Why the Amtrak City of New Orleans leaves Chicago Backwards 

That bunny rabbit on Halsted St. platform at 8:10 is at the right place. It can ride rabbit transit.

The way the trains leave Chicago is so weird and confusing, I’m glad to know how it all works.

What a fascinating and detailed explanation. Your maps and diagrams really help someone like me who has no idea about the rail layout in Chicago, but understands it's the most important hub on Amtrak transcontinental routes. I especially appreciated the notes on who owns/operates the specific tracks and how that relates to iconic names from the past. The only place in Europe I have experienced this kind of maneuver was in France at Nimes where the daily loco hauled train from Paris via Clermont-Ferrand had to reverse into the station. A new curve avoids that need now, and I'm not even sure the train runs - DMUs rule.

I have to say I find the prospect of Amtrak using the South Shore line Tracks to be quite exciting! That's a marriage made in heaven. Amtrak can keep a schedule, and the South Shore Line will have more income.

Ping Tom Memorial Park is named after Ping Tom, who after fighting for decades for the construction of a new park in Chicago's Chinatown, formed the real-estate firm Chinese American Development Corporation (CADC) in 1984. The firm purchased a Santa Fe railyard in 1989 and built Chinatown Square, a residential and commercial development. But some of the land (6 acres) was left untouched, and it was decided to turn this piece into a public park. The Chicago Park District would end up purchasing the 6 acres for it in 1991. Originally it was gonna be designed based off the walled plazas of Suzhou, but it was scrapped for security and vandalism risks. Instead, it was decided to make a system of pathways meant to mimic Chinese courtyards. Ping Tom would end up dying of pancreatic cancer in 1995, three years before the park was complete. So it was suggested to name the park in honor of him, the driving force behind its creation. The park was dedicated in October 1999.

I live in Chicago now, but my first visit was on the City of New Orleans. The nighttime views of the city falling away as the train heads south still reads as peaceful closure, a sort of punctuation on a visit to the Windy City. A lot of cities care about saying hello, but this is a lovely way for Chicago to say goodbye.

I rode the City of New Orleans into Chicago back in 2011, and it used the St Charles Air Line back then. Interesting riding through there in the morning. My friend and I were in the rear sleeper so I spent most of the ride over the air line looking out the back window, until it came time for the backup move at Halstead and the conductor kicked me out of his spot!

If you think the P42's or Chargers are loud be very thankful you weren't riding Amtrak during the F40 era. The F40's HEP was feed off of the main generator which means the units basically ran at notch 8 even when standing still. This gave them the nickname "Screamers". The P42's and Chargers have a separate small HEP generator which doesn't require the engine to run at full throttle. I believe METRA still has some F40's on it's roster so you might be familiar with the term Screamer.

So Illini is where the name Illinois comes from. Illinois is the name that French Catholic missionaries gave to the Illini/Illiniwe Confederation, a group of thirteen tribes who originally lived in the Mississippi Valley before settling in area stretching up to Iowa and Lake Michigan. Illini is also for the Fighting Illini of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While Saluki was named in 2006 after the mascot of Southern Illinois University (both of these universities are near stations along the route). They're a breed of sighthound originally bred in the Fertile Crescent. Salukis are swift and agile sprinters, capable of sprinting as fast as 42 miles per hour, so you could say the name also fits to show how fast trains are, and didn't choose Greyhound, another sighthound because well...that name was taken. 😂

Chicago had a number of train stations in late 19th and early 20th century. The B&O station (on east side of Chicago river) was one of favorites, demolished in 1970s. Like Penn Station in NYC in 1960s the head houses were demolished or remodeled. Union Station’s recent ceiling restoration was long overdue … and looks beautiful.

As an Amtrak fan since its inception in the 1970s, nice work, fellow railfan. Hope you have a lot more chances to ride the rails.

This is such a bizarre operation it could rival what they do in Tampa, Florida with the Silver Star and Silver Meteor. I also noticed that one of the crossings (at 17:54) had Safetran e-bells, which are used at a few crossings in New Zealand as well.

Nice to see a young person interested in trains and so knowledgeable. Nice video.

Interestingly, there's a similar (though reversed) maneuver at the other end of the City of New Orleans line. The train pulls beyond the station in New Orleans and then backs up to reach the platform at New Orleans Union Terminal.

Travelled on the City of New Orleans almost 20yrs ago, we had a 2 berth cabin with steward, restaurant car with silver service, observation car with videos - all to ourselves. We met a couple from Memphis with whom we made friends, visited their home as we drove back through the South and met them when they visited England. We hope to see them again next year in Scotland. I always wondered about the to-ing and fro- ing as we left Chicago Union, we did more than shown here before we set off South.

Great video. Thank you!

Excellent Video!!! The City of New Orleans are one of my favorite Amtrak Trains. Very informative and educational video♥️💯🤞🏾

Visited Chicago for the first time in November. Took the Saluki from Carbondale. It was my first time on an Amtrak. Love the footage, thanks for reminding me of an awesome trip!

thank you for posting - your videos are always excellent and enjoyable to watch

Excellent video. Obviously a career awaits. Well done.

Thanks for the sweet ride

Really interresting video. I have never seen such a thing. Also the train seems really a great experience to ride. Thanks for the video.

Thanks for sharing, looking forward to more videos.

2 years old, but a great video. Great explanation of Chicago rail operations. Enjoyable, as always.

Nice video ! Thank you !!

Well done video!

I want to thank you for the report you posted showing the old Metropolitan Lounge in Union Station Chicago. I remember it from being there numerous times.and wondered what happened to it, in winter the fireplace was in use. So now it's for Hiawatha Monthly pass holders. Thanx to your video I know what happened to a favorite place of mine.

Thank you for your amazing videos. I’m from the UK and feel inspired to visit the places you have. Helps me understand US train travel as it’s much different to the UK, especially as I’m from London!

what an awesome video! I've taken the CNW several times, and always wondered about the serpentine route to get out of the city (I know the city pretty well, but I would see places "I have no idea where we are!" .I have to recommend the original version of the song by ita writer, a Chicago Folk Music Giant -- Steve Goodman (long deceased, RIP) Also check out how the auto CC mangles that text at 21:05 ... "onc conductor zero Saxon male" LOL (it should be "Sacks of Mail"). Cheers, what a great video!

Thanks for the video

Very good job explaining and showing how it works. 👌

Very informative! Thx!

Nice video and vlog!

Very cool video. Much love from North Carolina. You just got another sub. 🤙

I applaud your determination. This was very well researched and presented. Subscribed

Love this type of content! You explained very well for someone like me who don't know much about rail but love learning about it.

Fascinating 🚂🚃🚋🚞

I am a train lover and your videos are wonderful / we live in Sacramwnto Ca and this is a great train area / keep up the good work / love them GK

There's some really beautiful shots in here! Keep up the good work

Nice work man. Made me miss Chicago.

Stumbled across this video after watching my weekly dose of DownieLive. My curiousity was aroused by the title as I'm aware of Amtrak's reversal moves. I visited Chicago about 28 years ago from Australia as part of a 6 week adventure taking in Western Canada, Colorado narrow gauge and the Eastern USA not previously visited. Great to see railfanning is still well and truly alive with your generation and I notice you have a young lady accompany you on some of your adventures. Thanks for your comprehensive and informative commentary with this video. I recognise several places I have been to or passed. I had to chuckle when I saw the rabbit on Halsted Street Station Platform - that was a real surprise - somebody's pet must have escaped home as I doubt a rabbit could normally be found there. Must get around to checking out more of your videos when time allows. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne, Australia.🙂

Great videos!!! I was the train operator on the Crenshaw K Line when you did the video. Thanks for your appreciation and love for trains!!!

Great narration.

That was a great detailed explanation and now I know where the change in direction takes place! Also good to know about the future plans to speed up the trip out of Union Station. Thanks!

I ride the Illini for every UIUC break, and it's a fun to ride and fascinating train line. Another problem is loss of shunt on Canadian National tracks, where the the train doesn't trigger rail crossings. To run passenger service, Amtrak has had to steal some Superliners from long distance services, as CN requires a certain weight and axle count to counteract the problem; single-level cars (including the new Ventures just waiting for service) don't count. Apparently they're holding meetings with everyone involved to try and fix it. I think it would make for a great video if you could find some people on the committee to interview!

I enjoyed this video. I am 63 years old and have been riding the City of New Orleans back and forth from Champaign to New Orleans for most of my life. Since I've always arrived and departed from Champaign, I like seeing videos of the portion of the train route from Champaign to Chicago.

Excellent video. Valuable explanations! 😁

As a biased New Orleans resident I highly recommend taking it all the way down sometime. Awesome video as usual Thom!

Ridden these many times, including backups onto the BNSF wye. Chicago railroad history is fascinating. All of Ping Tom Park and several blocks east were SO much railyard when I was born; just as Amtrak was consolidating. Great vid.

Interesting! Well done!

In the Spring of 64', our 6th grade classes from the Moline School District, boarded the train at the Moline Station for day trip to Chicago. The cars were definitely NOT Super Liners, but the old passenger cars you might see as a toy train set. We transferred to buses at Union Station for rides to the museums. For me, being 11 years old at the time, it was a trip of a life time. I didn't realize it at the time, but later in life, it spurred me on to motorcycle travel around North America. I eventually rode in every State, and every Province of Canada, except for Nunavutt (no road to it). For the people who never got to ride the train, I feel sorry, but lucky that I got the chance. Thanks for the renewed memories.

This is a great video.

Amazing to see some love to my home city Champaign-Urbana! I’ve taken this route numerous times and sometimes don’t appreciate the uniqueness of the trains (mainly thanks to CN).

I’ve taken this train many times and always wondered why it does the back up move. I’m watching from the Saluki. Great video!

i enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing. 🚂🚃🚃🏝

Good video and very educational. I'd love to take the City of New Orleans from start to finish. When you were riding backwards at the beginning it reminded me of a comment one of my aunts made when she rode the rails many years ago. She said that she always got a face forward seat because "I want to know where I'm going not where I've been." Funny lady she was.

Thanks again John in in Chicago

Nice video 👍

Very interesting.

Nicely produced

Amtrak CONO really is a relaxing way i actually have rode it a few times in 2019 from Chicago to Newbern and in 2022 Newbern to Brookhaven just missing mcomb hammond and NOL While its roughly the same time to get to memphis from the house as driving i plan on doing a chicago run soon on it this summer

Also, Amtrak back up into Denver station and some more. I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused with many transfers) for over 54 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing filling up water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule. I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose). Once pandemic will be over and I will resume traveling again plus, dining car foods will resume standard real good food. For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!

Fun Fact: 0.1 km North of the canal street railway crossing there are these abandoned CNW railway tracks that lead up to a track connection to the UP north and northwest lines, these tracks could potentially be used for RER service and would also open up opportunities for Amtrak to make a second route to Milwaukee using the Metra UP-N line tracks and would benefit the people in the communities along the Metra UP-N line for proper access to Milwaukee, especially in places like Kenosha

Shout out from Homewood IL!

Very interesting and informative video. Unfortunately we haven’t been on Amtrak since heading up to Roanoke VA & going to Boston MA on a NE Regional two years ago. I’d love to go all the way to Bangor ME but they don’t quite go that far, yet.

I've been lucky enough to be able to ride on my friends private rail car, The Babbling Brook, a Budd observation car out of Chicago a couple times, it's so cool to have the view of the engineer for a bit before the switch.

Back in the 80s, when I took the Broadway Ltd. from Newark, NJ to Chicago, as I recall we backed into Union Station which oriented the train for the trip back east. There was also a turn around operation in Philadelphia with a locomotive switch.

Well done.

3:02 Wooooo! Boston represent! Yes, this is why I am used to seeing trains "moving backwards". Either I'm foaming as they pass, see them at stations, or literally riding. Once I understood the concept, it was honestly such an interesting feature that is absolutely fascinating, even more when in action. It gets better the more you realize you can't get jaded by it after 2 years.

Thanks for another fine video. I am encouraged by proposed ramp from the St. Charles Air Line to Union Station. I'm less enthusiastic about switching St. Louis service to the Rock Island. The existing routing is reasonably quick, and the reroute, particularly because of the jog necessary to get from the Rock Island tracks into Union Station.

You should do a video about how Amtrak utilizes dead end stations. How interesting it is to see them arrive in reverse and pull out forward.

Multiple waves in a video, nice!

Amtrak used to use "option 1" until only a few years ago! Also, the Air Line tracks that were ripped out were only taken up to add a bridge for the new "78" development and a single main has been put back in place. Nothing currently goes over it, but hopefully Amtrak gets their new direct access ramp!

Very interesting. I'm from Australia, and in 2014 we visited Canada, and rode the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff. The Rocky backed up out of their station at Vancouver. Not sure how far they had to do that.

This is the only train route I’ve both rode and slept on. I took it from Chicago to Memphis about a year ago when they were not yet using alc-42s at the time. My lead locomotive was Amtrak 160, the one in the Pepsi can paint scheme, which was also my lead locomotive from Atlanta to Birmingham, AL on the Crescent a few months ago.

I remember seeing the train do this for the first time years ago and it wasn't until that one episode of Mighty Machines where they talked about transit vehicles that I found out about the cab car. That's actually kinda cool. Its kinda like the autocoaches they've got in the UK.

Lo, how the mighty have fallen. When I was in college in Chicago I several times rode the Panama Limited, which was the real night train, not the City of New Orleans--which I guess sounds better in the song. (My family lived near Memphis.) It was a great train, with Pullman Cars and a real dining car, and it used the old IC station at the end of 12th Street. I lived in Hyde Park and attended Roosevelt University, so the IC was also my daily ride. Thanks for your channel. This video makes me want to return to Chicago if for no other reason, just to try the trains again. When I first moved to Chicago I lived on North Dearborn Parkplace, and if I didn't ride my bike into town, I could take the subway, with the old green cars.

Thank you for the explanation regarding the Chicago reverse-moves. A similar situation (but on a smaller scale) occurs at San Antonio. The northbound Texas Eagle departs from the San Antonio station in "reverse mode" for about one and one-third miles. Reaching the site of former interlocking Tower 112, the Texas Eagle backs just beyond the switch to the former Katy Railroad (all Union Pacific now) then switches to the former Katy line to leave town.

There have also been a few times when I rode the Wolverine out of Chicago where it backed out of Union Station as well, and then continued onto Michigan. Funny enough, both times I used points for business class upgrades so the conductor was in our car (the last car of the train) on the radio with the engineer. It was cool, figurately and literally because it was January so our car was a little cold until the turn was complete and they could close the door 😅🥶

Thank you for this fascinating video ! I was aware the Chicago and North Western Railway built the route initially as a single track, and as you say it is surprising that when the route was doubled running has not been reversed so that inbound trains use the southernmost track. It was also amusing and somewhat ironic that the slow moving UP freight train was running westbound on the northernmost track ! Perhaps it was just leaving Proviso yard ? Many thanks .

10:49 I love how they almost ALWAYS wave.

I hope you got to spend some time in Champaign-Urbana! The bus system there is quite excellent for a city that size in North America and they even have some unique hydrogen bi-articulated busses too.

Hoping to ride the New Orleans to Chicago run in late 2023 or in 2024. Thanks for sharing this, we are new subscribers. Stay connected!

I heard that LA Union Station will soon have Run-through tracks (like NYC Penn Station) to replace the Stub-Ended ones. That will probably reduce turning Amtrak Long Distance Trains like Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, and it's possible they might also extend the Coast Starlight to San Diego if that track conversion at LAUPT happens.

Nice video

Thx a lot for the interesting explanation. One time I will ride this train too looking forward. Sadly the US is such a big country but the train-network is very poor compared the network in Europe. Take care.

Restoration of the St Charles Airline would also open RER opportunities for the Metra

Greetings from Port Saint Lucie Florida!

@2:27 you have a clip of the Dutch railway company NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) as an example of two locomotives. You are right, but in this specific situation the train is prepared with a cab-car. However, it turned out that the locomotive used for this train wasn't able to communicate with the cab-car in push-direction. Hence the two locomotives and making the cab-car "useless". The previous type of locomotives used for this train type was able to be used in push-configuration. But that type of locomotive wasn't able to run on this specific stretch between Rotterdam and Amsterdam (NL) if I remember this correctly.

I am taking this train in August. I am stoked that I can take pictures of the loco without having to run to the end of the train. Hopefully it's an ALC-42!

If you're ever in Springfield, Mass, the north-south trains have to do a similar, if much smaller maneuver. The platforms are on the east-west route over the river, so Amtraks Vermonter and the CTRail commuter trains turn into the station and have to back out onto the n/s main before they can continue.

The airline bridge has been out for many years & will remain out for the foreseeable future. There are actually two routes to take these trains out of Chicago. You took the more favorable route to the NS and thru the new connection across to Metra 16th St. The other route takes you out the CN to Cermak, then cross Amtrak at 21st St and on past Metra 16th.

At a terminal you need an extra road and a switch to allow the engine to do a run around and go to the rear of the car set. At some point you also need a turn table if your engine is not suited to running in reverse. Here in Sydney Australia engines have to drive light for several miles so that sometime later they could re appear pointed in the right direction for the next trip. Passenger cars have reversible seats so that passengers can face forward for the long journey.. Stavros

Probably quicker and cheaper to reverse like that than to run the locomotive around.Some use remote driving cars but you need something called timer division to sync the locomotive and the driving cab and timer division is generally used on more local trains although French TGV 's , English HST's and the Australian APT must use it.

The City of New Orleans did actually go west to about Halsted street before starting it's journey to New Orleans. The last time I was on the train in 2018 that was how our journey started.

As someone who rides this line often, I would offer a few thoughts to add to this great video. 1st - the City of New Orleans was a 2nd class train on the IC. The Panama Limited was the 1st class all-Pulman service whose on-time performance was the President of the railroad pet peeve. It was a firing offense to delay the Panama. He checked the OT performance when he arrived at work every morning and if the Panama was late that was the first order of business for the day. The City got the song so it was the retained train name. As to backing out, until the construction started on removing the tower on the Metra line that controls traffic into LaSalle street station and the St. Charles Air Line; the Airline was the much-preferred route and it was a couple of miles shorter and had fewer sharp curves. It would suspect that when the tower has been replaced with automatic block signals and CIC that they will go back to the Airline. I hope that the curve into the station comes sooner than later. One further point on the delay that NS imposes on the Capitol and Lake Shore. The dozen or more times I have ridden that route we were never delayed on the part of the route you describe basically highball from Whiting to the station and out to Whiting. The delays and you are correct the NS is as notorious as the UP on the Sunset route for delaying Amtrak but in my experience much more often outside this corridor. Thank you for your effort on this one.

This was interesting. I was wondering why The City of New Orleans train had changed directions when leaving Chicago.

So this is where Garfield was filmed? They have a train scene that shows the Amtrak leaving backwards too

I now live in Joliet Illinois. And Metra stops at Tinley Park. And Amtrak stops at Joliet.

When I was in Chicago last time at the end of January (BRRRR…🥶) I got a great deal (120/night) on a big 1000 sq ft apartment with a balcony on the top floor of a building in the south loop. Not only did it have a great view of cta trains entering and leaving the south end the Roosevelt El station, as well as Metra electric/south shore trains, I was also able to watch Amtrak trains on elevated tracks as they approached the same corridor as Metra electric. (I could also see that lifted disused train bridge and the really cool, almost pyramidal shaped apartment building beside it)