Train thinks its a Tram! The South Shore Line in Michigan City, Indiana, USA 2021

This train is running down the street through a neighborhood in Michigan City, Indiana. You can drive and follow a real train. If you live here: roll out of bed and touch it! This is not your typical commuter rail!
Unfortunately the line is being reconfigured and its uniqueness of riding in mixed traffic is no more.
Check out the full route of train as we stalk it by car in Michigan City here:
• Stalking the Tram (Oh ...
The South Shore Line (reporting mark NICD) is an electrically powered interurban commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana, United States.
In Michigan City, the track runs down the middle of 11th street from Michigan Boulevard to Tennessee Street, where it crosses over to Tenth Street, and has an at-grade diamond with Amtrak's Michigan Services. The track then runs down Tenth Street to Sheridan Avenue on the west side of Michigan City. ~Wikipedia
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Thank you all for leaving Super Thanks, Super Chats, Comments and Likes on this video: it helps the channel grow allowing more content to be added and us having an awesome discussion and greater awareness of transit around the world.

[@timosha21]

Follow that train!! Check out this whole route as we stalk it by car: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5fVd41pgMRkjaM

[@TheTrueMichael]

Follow the damn train, Follow the Follow the damn train mmm -Some musical parody

[@mattbrewster8051]

I watched the video and all I can do is ask 1) Why is a 6-car commuter train running along a street and 2) Why us this guy(no woman would do this) following it? He could have gotten into an accident!

[@TheTrueMichael]

@@mattbrewster8051 There are safety measures, even when ”Following that train”

[@timosha21]

@@mattbrewster8051 Why would you say a women would not do it?

[@nobody4234]

Train goes to Chicago Illinois to Southbend Indiana. It goes through this town almost every hour or two

[@kevbytes]

And they laughed at me when I told them that the Polar Express was real...

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

I’m not sure if NKP 765 (another Berkshire similar to PM 1225) and NKP Mikado 587 actually ran on the South Shore or just on a parallel line on a fan trip in the early 1990s.

[@AmericanRailClub]

"Well, you coming?" "Where?" *gunshots in the far distance* "Why to Chicago, of course!"

[@ChuckE.CheesesIllinois]

As A cHiCagOaN I'm oFFenDeD

[@Emlif]

You see it isnt. But the santa express thats a very real thing here where SANTA ACTUALLY LIVES IN THE STORIES.

[@robotnikkkk001]

=IF TO BE CORRECT,THAT IS ON WHAT THE IDEA OF POLAR EXPRESS WAS BORN ..........BUT,YOU KNOW......THIS CARTOON IS ONLY WORTH OF DRIFTING SCENE,NOTHING MORE

[@scottyerkes1867]

Amazing that the line still exists. Most interurban lines were victims of eradication. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District saved it from extinction and put modern stainless steel cars in operation.

[@AwesomeBeatles]

This line was started by an English chap who moved to America. His name was Samuel Insull. He used to work for Thomas Edison. He was involved in electric utility companies. The South Shore roughly began around 1901. He lost his businesses during the depression. We used to live one block South of the tracks on Elston Street , in Michigan City. After awhile one no longer notices the train passes. This is a great asset to the area. As it makes Michigan City practically a Chicago suburb. I rode this train much when I was younger. We used to take it to rock concerts in Chicago , at Soldier Field.

[@BowToWard86]

Finally: A damn train that CJ can follow!

[@vaibhavpatil1719]

GTA vibes 😂🙌

[@timosha21]

Who is CJ?

[@RailRoadManiac_]

@@timosha21 The main character in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

[@wowomanipulations9779]

For Europeans it is always very strange to see the heavy rail train on the middle of the street, especially dealing with the street signalling. Interesting

[@mattkennedy6115]

I’m American and this is strange to me 😆. It’s cool but man this thing must be slow having to go restricted speed most of this route

[@janweber2889]

@@mattkennedy6115 It only does this in Michigan City, as far as I'm aware. The rest of the South Shore line route runs on grade-separated tracks. When the double-track project is completed, this section will not be used anymore, but the good news is that it will significantly reduce the travel time between South Bend and Chicago, and trains will be able to run more frequently, which is great for the NW Indiana region which is seeing a LOT of people moving in.

[@marliesyanke4580]

@@mattkennedy6115 I'm German American, this is exciting but poor people living next to that noise.

[@gamedockyard3276]

And to India

[@ilyakogan]

There is actually something similar in Switzerland - in Chur and in Poschiavo - but the train doesn't honk and wake everyone up like in the US! The Swiss manage to solve this problem without noise.

[@joermnyc]

Jake: “How often does the train go by?” Elwood: “So often you won’t even notice it.”

[@noeking]

If u walk or ride the bus or even drive you'll be inconvenienced by that train I live there lol I'm finna go see it right now haha😂

[@501764727]

Dynamite Blues Brothers reference there!

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Sweet Home Chicago...!

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

@@501764727 HAHAHA!!!! They met BB too!

[@mateojames3231]

Have a UP and Coast Starlight behind your backyard. That’s it always feels like.

[@GamerRobYT]

Imagine waking up and a train is just chillin in your yard lmao

[@DJ-vk2pj]

I WANNA LIVE THERE

[@bushcrafty7274]

So its a tram

[@Stussmeister]

Indeed. I think it would be pretty neat, though I imagine some people not quite used to it would be checking the strength of their coffee every morning. I can't see any trains in my neighborhood here in Pennsylvania, though I sometimes can hear a train horn in the distance.

[@HighAway]

@@bushcrafty7274 yeah it's quite quieter! imagine that!

[@TheHighRoad1748]

*(Polar Express intensifies)*

[@lissamarieify]

I am from Michigan City and this is the best way to travel to Chicago and back. Pretty cool seeing my Great Grandparents house in this video! however, with the plans to add another track, the house which was built in 1890, will be torn down when they start laying the new track.....when ever that happens. That will be sad day! And as I sit here and type out this comment, I can hear the South Shore train whistle go by, but nothing beats growing up and hearing the foghorn from our lighthouse! I wish they would bring that back!

[@BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

This was neat. I love seeing street running trains! 🚋🚋🚋🚋🚋

[@Lner_azuma]

Hi

[@justinfriedchicken]

Train is from Chicago Illinois, to South Bend Aiprort

[@uzaiyaro]

Check out Denison St, Rockhampton, Australia. That is part of a railway line that would run a decent breadth of the US. This isn’t a stub line or anything, that is the main line running down the middle of a street in the middle of the city.

[@dh00mketu]

yeah but you won't enjoy living in such a neighborhood. Lol

[@amazinggermany8431]

The same thing happened to me. Greetings from Germany.

[@naillove6600]

That’s crazy I literally grew up on 11th & spring (10:21 on the right brick house)and when you live next train tracks your whole life and move away you miss the noise it was hard to adjust and sleep well.. crazy to see your town, Michigan City, on a KZbin video w all these views ❤️loved it

[@modelrailpreservation]

Great video. There was a time this was common in the US. Back when most town of any size had an electric streetcar line, and interurban lines criss-crossed the midwest. Often they would use city streetcar tracks to reach the centers of towns. The South Shore Line is a lingering remnant of the past.

[@PrivateMcPrivate]

I wish it was still common :c

[@popcorn8153]

@@PrivateMcPrivate blame big oil. Its sucks how innovative the past was compared to now.

[@rainbowrailroadcrossing7798]

@@popcorn8153 I agree even my little town in the north shore of Massachusetts even had its own street trolley at one point in the very early 1900’s

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

I was amazed how lightweight the overhead wires were and then I saw a comment that said this line had been an interurban trolley route. Excellent urban transport.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Originally interurban trolleys ran on this system. Officially it was named The South Shore and South Bend. Frankly I would be delighted seeing trains on my street Thanks Tim👍👍

[@ArtStoneUS]

When I lived in Michigan in the early 1980s, I went to Michigan City and Road the South shore. At the time they were still running the original equipment from the 1930s.

[@scottyerkes1867]

@@ArtStoneUS I believe the NCID replaced the 1930's cars in the late 1980's. Most commuter railroads were replacing old equipment then. Also the South Shore had applied for abandonment of passenger service.

[@BOBXFILES2374a]

When can I move to that neighborhood???

[@marshalofod1413]

@@BOBXFILES2374a Trust me, you don't want to. Michigan City isn't known as a wonderful place to live.

[@artnc4139]

I thought about it a little more. I believe at the time, they had already taken delivery of the new train sets. I was riding on the weekend to visit Chicago for the first time, and I think the driver might have mentioned they were only running the old equipment on the weekends and that was going to stop soon.

[@MegaSnow121]

It’s the first time I have seen a commuter train - or any heavy rail train - follow regular traffic signals. I used to operate light rail, so I know a thing or two about trains, and this is unique. Very cool video!

[@josephbennett3482]

When doing street running the operator has to follow the normal traffic signals like other vehicles if there is no dedicated railroad control Signal.

[@icebolt0864]

There's a CSX (or NS?) scrap train in PA that runs on the street and follows the road signals - despite having to stop with heavy loads on a hill too! It's on KZbin somewhere around here. lol

[@freednighthawk]

There's a short section of rail in Pensacola Florida that runs freight down the middle of the road. We're talking usually a single engine and at most 5 cars, but it does follow traffic signals.

[@icebolt0864]

@@freednighthawk oh I know of the place, rolls right into the little port they have there. It's pretty cool and VERY close quarters.

[@MegaSnow121]

@@josephbennett3482 That makes sense. Where I worked, the light rail trains also do "street running" downtown, but there are special train signals that work in co-operation with the normal traffic signals. Thus, heavy rail following regular traffic signals threw me off for a bit. :-)

[@kendavid891]

My Dad took the train over 25 years from South Jersey to Newark,I could hear in the distance the sad horn blast every morning mixed with the boats rigging clanging 2 blocks from the waterfront.good times as a kid.

[@marcoperez6952]

Everytime we go to the Dunes State Park we have breakfast in Michigan City. Just a short hop. Watching the South Shore trains go by is a treat and a hoot! These babies share tracks with Metra IC electric when it crosses into Illinois and heads into Chicago. All of this action is within hour & a half.

[@timosha21]

Indeed but if you want to see the morning rush you need to be there between 5 and 7am !!!

[@donnix1192]

NICTD property goes from South Bend Airport 0.0 miles to Kensington South Chicago 75.3 miles. At that point Metra property begins at 14.71 miles to Millennium Station Downtown Chicago.

[@GrandeFan1]

At about the 7:45 mark, when you start following in car, gives new meaning to Chasing Trains! 😁 Interesting stuff.

[@timosha21]

I have the full chasing train video which be shared later ;D

[@regisnyder]

My question is should there be parked cars on such a narrow street?

[@ricod9451]

Wow! Incredible to see an electric powered passenger train running at not so low speeds through the streets, stopping at traffic lights.

[@anteeklund4159]

*coughs* tram *coughs*

[@atomstarfireproductions8695]

@@anteeklund4159 it’s a train. They are multiple cars connected. The first several single level cars built have cabs on both ends to allow running a single car, however, they rarely do that anymore.

[@TransportofPerth]

@@anteeklund4159 The whole point if this video is the to show that there is an actual TRAIN running in the middle of a street.

[@quijibosimpson1381]

It doesn’t just run through city streets. We run in open areas where we run up to 80mph or whatever the rest of the world uses. An 8 car consist can carry 1,000 plus people. Not sure where a tram would work in this instance.

[@timosha21]

@@anteeklund4159 Is it a tram though? Thats way to long for a tram hahaha

[@onehappytraveler6207]

That brings back memories. I rode that train every day from Michigan City to Chicago and back for 15 years.

[@gteaz]

Did it go through any yards though?

[@_Gypsy]

I've never seen a train follow traffic signals, how neat

[@jmusic2024]

In Europe that would be tram-train (plenty in Germany) but those vehicles must have direction indicator lights like trams have etc

[@BelugasAreCool]

I'm from Chicago and live in the city. And I have taken it many times and have been on it while it was streetrunning. Its cool to see!

[@brytneybrewer1707]

I remember visiting the city as a kid. I grew up in South Bend. So it was normal for us to go to Michigan. It was so neat to me to drive along side a moving train. Good times as a kid

[@yixnorb5971]

I used to toboggan down the snow covered Indiana Dunes State Park sand dunes.

[@dihar5966]

3:42 . He even stops at the traffic light, that's more polite than bicycle

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

He even obeys speed limit, that's more polite than car

[@quijibosimpson1381]

That intersection is pretty busy. People will still walk or drive in front of us frequently.

[@johnmorris8984]

Now I know why America called the railways railroad. Trains on the road in the middle of town with traffic lights and trains stop at red lights! Trains shake the houses as they thundered by.

[@mekhidub]

Where I am it’s not even noticeable. A train will go by with the bell on and I hear nothing in the house

[@Rockphill]

No. In Russia, this is also called a railroad (literally in a literal translation, a road in Russian means a дорога). But in Russia, all railroad tracks do not go by road, except for level crossings.

[@timosha21]

And why do they call trams streetcars? hahahaha

[@AmericanRailClub]

Lucky to still have this treasure running in the Hoosier State - can't wait to see it double tracked soon.

[@dmitriglover4309]

I chased this thing on it’s full route through Michigan city one day with the windows down. It’s honestly kinda frightening. Like driving next to a semi but worse. Now I just gotta go back and do it on my motorcycle

[@richarddicristi3285]

At least it won't swerve around or change lanes like a semi or other vehicle.

[@novabusboy7331]

I don’t know what’s more weirder rubber trains or street trains but I sure do love them both!

[@albertbatfinder5240]

Cannot express how much I love this stuff. Western tourists have been flocking to the “train streets” in Hanoi and elsewhere to decry such craziness, but all it means is that the car hasn’t always won out.

[@Marcianoz5]

It must be very crazy that a train this big passes almost in front of your door

[@glendasmilesalot2959]

Great post! I grew up in Michigan City and I remember how excited I would get to see the South Shore cruise in the middle of the street. My dad was a school teacher and would take his class on field trips to Chicago on this line! I love the split screen shot! Thanks for sharing this! Full of nostalgia!

[@peggyhall843]

Hi Glenda! I did too. Back in 1965 to about 1975. This brought tears to my eyes. Mom and Dad are gone. But this was such a blast from the past. We were always afraid our kitty would get hit, but he loved our neighbors across the street...my grandpa worked for Pullman I think way back in the 40s or 50s? Nice to hear from you.

[@albertcarello619]

At one time we had the North Shore Line which also had extensive street running in Milwaukee Wisconsin that the trains had to negotiate to reach the downtown Milwaukee Terminal. The trains running in the streets were restricted in using the whistles or horns and used the trolley gongs Also when there was the original Shore Line Route there was a lot of street running: Wilmette ILL on Greenleaf Avenue, Kenilworth Avenue in Kenilworth, and St.Johns Avenue in Highland Park ILL. The North Shore Line trains would all of a sudden sneak up on you on those streets not sounding the whistles or horns. The Shore Line Route was abandoned July 25 1955. The remainder of the North Shore Line was abandoned on January 21st 1963. Sadly no transit agencies were available back then in those years

[@richardphillips2405]

When I was 10 years old, I lived in South Bend on Embell Ct. which was off of LaSalle Ave. This would have been in the 60's. The South Shore use to run on LaSalle Ave right by Embell Ct. The train started just East of the bridge on LaSalle Ave. across the Saint Joseph River and right by Embell Ct. on it's way to Chicago. Later on, it moved to the airport.

[@artnc4139]

In between (in the 1980s) the line ended at the Amtrak station

[@elisejames27]

When I moved here from Chicago and brought my friends out to visit, they just couldn't believe it while we were driving on the side of it. They were like little kids just watching in awe 🥰🥰

[@SpaceCadet2569]

I really didn’t expect it to stop at the red light.

[@BCCMightySanta]

We have to follow those laws when on the street, but when our train stops there, it shunts the track and causes all of the lights to turn green for us.

[@savvo19]

Wow! This is incredible! I live in Italy and our security rules don't permitting these situations with trains and cars in the same place! Wonderful video and greetings from Italy!!

[@geoffreyhui830]

The first time I saw a South Shore line train, it was in downtown South Bend. The railway station was just a normal building. When the train stopped running there, the building had a temporary use at Rep. John Brahmas' campaign headquarters. Arriving at ND from Hong Kong, it was something that looked very weird to me. Thank you for posting this video.

[@SkipperReu]

Nice to see that more of these exist, i only knew of Otsu and Kumamoto having lines like this

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

I have ridden this train (from South Bend, IN to Chicago). It's a great ride!

[@stuarthirsch]

If you get run over bu itn not so neat. Must keep you in business, presiding over the funerals.

[@quijibosimpson1381]

@@stuarthirsch accidents happen. A train can’t swerve to hit anyone. Tracks should be treated like crossing a street. Look both ways.

[@bestlyfe4u]

I lived on 10th street in Michigan City my whole life watch and listen to this train in my backyard in the “Elston Grove” area forever. We used to drive and beat this train and ride next to it all the time, a few people got hit by it, many memories, Double track coming soon, and they’re rebuilding the train stop on 11th street, great video

[@Ryan-on5on]

One of the last (if not the last!) extant legacy Interurban rail lines in the U.S. A century ago Interurbans were a ubiquitous feature of the American transportation landscape, connecting most medium to large-sized cities with their hinterlands plus each other and were the backbone of a cohesive, highly extensive intra-intercity passenger rail infrastructure (*15,000 miles long in 1915 according to Wikipedia). With the growing popularity of the auto and its many alluring conveniences in the 1920s Interurban rail ridership plummeted and this form of transport quickly became regarded as an obsolete, unlucrative money pit by its operators. The Great Depression was the death-knell for the ephemeral Interurban network; by 1930 most lines had been torn up and the few survivors lucky enough to lumber on through the Depression and WWII era died off in the auto and suburb-obsessed halcyon Post War boom of the fifties. In short, the South Shore Line is a very unique remnant of rail history!

[@ROTE]

This is a very cool commuter rail! Also, another cool thing about it is that it actually crosses time zones! Since most of Indiana is in the eastern time zone and Most of Illinois is in Central time zone. I believe it is the only transit line in the country that does this!

[@dangelohartley5977]

Here's another fun fact: This train shares the same tracks of the Metra Electric District while in Chicago and stop at some Metra Stations

[@ROTE]

@@dangelohartley5977 Yep

[@Adumzzinthehouse]

The only commuter train to cross time zones. Because most if not all long distance Amtrak trains pass through different time zones.

[@Adumzzinthehouse]

That’s why I said most, if not all.

[@timlange531]

When I lived in M.C., about two miles west of the start of the video, this train would be in my back yard. When driving down 11th street we would get behind the train as it would trip all the stop lights to green. We would put the tires on the rails and get a very smooth ride through town without stopping.

[@leeharvey8334]

MottyGlix, many thanx for your reply. It was most concise and interesting. Thanx again.

[@diedampfbrasse98]

lovely to see the darkages of trains still carrying on in the US ... and not just for a tourist attraction.

[@ltmundy1164]

Prior to US route/interstate highway systems, passenger rail was the primary means of travel to urban centers. Grade trackage through the center of small exurban/rural towns was the norm.

[@timosha21]

Still! The fact that out of all commuter rails this one survived? I wonder why...

[@ltmundy1164]

Location. Location. Location.

[@sapphirescythe4711]

Have I seen this train thousands of times? Yes. Did I just watch this entire video. Yes.

[@therealchayd]

That is surreal. Thanks for posting!

[@heartland96a]

Inspiration for the Polar Express !

[@dangelohartley5977]

The Polar Express: South Shore Line Street Runnin Edition

[@jrayproductions7790]

Makes me wish SSL could do a deal to bring PM 1225 to do some sort of excursion. Would be quite neat to see

[@FlowHD]

you're not original

[@stoked4015]

@@FlowHD welcome to the internet bud.

[@FlowHD]

@@stoked4015 bro why you saying that you just came out the womb.

[@rajk2677]

Beautiful. Thoroughly enjoyed the video. 💕💕

[@grahamsawyer831]

this RR has fascinated me since the first video I saw! gives u an idea of what the old interurbans must have been like. plus I really dig that maroon & orange livery; looks so smart against the stainless steel. this is so on my bucket list to ride. thanks TM for another awesome post; picture, sound spot on as usual. NICE WORK!!

[@Moshavnik7272]

I remember riding the old orange cars back in the 60s. I was also on the chartered CERA train round trip from Chicago to South Bend when these trains were introduced into service in 81 I think. I always enjoyed riding through Michigan City. It seemed so special to be able to do that. I was about 12 and the train engineer (driver) saw me snap photos out the front of the train as far as I was able to stand. Access to the cab was open then. He offered to take my camera and photograph out of his front window! I still have those photos somewhere. We used to take the train from Chicago to flag stop called Birchim that was on the road we used to take from Rolling Prairie to Saugana Lake. My uncle and aunt who used to live in Rolling Prairie had a summer house on the lake where we (my family) used to stay when we visited. We had the time of our life going into Michigan City and visiting the stores. I recall it was quite a bustling city in the mid 60s.

[@francescovitali788]

It's like having a tram only more dangerous hahaha. Greetings from Argentina, excellent video.

[@samkuzel]

Makes that streeet feel like a liminal space.

[@benphillips6386]

Streets are a liminal space

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

Indiana is liminal space.

[@merccadoosis8847]

Still another terrific video. Keep up the good work!

[@zerodark5845]

I supposed that street is being called "Train Lovers Rd", incredible footage!!!!

[@graemedurie9094]

As I understand it, it was common for train tracks to run through the streets of town, but then have their own reserved right of way, properly fenced and run at much higher speeds on Chicago's North Shore and Fox Valley lines.

[@mikeporecki9946]

First time I was there I thought it was a tram line in a small town, and found it very impressive, as that's uncommon even in Europe with much more public transit, not to mention the US. I didn't encounter a train so I was under that impression for some time :D. Anyway, the train sure does act like a tram stopping for red lights and all. Cool.

[@travelunion10]

Wonderful Capture and Lovely to see Train in Roads

[@dainamik6352]

the best alarm I've had five stars!!!

[@timosha21]

Alarm as in notification?!

[@garfstiglz3981]

Loved the video. If I'm reading correctly, I viewed the website for the double-track project and it appears all this footage will be history in the next year or so.

[@shannonautry2260]

My husband is working that job, they are building a new building, they are currently tearing down houses and he is moving the scraps and bringing in soil to fill it in

[@naillove6600]

Yes my childhood house is being torn down for the extra railroad, on 11th and spring street. I’m gonna miss that brick house and my grandpa peach tree we planted. It’s gone but gonna hate not driven past w all my memories

[@quijibosimpson1381]

@@shannonautry2260 If I could, I would trade spots for one day where he could run the train and I would tear down a house.

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

great video

[@JadenGGvam]

You’re everywhere lol

[@jonwilliams7481]

@@JadenGGvam yeah lol

[@TrainBusinfo]

Hi great video from India

[@glendenig9962]

Who needs model trains when you have this on your street?! I love it!

[@wrmprixa99]

I was once told this is the last "true" interurban system in the United States. I once rode this from Indiana to Chicago and back. I wish we had these in every city...

[@jcq1961]

In Philly you can take commuter rail to and from Trenton, NJ & Wilmington, DE.

[@wrmprixa99]

@@jcq1961 intetesting! I love looking back in historical photos at electric Interurban systems running between cities. I really wish the automobile didn’t kill our once grand mass transit systems.

[@wrmprixa99]

@@jcq1961 also, for reference, I was talking about this style Interurban: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interurban

[@_SP64_]

@@wrmprixa99 late comment but SEPTA also has an interurban still running to this day in the Philly region called the Norristown High Speed Line

[@Fan652w]

Thanks for an extremely interesting video. I am British, but I was aware of this line from Chicago to South Bend, and that it had a section of street running. In Europe there are a number of places where passenger trains on minor lines run in the street. In Bad Doberan north-east Germany it is a steam train 'Moli'! I wonder what other European commentators may think, but I suspect that the only European line comparable to the South Shore Line is that from Chur to Arosa. On that line trains of up to about eight cars run along a main street of the city to/from Chur Hauptbahnhof.

[@JaapFilius]

The other one is de Berninabahn, also in Switserland, which also has a few street sections between Porschiavo and Tirano, on it's way from St. Moritz to Tirano.

[@yvesd_fr1810]

This is very rare in Europe, and most of the street lines are dedicated to fret, connecting a main line to a plant. Overall it remains a very unsafe way of running a train.

[@UlliStein]

Same sort of train runs through Wernigerode and than up to the Brocken.

[@jupiujupi]

Imagine when you walk out your front Door in the morning to see if everything is fine in your yard but then the train passes by and honk to say "hi how ya doin?"

[@greatlakestruckspotting9555]

i'm sitting in my summer home, listening to him honk for you right now...

[@andrewpalm2103]

My home town! Finally a transit system I can ID immediately. Of course when I was growing up there in the 50's and 60's it was still big orange cars built by Pullman in the 20's. My father commuted to Chicago on the South Shore and every work day my mother would drive my brother and I to the downtown station to pick him up in the early evening. And I'm old enough to remember the passing siding at the downtown station.

[@harri2626]

Wonderful, but sadly the last use of the 11th Street station was on 30 April (?) to allow a complete rebuild of the 11st Street line and its historic station, segregating car traffic from trains. It won't be the same without mixed-traffic and pedestrian street loading, being the last example of a US interurban line running through the streets. It always seems scary to see cars and long trains on the same alignment, but the trains stay on the tracks - it's the cars that cause accidents. Michigan City residents have been used to this since 1908, so no-one can say "we didn't know about these noisy trains!" I have always been fascinated by this line and thank goodness I made the effort to ride and photograph it a few years ago. Absolutely unique.

[@richardclarke376]

you mean they have got rid of this now?

[@harri2626]

@@richardclarke376 No Richard, the tracks and trains remain but they do not stop at the old 11st Street station (dating from 1927 and latterly a "bus shelter" stop). As far as I'm aware, the only station in Michigan City will now be Carroll Avenue station next to their car barn some distance away. The total rebuilding of this section will take at least two and a half years.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@richardclarke376 they will demolish all the buildings on one side of the street so they can widen it to provide separate railway and roadway

[@MsGalfreak]

@@OntarioTrafficMan UNNESSESSARY ! Turning the street to a one-way street would have given the same space for a separate routing of the line. There are enough streets running parallel for opposite direction. No neighborhood need to be dismantled.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

@@MsGalfreak the new street is only one lane. The extra space is to provide safe separation

[@iJoshDG]

I grew up 15 mins west of here! Plans are to change the street running in the near future after they finish double tracking between Gary and Michigan City. It will be double tracked between two one-way roads I believe

[@steveaw5895]

Hello Josh

[@54blewis]

I was wondering about the return trip, if there were cab cars on both ends and it simply reversed back down the track (tricky timetable)or there was another line somewhere else for the return trip…

[@iJoshDG]

​@@54blewis I'm actually not sure. I believe there are usually cabs at either end. If trains don't go all the way to South Bend Airport, they terminate at the Carroll Ave station, which is on the east end of Michigan City

[@iJoshDG]

@@steveaw5895 hey!

[@TheHerrMan]

@@54blewis it's the 'tricky timetable'. rush hour primarily runs in the rush direction. reverse commuters are just out of luck and stuck with the short end of the schedule. otherwise it's just 1 train every two hours so plenty of time.

[@suefairbrass9163]

Hi from New Zealand. LOVED your work, just to see the real USA. Many thanks.

[@TrainBusinfo]

Hi from India

[@steveaw5895]

I grew up in Michigan City. The opening scene shows the grade school I went to as a kid' I used to sit in that corner class room in second grade and be totally amazed when the "Little Joe's" would come through pulling a freight.

[@nobody4234]

I live in this city. They are adding on making it two lanes of tracks

[@skewdtchr85]

Same here.

[@chrisgault9821]

Same

[@stuarthirsch]

I hope not in the middle of the street.

[@skewdtchr85]

@@stuarthirsch they will put in another track either to the north or south of these tracks. There will also be an elevated platform at the 11th st station.

[@cats0182]

I understand that there are plans to move the tracks out of the middle of Michigan City. There also is talk of returning the end of the line to downtown South Bend.

[@wardatkins1320]

$$$$$$$$$$$ ! They will do it .

[@huneylove5]

@@wardatkins1320 I live in Michigan City, we are actually adding another track. We closed the stop here because they are closing businesses near the rail to eventually make room for the next track

[@metrafan0731]

@@huneylove5 Do you know if trains still pass through there by any chance?

[@huneylove5]

@@metrafan0731 Oh yea its still the main line to get to Chicago for us. While it doesn't stop at 11 street right now, the next stop is very close.

[@metrafan0731]

@@huneylove5 ah ok

[@trapezemusic]

Really cool. Thanks for posting.

[@gleb00belg]

Thank you for this video! The situation is normal for local habitats but may be unexpected/unbelievable for strangers.

[@artnc4139]

When I was moving from Oklahoma to Michigan, I rode Amtrak. As we went through Michigan City, being the Nerdish guy I am, I noticed the overhead catenary where the tracks cross and wondered what I had just seen. This was in 1982, and I figured anything like that was long gone. Once I got settled in, I drove down to Michigan city to get a closer look. The yard was full of interurban cars from the 1920s in various states of deterioration. Most of those made their way to museums eventually, but the South Shore uses higher DC voltage than museums typically have, So it is unusual for them to be used in museum operation

[@kosherayatollah1237]

It's not everyday you see an EMU out the front of your house in the US..

[@greatlakestruckspotting9555]

you see, where i live i see an EMU in the back of my house, not the front.

[@kosherayatollah1237]

@@greatlakestruckspotting9555 To be honest, I only see kangaroos, and have to go a bit more rural to see emus, and up to Sydney to an EMU

[@strassenbahntk]

Thanks for filming and posting Tim! Very interesting train sets though, I have never seen so many pantographs in row. Are the carriages actually all coupled railcars with autonomous traction?

[@AtomcsiKK]

Most likely they are, and the front car controls the other ones remotely. Each car with its own pantograph(s) is still a strange sight.

[@str8edgeify]

All the cars that are numbered with a single or double digit have their own motors and have a controlling cab on each end. The 100's and the double Decker 300's have motors but only one controlling cab. The cars in the 200' don't have motors or controlling cabs and are referred to as trailer cars.

[@strassenbahntk]

@@str8edgeify Thank you very much for the explanation!

[@bluedoris88]

Amazing thanks for showing

[@paulsmith5398]

Buddy!, youve got way more guts than me to drive next to a moving train, and i applaud that! 👍👍👍👍👍👍😉😉❗

[@sherylbishop6076]

Rockhampton in Queensland in Australia has train lines at running through the city the train goes from Brisbane to Cairns

[@bushranger51]

Sheryl, first time I saw that was a few years ago, and I thought it was the coolest thing I ever saw, this massive great freight train lumbering down the middle of Dennison St, noisy as all get out, as it was speed limited, because it was going in to the station yard. Also Wycheproof in Victoria has a train going down the main street.

[@Melody615199999]

I had to slow the playback speed down so to see that train. It must have been doing at least 25 mph. Take that Japan.

[@wardatkins1320]

It makes a few stops on it's way back and forth to Chicago

[@radioactiveatom6271]

I've actually taken this train from Michigan City to Chicago about 15 times and it does get to about 85 mph at some points

[@quijibosimpson1381]

15-25 in town. Up to 79 everywhere else.

[@jimryan5280]

Loved your video! I think it's cool you have a train that runs in your front yard. The South Shore line runs from South Bend, IN to Chicago (and back), always wanted to take it. My next trip to Notre Dame I am! Thanks for sharing your video.

[@sc-trenes2561]

Awesome!! the train and the place are amazing! greetings from Argentina!!

[@metropolitantransit7276]

But seriously, trams on narrow roads looks like a better idea.

[@chicago-l9125]

However, the train in this video is not a tram. It is a 100% heavy-rail commuter train. These Japanese-built cars are 85 feet long, a little over 10 feet in width and weigh 118,000 lbs. (54,000 kg) each. The double-deck or gallery cars (3:32 - 4:09), also Japanese-built, using @ the same length and width, weigh in at @140,000 lbs. (63,502 kg) each. Definitely not "light-rail" specifications. Additionally, the same tracks that this train operates on are also used to make short freight car moves using full-size diesel engines (EMD GP38-2s) to move them. When you're driving down the street alongside these big behemoths, you quickly learn to give them their space and much respect because of their massive size in comparison to your relatively "tiny" automobile.

[@adameichler]

Achieving same capacity with a tram on only one track would be quite difficult.

[@metropolitantransit7276]

This is an inter urban, but I just said trams where there are 1 lane and where it goes 1 directions in peak.

[@chicago-l9125]

@@metropolitantransit7276 I kinda thought that's what you meant. But you'd be surprised at how many people would call this commuter line a tram or even a light rail because it runs in the middle of the street like a tram or light rail or because it draws its power from an overhead line like a tram or light rail.

[@Southerntrainspotter315]

every one else: yeah we get some busses past are house This guy: TRAIN GO BRRRRRR

[@tact86]

Great video! Thanks!

[@starguard4122]

I have been watching these trains in Chicago for years and always wondered where they came from and where they were going

[@fannycraddock99]

OMG! Never in all my life have I seen a train running down a residential street! I'd hate to live there.

[@greatlakestruckspotting9555]

the only time it's a pain in the ass is when you're having a block party.

[@nicolasblume1046]

This screams to be converted into a tram-train

[@utahrailfan1946]

This was a common sight in the first half of the 20th century.

[@nicolasblume1046]

@@utahrailfan1946 yeah sure, but nowadays a modern tram-train would be the best suited mode

[@nixcails]

I'm not sure the US gets the concept of Tram-Train or Stadtbahn (U-Bahn) just yet. Although some of their light rail systems have some Stadtbahn features.

[@Robbi496]

It goes from Chicago, IL to South Bend, IN. That would be a LONG tram line? (85 miles)

[@MsGalfreak]

"Nicolas Blume" ... Brilliant conclusion ! I am an urban planner from Germany, the country where the "Tram-Train" System originally was invented once in Karlsruhe. As an innovation in suburban rail passenger transport. From the suburbs, passing all traffic-jams by the right-of-way, straight to the midst of downtown centers, working places and shopping malls, WITHOUT RIDERS HAVING TO INTERCHANGE. "We let the vehicles interchange and not the passengers", that's our philosophy behind this system. The conceptual and economic superiority results from an ingenious combination of regional railroad tracks, which are already there and existing or new constructed lightrail tracks within the cities, by multi-purpose hybrid rail vehicles (AC/DC or DC/Diesel). In contrast, the classic, cumbersome and personnel-intensive heavy railroad is often as efficient, as a Porsche on a dirt road. That's the reason why in 7 german cities, since introduction of such a multi-system, ridership has increased by 6 to 10 times, compared to the previous heavy system. kzbin.info/www/bejne/npOaq3l5nLmYhMk In deed, the "South Shore Line" would be a great pilot project, to introduce "Tram-Train" in the US, for the very first time. Chicago and South Bend are considering the reintroduction of streetcar/lightrail, what could be realized easily and cheap by extending the South Shore Line over and above their final stations into both city centers. Includes an internal shuttle-service between Downtown South Bend an the city's Airport, by the way. At marginal costs, as a by-product of the suburban line. My suggestion for Michigan City would be, to move the South Shore Line from 11th street closer to the Center, by mixed use of the existing northern Amtrak infrastructure and by closing the gap of rail track backwards to East 8th street, via serving Lighthouse outlets and Casino event area. In addition, todays route through 11th street could remain as part of an inner-city circulator, operated by vintage trolleys for tourism and transportation at the same (tranportainment). kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZKoi3t-jKqebrs This conception follows the approach, that people can only be inspired over the use of public transportation, if logistics are right and if the way to the stops is closer than the way to the car, figuratively spoken. Greetings from Germany ! "TRAM-TRAIN" Technical specifications: Capacity 250 pax. per single unit; Multiple traction of units possible; Speed 120 km/max.; Longest line 150 km (Karlsruhe); Bistro on bord; Toilets on bord; Spaces for bikes. To the end, here is something for all of you to enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn7Sn3-hmtd1iaM

[@Phantom1963]

Very 😎 cool....thanks for posting 💕

[@michelsmet2611]

Things have not changed since my first visit in 1981 - but I was Lucky enough to visit the line in the fantastic old cars !

[@morbau11]

How many pantographs do you want? Train guy: Yes

[@Triplex5014]

Interesting that each car has it's own pair of pantographs, so I guess every car has it's own traction motors. But it seems like an overkill, if end cars were only powered it would be enough. At least EMU's that are used in Croatia do not have traction motors on all cars or not even on all axles per car.

[@yungsavage4477]

Where my Michigan City Natives At

[@grouchdouglas5507]

Since 1990

[@bartdelabarre3432]

Great company, great people. Definitely the way to commute to and from Chicago each workday. Lol, have to say it was a bit unnerving to see the train coming down the middle of the street toward me the first time I drove in Michigan City.

[@jacobcschick01]

Rode on that train on my way to downtown Chicago a few years ago. Very trippy experience to be in a train going down a road through a neighborhood like that when you've only ever been on Amtraks your whole life 😂 was also fun watching the morning traffic attempting to navigate around us too that January morning.

[@TheWillystyla]

In Germany we would say BoStrab and "maximal 75m"

[@ssingfo]

You do know that there are tracks run after EBO that are similar to this right, nothing in this video requires it to be run by BoStrab if you would build this in Germany. You obviosly could, but you don't have to.

[@TheWillystyla]

@@ssingfo In German law it is forbidden that trains that run on the road are longer than 75 meters. It has to be driven to BoStrab. There are very rare exceptional cases, but that doesn't change anything about the set

[@ssingfo]

@@TheWillystyla Where does it say that trains running along a road have to drive after BoStrab, if you would build this in Germany you aren't even allowed to do it after BoStrab, BoStrab § 1 (Summary) The BoStrab applies to trams defined by § 4 PBefG. PBefG § 4 (Summary) Trams are railbound vehicles that are sharing the street with cars or are running on seperat tracks that are primarily for town/city or neighborhood services. This train is not just driving in this town or city, its a more than 100 mile long route. And if I see this correctly this train doesn't even stop there atleast on the road. Doing something like this in Germany would most likely result in it being held up to standards of the EBO. (like Zwickau did)

[@redlioness6627]

So, at which point does it actually run through "Your Front Yard"?

[@notcardlinsytaccount1355]

It’s a manner of speaking, idiot

[@redlioness6627]

@@notcardlinsytaccount1355 Speaking of idiots, how are you?

[@geobreaker2971]

Not often where I see a video like this on KZbin and it's a place where I drive often. That alone was kinda nice. Born and raised in Michigan City. Learned to drive around there. lol

[@JKJTransit]

In 4 weeks, you’re over 130,000?! Congratulations!