BNSF Racetrack

Time-lapse at the crossing, meets galore!
Final days of the CB&Q Searchlights, at evening Rush Hour on the BNSF Chicago Sub! It's all here in this action packed video.

[@neilybobmojo_railfanning]

Very nice production, I really liked the sped up time lapse at the end with credits. The train combo from 12:30 to 13:50 is downright epic!

[@TrainmanKight]

Signals are inspected every month following Federal Railroad Administration guidelines. Other than that signal crews stay the heck out of the way of trains, unless something fails, maintenance work is usually done on the weekends and also at night when Metra runs limited trains.

[@normapalou]

Since my first trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle I'm hook on trains.Thanks

[@MetroVick]

Really good video, the closing sequence was very interesting.

[@ClassIRailroader]

it was amusing watching the man in the orange jacket try and get across three times;)

[@TrainmanKight]

Yah, he was on the construction gang putting up the new wayside signals, I don't think he was from Chicago and was amazed at how much traffic (both rail and car.)there is in Chicagoland area.

[@lawrencekeesler7369]

Excellent video! I appreciate the absence of panning and zooming - often a major distraction. This is more like actually being there.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, most of my videos I don't pan just by the fact that most mid range tripods suck at it.

[@florida_railfan_production3114]

12:30 the metra was saying to that Amtrak "AND STAY OUT!!!"

[@fmartino100]

What a great video!!! long but went fast. That is one busy R/R crossing, Thanks for sharing, Frank

[@CLELDKFKEJ]

5:54.. The guy couldn't wait another 10 seconds?

[@TrainmanKight]

Probably not, The impatience of people will never cease to amaze me.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, not much I can do about the noise, wind was blowing about 35mph that day. They don't call it the windy city for nothing lol.

[@TrainmanKight]

Mr. Gordon, Thanks for the comment. I used to post locomotive info in the videos but it fell on death ears, also I don’t post dates filmed because the data on the video always gets off sync. With time constraints all the info I post is at the end of the video, which I always include the locations I shot and music used.

[@HookLineSinker4343]

Awesome!

[@guillermobeisbol9569]

Wow! Miles and miles and miles ahead of most other train vids. Keep up the great work.

[@stevenmichael2845]

I like what you did with the time lapse...

[@IsaiahVerseRailfanning]

Hold up....hold up. 15 seconds away from "the fantasy 3-way" AT a railroad crossing. (12:30 Amtrak, 12:40 BNSF, and 12:45 Metra)....and then you actually GET "the fantasy 3-way" at 23:28 (The signal on the far right for the Metra JUST turned red, so it would've still been there too). You've gotta be kidding me. Cut the commercials and the nominees. Railfan video of the year! This is definitely a railfan spot to see. Is this Downer Grove, IL? I've occasionally seen some of your other videos too.

[@rossgordon3471]

Very Good. But most annoying of all is that you and so many others provide no information as to the film location, date on which it was filmed, or details of the trains and locos. Keep it coming but please provide more info.

[@TrainmanKight]

Yah all the footage here was shot in a single day. That guy was part of the BNSF signal construction gang that was working to put up new signals.

[@NWINWeather]

I must agree, I myself try to cut out not needed scenes so it wouldn't take up so much space on my hard drive. I shoot severe storms and send them to the National Weather Service DURING the storm! I have to make my edit quick. I try to stay on topic. Also LOL to the guy in orange from 4:00 - 5:00 who I think is talking on his phone around train tracks!! He gets so close or even on the tracks while he's on his phone!

[@SMC99]

Wow! Nice vid! Where is this?

[@TrainScott]

Those crossings don't look like quiet zones

[@TrainmanKight]

BNSF employee, he wasn't too close to the track its just an optical illusion.

[@TrainmanKight]

If you watch the credits they will tell you.

[@TrainScott]

I wish there were more horns to hear

[@MisterLP23]

What station was this?

[@KevinPlaysGuitar]

12:38-12:46 what a weird train schedule. lol

[@gamerbeast7698]

That timelapse from Naperville to chicago what train was that?

[@BURN720designs]

this what I miss about living in IL, they had the best places to watch trains, I all so miss riding the Metra from Downer Grove in to the Chicago, that was so much fun for me, this video brings back fun times

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, I got real lucked out by the timing of that meet. The meet from 22:30-25:21 was neat too, I was not actually there, my father taped that one for me. I got back in time to pan the camera and catch the awesome horn/meet at 25:42, then I went to the other side of the track (26:37) to film with my Nikon because it was getting to dark for the JVC.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, No I don't have any video or pictures of Stone Ave, I was only in Chicago for a couple of days and only had one day to shoot video. My focus was on the grade crossing being super busy and the remaining CB&Q Searchlights during their last few days of service.

[@MegaZsolti]

I like how those bells work and those searchlight signals.

[@larryrwendelljr4465]

Not surprised in the length of the coal train, 130 cars, I've seen them in Iowa, where I live with a 150 cars, and a locomotive pusher on back. If you are at a crossing, you might as turn off your engine, lol. Great video, keep up the good work.

[@ClassIRailroader]

it's amazing how many Chicagoans drive through the crossing gates when they are down

[@FreedomtowerStudios]

Awesome Video! Did you noticed that the gates seen at 2:33 have horizontal gate stripes? That is also one busy crossing!!

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks. It wasn't the first time that camera took a fall. It fell off my car once and nailed the road at 50MPH. The camera works fine, I just messed up one of the solder pins while fixing the button that got smashed in when it got run over.

[@silvictherobloxian6646]

THAT METRA STOPPED STRAIGHT ON THAT CROSSING! XD!

[@Oat_meal_YT]

12:38-12:44 what the hell?

[@TrainmanKight]

Well if you actually watch the video you'll find out.

[@saintsrowthethird100]

the crossing gate sounds like haunted music or somethin

[@Tcostello105]

Great video, really enjoyed, awesome camera shots to! Faved!

[@SGuySMW]

You caught a 3 way meet! Featuring, AMTK P42DC 139 AMTK P40DC 815 BNSF ES44AC 5976 BNSF C44-9Ws 4149 and 4503 METX F40PHM-2 211

[@ncrailfan1869]

Is the BNSF racetrack a quiet zone?

[@nstrains123]

yes it is but some trains blow their horns dunno why

[@jnite67]

Yep

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, most of the coal trains around here are 140-170 cars long with 16,000-23,000 trailing tons, pulled with 3-4 4400-horsepower locomotives.

[@TrainmanKight]

I agree, but guess what nothing I can do about it. It's not called the windy city for nothing.

[@TrainmanKight]

It usually take a lot longer, somehow that video just came together quickly. I had an idea pop into my head and boom put it together real quickly.

[@NWINWeather]

How did you manage to put the camera on the Gate?!

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, yup railroading is something that gets into your blood and stays with you.

[@Smee124]

thats great, my favorit station is Stone Ave La Grange, have you also shot these station? build it in G scale and i`m looking for any details

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, It was a suction cup and it actually did fall off and got run over by three vehicles.

[@utubewatcher806]

needs an audio filter for the "windy city"

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

That is a relief. I wounder how many track switches and signals they have to repair or have maintenance per week with all the train traffic that runs on that line? That is a lot of money to go through.

[@CSullivanmeerkatmandude]

Who is that person @ 4:15 - 4;35? There was a speeding Metra train passing by he could have been hurt by the train. It looks like he may work for Metra?

[@TrainmanKight]

All of the BNSF and a lot of other Metra lines in the Chicagoland area ARE quiet zones.

[@CombatBuckee]

Good video, BUT I would say that even though it may be called the BNSF Racetrack, to really get the sense of the name, you'd have to see this line at mid rush hour, otherwise in the late mornings to noon, it's kinda busy.

[@TrainmanKight]

Video was taped during the evening rush hour, same amount of commuter trains run during the evening as in the morning.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, Union Pacific is one of the largest coal haulers in North American.

[@Cnw8701]

And gee... wish I only had about a minute or two to wait for a train! >=( Here in NC, it literally takes more than an hour! (Depending on traffic and the way of the week, but still... ugh...)

[@TrainmanKight]

I got lucky there were track workers at the beginning of the video, at that point trains must sound the horn.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks. Was trying to get HD cabcar footage for a dvd, didn't know that I set the camera to ultra wide, oh well some other time.

[@TrainmanKight]

What the whole video, at the credits I say where it was filmed.

[@TrainmanKight]

This video only took me 3 1/2 hours to make, I think it came out good for all the sleep I lost.

[@fredthompson7465]

It must make drivers crazy trying to be on time in this town.

[@TrainmanKight]

I have no clue you could always sit back and count them.

[@Tcostello105]

Your very welcome, that was a pretty fast reply!

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, If you watched the whole video you will actually find out how busy the line is and where it was shot at.

[@TrainmanKight]

They have a station right next to the tracks.

[@TrainmanKight]

HA, I have youtube and emails tied into my smartphone.

[@MiguelAngel-gx3hq]

Why Metra trains stops over the grade crossing ?

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@TrainmanKight]

LOL, it does, the motors and gear need some lube.

[@Timrathmore]

Yeah i wonna go to that grade Crossing. Holy crap i could watch trains all day.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, I couldn't have timed that better if I dispatched the trains myself.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, I try my best, FYI, after awhile the camera on the gate fell off and got runover by three cars. I've since tinkered with it and got it working again, unfortunately I broke the speaker in the process, oh well such is life. Thanks for viewers and subscribers I was able to buy another GOPRO, I highly recommend them for any sports or crazy Videographer like me.

[@jaxtrains8015]

Awesome action there! Great Video too!

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.

[@Tcostello105]

Well that explains it!

[@TrainmanKight]

Eddieg749, I said I don't do it because it takes too much time, plus I miss half the unit numbers anyway. Also the video is a time lapse, If I didn't put time lapse into the video editing the video would be over four hours long and take for ever to upload to youtube.

[@eddieg749]

You could always type the info of each train like I do, where it about the video. I have no idea why you need to fast forward each video after each train has left. It is nice to watch the traffic go through the crossing.

[@BooshBalls]

A 28 car intermodal?!

[@TrainmanKight]

Good I hope so, the credits take me awhile to make.

[@TrainmanKight]

LOL, Where some of my family lives in Alabama only 4-8 trains aday use the mainline. Also the song is Separate the Ones By TeknoAXE which can be seen here >watch?v=Knch05XMDo0 It's based off of Offspring's Come and Play, but due to copyright laws and Google AdSense I can only use certain "Royalty Free" music.

[@TrainmanKight]

Won't wait long for trains.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

The video was great, but the wind noise was annoying

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, it sure is.

[@mj0820]

OK its clear I have to railfan here at-least once! what street is this on?

[@TrainmanKight]

Street name is in the awesome credits.

[@EvilDarkCow]

Where is this crossing? I must go there.

[@bccarl88]

It's like Nascar...but with trains!!

[@AwesomeDesertTrains]

The location is BNSF Railway 6801 Windsor Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402, United States I didn't go there or don t live there but I looked it up!

[@TrainmanKight]

What the whole video, at the credits I say where it was filmed.

[@sjtom57]

Think I just found my new favorite trains channel.

[@bkriegel95]

12:30-13:50 is how many trains we get in a day where I live. You got that amount within a span of 2 minutes.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks dude, Its in Downers Grove IL.

[@kevinbaker4241]

Very well done. That camera on the crossing gate is a unique way to view the action on the Chicago Racetrack. Keep up the great work!

[@TrainmanKight]

Suction cup.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks, Glad you liked the music.

[@DavidWsTrainVideos]

That sucks. Great video with lots of awesome meets

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.

[@Cnw8701]

Wow! The lead unit on that second train had a P5a!

[@TrainmanKight]

Thanks.