The Only Metra Station in Wisconsin | UP North Trip Report

[@deaventuraconkikomas4281]

If you go upstairs in that station of Winnetka, you can literally walk 8 minutes from the station to the iconic # 671 house at Lincoln Ave, where Kevin Mccalister lives in the Home Alone movie.

[@najitobias]

This is so cool. I wish Metra can be extended all the way north to Milwaukee.

[@Thom-TRA]

Maybe the success of the Rockford extension can act as a blueprint. Since that is also Union Pacific.

[@landon176]

The Hiawatha already goes to Milwaukee and the Rockford extension will come soon

[@Thom-TRA]

@@landon176 you clearly missed my Hiawatha video or you’d know what were talking about. The fact that the Hiawatha route avoids practically every major population center en route.

[@tommygolon08]

@@Thom-TRAif metra gets extended to milwaukee, then people living in the north shore can have easy access to both cities, the up-n line just needs better schedules

[@Thom-TRA]

@@tommygolon08 exactly my point

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Definitely weird to see a Metra station in Wisconsin, but I'd love to see Metra go up to Milwaukee! Seeing Metra branding outside of its main state reminds me of how Suffern in NY is a station that has NJ Transit signage! NY Penn Station also has NJT signage of course, but that one's expected because it's the main terminal. It's Suffern that's the odd one as it's the only station besides NY Penn outside NJ that has NJT signage. Besides having NJT signage, Suffern is manned by a NJ Transit ticket agent during morning shifts. Other stations with NJT trains in NY west of the Hudson on the other hand are owned by Metro-North. Suffern is a terminus that is very close to the border so it makes sense NJT would want to own it. Here's two cool Waukegan facts: Waukegan comes from the Potawatomi wakaigin which means fort. They adopted this name in 1849 to change it from Little Fort to show they were proud of their growth and no longer wanted to be categorized as little. Waukegan has the distinction of being the only place where Abraham Lincoln failed to finish a speech. When he was campaigning in the town in 1860, he was interrupted by a ringing fire alarm

[@dvferyance]

Not going to happen since Amtrak has the Hiawatha service.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

@@dvferyance you missed the part of the video that suggests there should be more intercity service between the two. There’s nothing wrong with adding another option for Milwaukee train service.

[@dvferyance]

@@AverytheCubanAmerican What other route would they take? Racine is already served with the nearby Sturdevant station.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

@@dvferyance "served" not for those who don't have a car. By bus, it takes an hour to get to the station from Racine, and that's on top of a long walk. So no, not that convenient for those in Racine. "What other route would they take?" The one Metra already runs to Kenosha, with the portion between Kenosha and Milwaukee restored. Thom proposes this in his Hiawatha Service video :)

[@johngrantham5508]

You young people know your transit stuff. This young man knows as much about the north shore line as he do the south shore line. The two best experts on trains and public transportation. He travels the world.

[@ByzantineCalvinist]

Prior to 1982 the Milwaukee Road’s commuter line terminated in Walworth, Wisconsin. But after METRA assumed control, it was cut back to Fox Lake.

[@Robbi496]

Fun fact: The CTA stops at Dempster Street, Evanston. The C & NW stopped there until1958

[@rikkichunn8856]

After they discontinued the stop at Dempster Street, there was a model railroad group that rented the old station building. They had an amazing layout in there!

[@dankyfrankie290]

I live by there and it’s in Skokie, IL! Tons of history here.

[@Robbi496]

Yes, but also stops at Dempster and Benson in Evanston

[@BDavinci06]

@7:25-8:06 Cool!! A nice train race between the CTA Purple line, and the Metra Union Pacific North line. Both trains matched at the same speed and both arrived at the same time at Evanston Main Street Station!! 🚄🚄 🚃🚃 .

[@OmegaPaladin144]

Back in college, I used to take the Kenosha train to visit my folks. They appreciated being able to pick me up there rather than going all the way to Chicago.

[@Thom-TRA]

That is nice!

[@jenniferjohnson708]

As a Kenoshan myself, I am so glad that our city get's Metra service. It provides a very valuable and neccessary alternative to driving to the heart of Chicago. Unfortunatley our station only gets 12 trains in most days and only on Sundays. Despite this, pre-pandemic, Kenosha station averaged around the middle for number of passengers each weekday. If service was expanded, Kenosha would most likely become a high-ridership station. On a side note, I also love to walk down to the station and see if I can find trains parked there. On some occasions in the evening, I've found three.

[@ommy7672]

It's not an alternative to driving. It's the main method.

[@GDJason]

Exciting. As often as I travel to Chicago I've never used the Metra. I'm on the Hiawatha often though. Always been interested in the Kenosha Metra stop and the service to Chicago. Thanks for showing us the trip.

[@johngrantham5508]

This bus connects Chicago land with Milwaukee. I have ridden this bus numerous times. It serve the most densely part of Wisconsin. You can go from Waukegan to Racine Wisconsin on public transportation these days is amazing. Metra UPN line should have Coach USA bus Kenosha Milwaukee schedules posted at their stations and on the trains.

[@kurtwicklund8901]

But busses are not trains are they?

[@captziggy1]

So cool my dad use to be a conductor on that line . He worked for Chicago northwestern then Union Pacific when he Retiered . I use to go to work with him . Brings back memories !! I remember going to the northwestern station in Chicago before Olgalvie . I loved the old station . Thanks for doing what you do keep up the great work .

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s so cool you got to go with him sometimes!

[@erict5234]

Who was your dad? I may know him...

[@shi5369]

Man id love to travel via train to chicago. No toll booths, no crazy drivers.

[@reneeleegreco1603]

Great channel and video!!!! I really wish they had more trains extending to Lake Geneva, Milwaukee, etc.

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish so too. they'll be adding Rockford as a destination in a few years!

[@Trainsaregreat365]

I love what you're doing and it's amazing that metra has a line that croses a state line in Brisbane australia where I live they don't have a train that croses the state line and the trains in brisbane are multiple units and all the lines in Brisbane are electrified and all the lines in queensland are narrow guage

[@Thom-TRA]

I’d love to go back to Australia someday!

[@winstonoboogie2424]

You shoud have mentioned the Chiwaukee Prairie, a National Natural Landmark visible in much of the scenery you showed at Wisconsin-Illinois state line.

[@Thom-TRA]

Nah

[@versedbridge4007]

Ah the UP-N, yeah for 10 weeks while training up at great lakes, I would see the train roll by quite alot. Glad I got to ride it to chicago when I graduated.

[@Thom-TRA]

You ever been back?

[@NaTheN9ll]

This is awesome! I live in Kenosha!

[@captainsnake8515]

KZbin’s video preview feature showed me the part of this video in winnetka station, which was the freakiest thing I’d ever seen because I literally grew up there. Having seen that, I knew I had to check out the video.

[@tmcb_]

32 years in Chicago, frequent user of both CTA & Metra...I never knew Metra went to Kenosha.

[@Thom-TRA]

Time for a trip!

[@timothynoel786]

The former C&NW lines have a special place in my heart. So many North Western traditions survived until recently, and some continue to. Such as Left Hand running, the "Millionare's Club Car" and Special "Race Day" trains to Arlington Park...

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Thanks for covering the UP-N. I'm looking forward to your Amtrak video!

[@darknessofevil117]

Hey Thom not sure if you heard but Metra is going to extend service to Rockford, IL. Its suppose to start in 2027 so hopefully you can try that .

[@Thom-TRA]

I have heard! There’s actually a video about it on my channel

[@brucebarr6542]

I grew up in Wisconsin and did not know that metra went into WI. Thanks for the video!

[@Thom-TRA]

Check it out sometime!

[@joserivera-yc5rr]

Yes trains are awsome, great blogs, keep them coming

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks, will do!

[@leereeder2293]

Thom I've been on that line heavily whether at Davis St Riding express or any of the other stations on the line depending upon where I needed to be. Just glad that Metra will be taking over passenger operations next year

[@Sean-h3d]

Another great video love you guys!!!

[@George-ni5ic]

And whether going to Ogilvie or Union Station, you still can’t readily transfer to the subway system without an outdoor walk of several blocks.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s the worst part about Chicago transit in my opinion. Stations should be intermodal hubs. Instead it feels like every man for himself in Chicago.

[@macdunbar-bickmore6247]

Both new platforms are open at Ravenswood now. Peterson station opens next month in believe

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s exciting!!

[@aprilp7744]

Cool video. I took the Metra every day from Waukegan to Ogilvie for two years to go to college. Your butt does go numb in the beginning 😅 but after taking the train for a while, you get used to it.

[@ck4426]

This was such an awesome completion to your amazing day trip!!! I also enjoy taking the Metra from Ravenswood to Main St. Evanston to visit family, it only takes 7 minutes!!! Looking forward to your Zephyr trip!!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish more Metra trains had stops in the city!

[@ck4426]

@@Thom-TRA I agree!!!

[@hitgu1]

You went through my home town and my high school graduation was at Ravinia

[@ganadu]

I definitely like this line, it's relaxing! I'm going to take a day trip I think to North Chicago, there is hiking by the lake. Also can't go wrong with an afternoon Highland Park, shopping or going to Madame Zuzu's!

[@Zions_Awesome_YouTube_Show6381]

I didn't know there was a Metra station in Wisconsin until a few months ago

[@robbicu]

The Milwaukee Road used to travel all the way up to Vilas County, terminating in Star Lake with the Fisherman's Special. That service was ended in 1943 and the tracks were pulled and shipped to Siberia to build parts of the trans Siberian railway, where hundreds of political prisoners of Stalin died.

[@th220]

The Manitowish Waters Historical Society has a youtube channel with a video about the old railroads and also a few presentations on their website too if you're interested in checking that out. I'm fascinated with the railroad history of Vilas County, ( live near Presque Isle) so I'm always searching for information and more history. Where did you learn that about the rails being shipped to Siberia? Would love to learn more!

[@michaelb9629]

I’ve been on this train line to Kenosha a few times. I like it! I’ve taken it to Lake Forest sometimes to visit some family when they lived in that town. Another thing I like about that line is some of the lake views as long as I can sit on the closest side for it. Every time I rode the entire route, it took place in the late fall and winter but not really with snow on the ground.

[@Thom-TRA]

I do like the lake views. Same reason why I love the Amtrak Pere Marquette!

[@michaelb9629]

@@Thom-TRA Yeah cool! I’ve never been on that Amtrak route but I really want to someday.

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Good travel video. I like visiting places like Washington DC and Baltimore and stay outside the city and then take a commuter rail to get into and out of the city. (Plus I can take more trains) Thanks for sharing. 👍🏾👍🏾🚅

[@rikkichunn8856]

I did the same thing in San Francisco once. We were living in Los Angeles, driving up to Seattle on a vacation once. A day's drive took us to the San Francisco Bay Area. We stayed in an inexpensive suburban motel. Took BART into Powell Street in the City, then took the cable car up to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner at Alioto's (gone forever!) I hate driving in San Francisco. Washington DC is even worse!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

@@rikkichunn8856 That’s pretty much on my wife’s bucket list. Mine is taking the train to Toronto or Montreal, Via to the West Coast, and down the Pacific Coast with maybe a stop in YNP & Glacier National Park too. Yes, I have a big bucket but dream big!

[@alteredstate42]

Sweet series! Glad to be a subscriber! Looking forward for the next series.. This next series might be intrigue me to get me and my twin brother to do the same!

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm sure you'll have a great time together!

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed the video👍👍

[@Roadman3235]

try our trains in naga to legazpi philippines. they are cheaper no toilets but has ac units.

[@Roadman3235]

it's the longest trains in our country

[@rikkichunn8856]

Regional Rail in the Chicago area? Back before Metra, when the UP lines were run by the Chicago & North Western, they put in what was then called a "memory schedule." That means that, except during rush hour, trains left most stations hourly at the same number of minutes after the hour. For example, in Arlington Heights, the trains toward Chicago left at 33 minutes past the hour all day and evening long. Somehow Metra took that easy to remember schedule out, and replaced it with the chaotic schedule they have now. Now I'm curious how Ravenswood got to be so busy? Where do those Ravenswooders go? Do they go downtown, or has Ravenswood become industrialized, so people from the 'burbs work around there? When I was a kid it was one of those inner city stations where the trains paused, but hardly anybody got on or off. Now look at it--refurbished with a waiting room and ticket office!

[@Mr111Jman]

Plenty of people do a reverse commute, live in Ravenswood and work/school in Evanston or the other north suburbs.

[@rikkichunn8856]

Enjoyed your ride down the Metra UP North line! It was neat to see that the city of Kenosha has finally finished refurbishing the Kenosha station, complete with pedestrian overpass with elevators. Would love to see some of the other busy Metra stations get the same treatment. Always great to see Lindsey riding with you. So few of us women enjoy riding trains. She's a treasure!

[@Thom-TRA]

She’s the best!

[@DomCollado78]

Try out UP NW when you got an off day. Longest line for sure and there’s a reminant of the old lake Geneva train line from Elgin in the mchenry branch. If you travel to Crystal lake they still have the spur you can check out. Day pass is about 9$. I’m from Crystal lake there’s a bunch of cool rail spots to see and there’s some good eating downtown Crystal lake. Also the Illinois train museum is in union which is about 20 minutes away west. It connects off the Huntley Rockford line between union and Huntley. There’s a bunch of cool train stuff in mchenry county it’s just way far out from the city

[@DomCollado78]

Obv the Huntley line doesn’t exist other than freight but if you are ever interested the rail museum in union is pretty cool

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve already ridden the UPNW several times

[@DomCollado78]

@@Thom-TRA I saw the one from Arlington heights wasn’t sure if you went all the way to Harvard yet

[@flenomusic]

1:00

[@White_sox_fan]

I have been to winshop harbor and that place

[@legerdemain]

Great video. I've spent a ton of time on the CTA, but little on Metra, with Ravinia concerts being the majority. I'm inspired to make a Kenosha trip now.

[@Thom-TRA]

You should! And combine it with the streetcar

[@dvferyance]

I would love to see the McHenry branch extended up to Lake Geneva one day.

[@rikkichunn8856]

As you probably know, back in Chicago & North Western days, it used to go to Lake Geneva. Some of the trains to Lake Geneva used to carry lounge cars. You could get breakfast in the morning coming in to Chicago and drinks going home after work. My high school chartered a train (of original 400 cars) for prom. It went from Arlington Heights up to Lake Geneva and back the next morning. They had a baggage car for dancing. They dimmed the lights in the coaches so the kids could "neck" (giggle!) or sleep. The last year I lived in Arlington Heights the railroad put gallery cars in the charter instead. They can't dim the fluorescent lights in those. The kids didn't like those nearly as well.

[@AnalytiKroll]

Ravenswood did finally fully open in at the beginning of August, but they are still yet to add any benches. Now to see how long the temporary platform stays there. Another nice thing about the UP-N is that it is that they introduced 30-minute headways between OTC and Winnetka/Highland Park for almost all of mid-day weekday service and as such has seen the highest overall return of ridership of all Metra lines at 67%. Now if only they could get more 1-hour headways on weekends as weekend ridership is nearly back to what it was.

[@Patrickair4444]

Nice

[@Jackyliu009]

I wish that Kenosha would subsidized more weekday Metra trains to serve the station.

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish so too

[@dragonpullman23]

I was hoping he would comment on the fact that this Metra line has a scene in Home Alone.

[@gregorygehin3547]

Kenosha pays for the station without any support from the state. Similar to how Milwaukee gets no support for the Hop streetcar. When the additional shared revenue was allocated recently the anti rail majority in the legislature enacted rules that forbids Milwaukee from using any of the funds on “frivolous things such as street cars”. However, I do have a glimmer of hope with the recent state Supreme Court majority change. Fair maps for voting districts may happen after all. Like Michigan in the last election we may get rid of those stubborn people who have been in the legislature for ever.

[@metra130productions3]

Yay

[@jfmezei]

What is the scoop with the Kenosha train station? I take it that tracks were elevated for a long stretch at some point making the original train station detached (too low) and needing new island platform and underpass to get from original train station to new higher platforms? Any idea how ong ago that happened? Does the original trai station (Mr Google says it is a Greyhouns bus stop) still have a "train station" function and look or have the insides been totally transformed and acts mereley as a corridor to those taking the train with the train vending machines etc located under the tracks ?

[@erict5234]

The entire CNW tracks were elevated through the city of Kenosha in the 1930s, after the mayor's kid was killed in a car vs. train accident. The Depot is now a restaurant. There are no ticket sales or vending machines, Tickets are purchased on the train or using the Metra app.

[@haj8579]

It is always interesting to see a train which cross two states or regions. But it seems that it would be pretty impractical to commute from Kenosha to Chicago, since it takes one and half hours.

[@Thom-TRA]

And yet there are quite a few people who do. If you drive anywhere in Chicagoland you’ll be traveling a similar amount of time during rush hour.

[@ztl2505]

@@Thom-TRA And it seems like that sort of thing is becoming even more common now that so many office jobs have hybrid schedules. An hour+ commute is more tolerable if you do it 2 or 3 days a week instead of all 5

[@TBHOfficialvr]

do the amtrak berkshire flyer or ethan allen express

[@history_leisure]

With Metra taking more intercity-like transit beyond Elgin, maybe Metro could run a test of a limited express service to Kenosha 2-3/day serving Kenosha, Waukegan, Lake Forrest, Ravinia, Willamette, Davis, Ogilvie TC. That should at least cut that 90mins in half. I guess the SW service could also benefit from something like that

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm really hoping positive results with Rockford will lead to a Milwaukee Extension.

[@thebnsfrailfan43]

You Should do a video on the NCS line

[@Thom-TRA]

You should check my channel because I’ve already done a video on the NCS

[@billtherailfanner455]

Nice! I rode the UP North Line in June 2021. I wish they would extend more Metra services on the route to Kenosha Station.

[@kurtwicklund8901]

I ride this often, to either Waukegan or Evanston usually. Thanks for covering it. BTW, your butts seem awfully sensitive lol.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you so much for this excellent video ! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and agree that this route should have a proper Inter City service, all the way to Milwaukee. As you know I am a fan of the Metra Gallery cars, and as many of them will be in service for years yet, perhaps a refurbishment is now in order, with more resilient seats ! Many thanks to you both.

[@dexteralexander2437]

The Chicago-to-Milwaukee and return series was interesting. Looking forward to your trip west video later this month. Now that you’re in DC, I suggest a trip on the Cardinal, especially the section through the New River Gorge. Mid-October should be a colorful time for the route.

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@rikkichunn8856]

I once got to ride the old Baltimore and Ohio Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington DC and back. The highlights of the trip were going through a steel mill in Pittsburgh at night and coming down into Washington early in the morning, when the Potomac river was shrouded in mist. Beautiful! Rode in the dome car to see that.

[@Roadman3235]

The only problem with America is their trains are more expensive than the Philippines. Our most expensive one is just $2.75!

[@Thom-TRA]

The cost of living and the wages in the YS are way higher

[@Roadman3235]

@@Thom-TRA Yes but jsut try it it's like a 100 km metro train for 3 hours!

[@hallze3737]

September 6th was my Birthday

[@Thom-TRA]

Nice

[@jasonwyland5198]

I have always wondered if in situations like this the employees have to file taxes for Illinois and Wisconsin.

[@Thom-TRA]

It probably depends on where their posts are. They’re Union Pacific employees, after all.

[@Intotheairwaves124]

I recently moved to WI and work in IL - I pay WI taxes.

[@maas1208]

Only Station in Wisconsin, for Now...

[@flyingbanana4179]

It will probably stay like that unless metra builds a station south of kenosha

[@maas1208]

​@@flyingbanana4179 Or They could extend the line up to Milwaukee

[@flyingbanana4179]

@@maas1208 Not happening because Milwaukee wants their own RTA obviously. Metra also has no intention of going past Kenosha and they’re really just relying on KRM to get started next year.

[@maas1208]

@@flyingbanana4179 I think both can be achieved like The KRM can Supplement Metra Trains going to Milwaukee

[@erict5234]

Kenosha does NOT pay for metra service. Metra is funded by 6 countries in IL and federal funds. The only reason that the trains go to kenosha is due to the fact that the CNW used the WYE as a turnaround spot. After push-pull operations began with cabcars, Kenosha was already established as a storage and maintenance yard, so services continued. There is talk about expanding service to Milwaukee. However, funding needs to be figured out by the WI communities involved. The KRM commuter project was killed by Republicans around 2010. Also, CNW did run commuter trains to a second WI city (Lake Geneva), but those trains were discontinued in the 1970s, with service being scaled back to McHenry.

[@Thom-TRA]

The most recent information I can find shows that the city of Kenosha does chip in a small amount of subsidy for the service.

[@erict5234]

@Thom-TRA That may be true, they are responsible for maintenance of the train station platform... but not the actual train service.

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad to provide some practice for your pedantry skills today. Hope you had fun.

[@erict5234]

@Thom-TRA lol, no reason to get butt hurt! If you are going to make a video, you should try to be as accurate as possible... I enjoy your videos and was just pointing out some details that were incorrect. (I work for UP at this facility)

[@Thom-TRA]

@@erict5234 we must have different definitions of butt hurt. I’m being sarcastic.

[@bogosbinted8826]

Naw KZbin stalking me rn I literally just took this trip 3 days ago to explore the UP-N line 🫣🫣🫣

[@Thom-TRA]

They’re just rewarding you haha

[@bogosbinted8826]

@@Thom-TRA well congrats cuz this was a really good video and I see you like exploring public transit which is a hobby I’ve gotten into ever since moving to Chicago for school so ima subscribe and watch more of your videos

[@Thom-TRA]

@@bogosbinted8826 chicago has some great stuff! Hope you’re enjoying