Railfanning in Chicago: Metra Trains Crossing Over More Metra Trains | Amtrak Hiawatha to Milwaukee

Chicago is definitely a railroad city. Its commuter network, Metra, operates from four different terminals downtown. Ogilvie Transit Center and Union Station are located not too far from each other, and there is a crossing where the tracks from Union Station are level, and the tracks into OTC cross overhead on a bridge. These tracks are very busy, and in just half an hour or so I saw all these trains passing by on both lines. My goal today was to get a shot of trains crossing over each other, with the Willis Tower in the background.
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[@lindseydeshetler593]

I can’t believe how MANY Metra trains go through this intersection! Wow! Chicago is great and I want to visit again soon

[@youwereprettylasttimeisawy1227]

crazy to think that because i live on the south side i’ve only rode the electric line and the rock island, in a few weeks im starting my journey of riding every single metra and cta line from end to end

[@ChicagolandTransit]

Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis? It's the Sears Tower!

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

absolutely awesome spot! I bet you'd absolutely love the rail corridor to and from Munich Central Station in southern Germany as well. 5 miles long, up to 1,000 ft wide, and more than 2,000 passenger trains on a daily basis. Commuter trains alone run on a 2 minute schedule / 30 trains per hour per direction on the double tracked trunk line. Then there are lots of regional to long distance, international and high-speed trains, and depending on where on the corridor you're at there will also be freight trains (on top of the 2,000 passenger trains)

[@RailfanRene]

Chicago is an awesome city for trains. Great video 👍🏻

[@233CFH]

I've always loved this intersection. I found it pretty interesting to see the amount of trains that pass through here. And I love how you can see more trains above this intersection.

[@233CFH]

Oh and another thing. I also find it really weird that the Amtrak cafe car on that Amtrak Hiawatha train had the "Northeast Regional" symbol on it. I wonder how it got all the way out there. I usually see the Amtrak Hiawatha train use th horizon cars. Is there any reason for the left hand operation when you took the train into OTC?

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoy that video👍👍

[@thickernell]

Nice job, Thom. That's got to be the best train watching spot in our City. You should befriend someone in one of those high rise condos and shoot an amazing time lapse of the intersection from above. The elevated tracks on top are the old Chicago & Northwestern, heading into Northwestern Station. It was a beautiful station, replaced in the 80s by yet another Helmut Jahn modern monstrosity. I always describe his works as looking like they were done by someone who was in their second childhood...for the third time. The lower tracks are the old Milwaukee Road, which was an original partner in building the current Union Station, along with the PRR, the Chicago & Alton and the CB&Q. BTW, the O in Ogilvie is O as in Ocean, not O as in Ostrich. He was Illinois Governor when I was a little kid. No worries though. I'm always amazed at how Dutch peoples' English is just impeccable and better than most native-speaking Americans and Brits. ;) Keep 'em coming.

[@Thom-TRA]

Haha thanks! You know a lot more about these tracks than I do! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with an aspiring expert like myself :) I love Chicago a lot and it’s fun to know there are people who share a love for the city’s trains And as for my English, I attended an American school up until high school. It is very convenient sometimes to be “American passing” if you know what I mean!

[@DCYote1]

I feel like some of those F59's used to be Pacific Surfliner locomotives. I recognize that paint job from when I used to ride the Surfliner quite a bit when I lived in California

[@Thom-TRA]

Yep! They were Amtrak, and now they’re Metra. Metra will do anything to add EMDs to their fleet.

[@dfwrider3830]

9:00 nice engine number

[@dennisforner6090]

Thank you for pointing out the location of the bell on the Metra loco - I never expected it to be located there! The continued use of the bell is obviously a hand over from the former steam trains and appears to be unique to Northern American trains. Here in Australia and in UK/Europe that safety feature unfortunately went with the steam trains. Looking forward to Part 2 of your South West Chief adventure.

[@Thom-TRA]

The bells and horns are honestly my favorite part of American trains. And I had no idea the bell was there either!

[@dennisforner6090]

@@Thom-TRA Yes the American train horns are unique and I too love hearing them (especially when on a train at night)

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

I would love to visit Chicago coming from NYC, to see your trains, especially the Metra trains

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m here right now, about to hop on the Lake Shore Limited to NYC

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

@@Thom-TRA Cool🙂👍🏿

[@mannashah2233]

Living in NYC area, and former Chicago resident, the Metra and CTA L are unique. Many L lines run elevated in the Loop, some lines have 3rd rail grade crossings running on outer surface running. Metra Electric South Chicago Branch runs in street median ROW similar to a light rail train. Rock Island District suburban branch has a light rail feel with closely spaced stations in Beverly and Morgan Hill neighborhood of SW Chicago with tracks running adjacent to local roads and even road median. Only downside is that frequency of Metra does not match Metro North and LIRR in the inner suburbs.

[@amfm889]

FYI, it's pronounced O'-gil-vie, long "o" sound. Or to long-timers, NorthWestern Station!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks! Someone else pointed this out to me just a little earlier. Gotta love our amazing English language…

[@AllenPendleton]

It's the Sears tower!!!!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Sorry we can’t all live in the 90s

[@dangelohartley5977]

Welcome back to Chicago! I'm you've gotten your second experience riding on Metra. What Metra train line did you ride towards Ogilvie Transportation Center and what station did you board the train?

[@Thom-TRA]

I rode the Union Pacific North line from Wilmette!

[@dangelohartley5977]

@@Thom-TRA Wilmette is so beautiful, the last time I passed by that suburb is when I was riding on Pace Bus Rt 213 Green Bay Rd. I also take the Purple Line train too to Linden.

[@metra130productions3]

Cool

[@midmichiganemdrailfan.4187]

Coo video

[@tyhik9338]

Love it man, are you heading to the Metra electric line soon?

[@Thom-TRA]

I have nothing planned as of yet, but I’d love to ride it again!

[@tyhik9338]

@@Thom-TRA ok thanks man

[@anthonyhunt701]

Aren’t you guys local?🤔