I believe the alternating lights are required as a safety precaution In certain circumstances, such as when near stations or intersections. Gyrating/sweeping lights are easier to notice than stationary lights, and gyrating lights can supplement horns where the effectiveness of sound may be limited/restricted. Sometimes called a Mars Light in reference to the Mars Signal Light Company.

@@wuhazet Uważam, że światła naprzemienne są wymagane jako środek ostrożności w pewnych okolicznościach, na przykład w pobliżu stacji lub skrzyżowań. Wirujące/przesuwające się światła są łatwiejsze do zauważenia niż światła stacjonarne, a wirujące światła mogą uzupełniać klaksony, gdzie skuteczność dźwięku może być ograniczona. Czasami nazywane Mars Light w odniesieniu do Mars Signal Light Company.

Maybe you are right especially given the superliner rolling stock. It was about 9 am on Saturday morning central time on the Illinois Central right of way. Does this square with your understanding of the route and timelines? The Amtrak train tracker called it #39

it’s not the CONO cause that departs late @ night @ around 8:05pm

@@karlfifeit’s Amtrak Saluki 391

Cause that gets to Homewood around 9am

OMG lol NICE CATCH! LOL...a CHUMP took the dump!

It's called a gauntlet track. It brings the train close to the platform to ease loading and unloading of passengers. Meanwhile, freight trains can barrel through the station without risk of striking the platform.

It changes sides more than once. With the tracks covered by snow it looks for a second like derailment There are time codes in the description if you want to see it.

I'm happy that you enjoyed it. in the spring of 2024 all of the double-tracking and other line improvements will be complete. They've been underway since 2021, including double tracking the single-track parts of the line all the way to Carrol Ave in Michigan City, building of several new stations, new platforms, new catinary/OCS, high-speed crossovers and more. This marks one of the most important changes to the line since it first came into service in the late 1800's!

@@karlfife And now I see something about them running a new line down the Western edge of Indiana using the Monon route. That should get interesting

@@MrCateagle Yes, the West Lake Corridor project. It is already underway. It broke ground in early 2022 if I remember correctly www.nictdwestlake.com/construction/

@@karlfife Thanks for that link. 'Twould have been nice to have that "way back when" when my folks lived in Lansing, IL. Then again, that was over 60 years ago and the Monon was still running then, as was the Grand Trunk which cut diagonally through Lansing.

the SouthShore goes through a very flat area of suburbs. and many homes/businesses very near the tracks. there could be people/kids near the bridges.

As the guy who shot the video, I can confirm that the video was shot standing at the pass-thru door at the head-end of the 'Highline' cars seen at the beginning of the video, also made by Nippon Sharyo, so-called. "Gallery type Bi-Level cars". The two trains' drive systems do in fact sound different, 3 speed steps on the DC shunt-motors on the single-level train sets, versus AC Variable Frequency Drive on the double-deckers. To get this shot from the single-level train, I would have needed to be in the cab, which is not allowed. .

@@karlfife the Highliners were purchased on a piggyback with Metra's purchase of Highluners for the Metra Electric Line. The Electric motors on these newer cars have a higher pitch than the single level cars. The one thing that now makes me think that these are the Highline cars ( besides your statement) is the announcement in the background at the Hammond station, " caution, the doors are about to close." Those were never on the older cars and can be heard on all Metra Lines.

Yes, the train passes under the i-90 Skyway viaduct just before 6:30. It runs parallel to it starting at 31:30. Harder to see, but the train also crosses over the I-94 Bishop Ford Freeway at 10:12

@@karlfife Yep, the East Chicago Bypass. I know that stretch of the Toll Road out to South Bend like the back of my hand. We grew up together; the Toll Road was dedicated two months before I was born!

If I'd had any idea the video would get so many views, I'd have taken it all the way to South Bend :-)

@@karlfife Faire Enough.

@@karlfife Train videos Suck! I'm kidding. It very relaxing to watch. Good job on getting so many views!!

​@@karlfifefor those who might be tempted, the trip from Michigan City to South Bend is extremely boring even for a railfan. There is no industry that I remember, and a straight track going through trees. The train used to end at the Amtrak station on the west side of South Bend, but they built new tracks out to the airport. The premise was that in the event of weather problems in Chicago, planes could be diverted to South Bend and take the train to Chicago. But that would leave you at the Randolph street (Millennial) station in downtown Chicago. It would also require them to send a big train out from Michigan City to handle all of the people and the luggage. If there was more than one plane, there just isn't enough capacity to handle that kind of people. I doubt that was ever used. If you go even farther back in time, the South Shore used to run all of the way to a station in downtown South Bend. They also ran special trains for football at Notre Dame university. The tracks originally went to within a couple blocks of the football stadium. The service is still offered, but they have bus service from the airport to the stadium.

@@ArtStoneUS I keep getting off in Michigan City, but I've been tempted. :-)

Waukegan is in Illinois

@@scenicdepictionsofchicagolife i meant Kenosha, wi.

That was the old Chicago and Northwestern line, whose air horn I can hear when the wind is coming off the lake. I'm almost a mile west of one of the north side stops and there's a brand new station being built around Loyola.

Good man Billy! Nice seeing ya nice man!

It's called a gauntlet track. Freight trains go on the outer track, passenger trains on the inner track to get close to the platform.

@@karlfife I surmised that may be the case. Thanks for that.

It's properly called a "gantlet," not a "gauntlet."

​@@erie910every source that I can find spells it "gauntlet"

Thank you for the feedback.

Not for long. They're going to double-track the line. Along with other improvements, this will reduce the time to Michigan City to just one hour. Faster than driving.

Looks like it derails

Those are gauntlet tracks. The passenger trains take the tracks closer to the platform, the freight trains take the tracks further from the platform.

Oh, that's cool! Thanks for answering!

It’s not the metra electric it’s the south shoreline

That's not a cab view but still just as good...this is out the door just under the control car cab.

At 42:00 the train pulls into the Gary Airport station. Sadly I cut the video before arriving at Gary Metro station, and pick it up again after pulling out of the Miller station. I think everyone loves this train. It's like no other. :-)

John John Batman , yes me too, I'm a Model Railroder 👍🛤️🚇

I believe the stop here sign is just before the "gauntlet bridge" where there was a horrendous accident about 30 years ago. The eastbound train failed to stop at the red signal (claiming he couldn't see it because of the sun). The westbound train was going at full speed and was not able to stop in time while the eastbound train was blocking the switch. The "solution" was to require the train to stop and blow their horn. Even if they made a mistake and both got on the bridge at the same time, they would be able to stop without colliding. The gauntlet bridge is only wide enough for one train, but has overlapping tracks. Not that it matters to anyone, at the time I was commuting from Michigan City to Chicago, and probably would have been on that train in the front seat - except that weekend I fell and broke my elbow.