or hear the engines of the train, or breath in pollutants from exhaust. The train that was reversing south out of union station going around the curve heading west only goes down a little ways, then they stop, hit the switches so the engines are forward and pulling the passenger cars and they pull back out to head south. Essentially turning the train around.

where are you filming from ? you mentione the sandwiche and fires?

Also as someone who grew up amtraks old arrow logo (and still have my blanket from the coast starlight my grandma got me from that train). Sure it’s a wool blanket and it’s a bitch a scratchy but I love the logo and it’s held up over the last 25 years

how do you get that amtrak scanner online?

You Railfan where I love to Railfan....Right at C.P. Lumber Street!

Great drone shots

I thought there were a few tracks that ran through the station

I saw that central pacific on one of the cab rides I took to the city a month or 2 ago. They might have put it on the end of the California Zephyr at one point and held it in the yard.

Really cool! I have been through there a couple of times on Amtrak!😀

The Amtrak consist at the beginning was the Capital Limited. I've never seen it going that fast while backwards.

I used to live near Midway Airports and I've always wondered about that crazy bridge that always seemed to be in the raised position. I took the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited to Massachusetts in the late 90s and had a great time.

Gee, will we ever see any of the newer Amtrak engines and cars here in South Carolina? I feel like a stepchild!😄😄

Amtrak = Slow, old and Dirty Trains. Amtrak = 3rd World Railway Company. Wolfgang Hamburg Germany

Great vid but there's nothing better than seeing the variety of rail cars in a freight yard. Great vid as usual!

All your videos are outstanding!!!

I like the speeding up effect. There are private rail cars there making trips out with regular trains.

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

Where did the beef sandwich come from?

Magnificent catches of the train coming by and pass, I like it 5 stars, keep up the great work, my friend, liked and subscribed, Greetings from Portugal to the USA.

Love Seeing the Good ol' Cardinal Pulling into Chicago! Keep Up the Great Work Man! 👍👍👍 Love Watching Your Videos!

What streets were you on to get these viewpoints?

A lot of action and hazards flying there, sweet video

This is exquisite footage! Way to go, keep it coming!

I wish the footage wasn't sped up, it feels a bit awkward!

What a great video, I can watch it over and over again. Aside from the new midwest trains, I have models of most of the Amtrak trains on the video. Someone said, from the bird's eye view perspective it's like a super detailed model railroad.

Awesome video!

13:05 how do they run that train backwards? that's not a cab car is it?

there are 2 thru tracks at CUS. love the video. yes it is a double stub end terminal with 2 thru tracks at the far right side :) remember the Empire Builder and Hiawatha go out the other end of Union Station.

epic

That private railroad car “charter club“ is owned by the charter manufacturing company. Some companies buy business chats, Charter, buys passenger cars.

💢🌀🚇⚽🛑

Beautiful. Brutal. Nice video

Damn EXCELLENT informative Video 🤞🏾

By the way, the Autotrain is the longest passenger train in the world.

👍

Nice work Christian

awesome drone shots! I bet you'd love the rail corridor leading into Munich Central Station in Germany, often with a dozen passenger trains coming by within 5 minutes, with anything from commuter trains and regional trains, to regional express trains, InterCity and InterCityExpress high speed trains, and some of them are even international trains as well (both regional express and long distance high speed trains)

2 good luck

of course you came to the yard when I wasnt there, one of these days ill see myself in one of these videos. promontory point is stored in the chicago yard, its a private car, heres a link with several other links to more photos of it. seems to be for hire. or at least at one time was. not sure if the nxtrack car is still in the yard, its coupled just north of the promontory point car in the video. it doesnt really stand out from the air though. that is a track geometry car. what date and approximate time was this recorded? the yard actually looks emptier than usual.

Love it!!!

Great content!

What is the abandoned rail line that passes over the yard at 4:43?

The sped-up video footage with regular speed audio is such a great format for showing terminal operations where the trains are traveling at slow speed! Keeps the video moving rather than the usual skipping through or turning up video speed in youtube settings that then garbles the audio. Keep up the great work!