BoxcarFrank Videos

Part one covers everything in the very early morning, even before the sun comes up. See part two for the rest.. 6:29AM- A UP coal drag illuminates the Hick interlocking area as they proceed West. 6:50AM- Eastbound intermodal hotshots are pretty common in the morning, since Amtrak interference is at a minimum. 7:12AM- A BNSF Dash-9 with a RS3L leads a container intermodal through the interlocking as the Mittal blast furnaces twinkle on the lake shore. 7:20AM- This was one of the few times I ...

Tags: NS EJ&E CN IHB B&O PRR CR Hick CP503 CP502 Arcelor Mittal Steel Mill East Chicago Indiana Harbor Lake Michigan Whiting Hammond Gary Pine Train Railroad Intermodal Container Manifest Unit Transfer Local Throughbred Railfan Foamer

After raiding a Best Buy and getting a hella cool GPS system, I went to get some NS at Hick Interlocking this cold morning. 7:48AM- The sun rose behind the clouds moving over the lake, as a hot Z-train blows through CP503. NS C40-9W #9918 NS ES40DC #7584 NS C40-9W #9562 8:49AM- From a different perspective, Amtrak 29 ducks under the piping bridged between the mills. P42DC #18 P42DC #10 8:57PM- A UP run-through travels over the old NYC bascule bridge. UP SD70M #4960 UP SD70M #4966 9:08AM- A ...

Tags: NS EJ&E CN IHB B&O PRR CR Hick CP503 CP502 Arcelor Mittal Steel Mill East Chicago Indiana Harbor Lake Michigan Whiting Hammond Gary Pine Train Railroad Intermodal Container Manifest Unit Transfer Local Throughbred Railfan Foamer

Here's where I went after visiting Belt Crossing. Most of you are familiar with NERSKA by now. 10:26AM- The IC&E may not be around anymore, but their trains still run on the BRC. One of their ethanol trains ran South on the BRC yesterday with the same power. The CP SD40-2 with Candy Stripes and the Pac-Man logo leads the light power back towards Bensenville. CP SD40-2 #6025 IC&E SD40-2 #6453 IC&E SD40-2 #6441 10:44AM- Amtrak 303, the second Southbound Lincoln Service rolls over the BRC with ...

Tags: BNSF BRC CN NS UP ATSF NERSKA Lemoyne Chicago Corwith Clearing Yard Swing Bridge Lemont Joliet Junction Belt Railway Ash Street Railroad Train Railfan Foamer

Belt Crossing is where the Belt Railway of Chicago crosses the CN/IC Freeport Subdivision at grade. Several junctions where the Belt crosses another railroad are in the area, such as Nerska, where it crosses the BNSF Chillicothe and CN/IC Joliet Subdivisions. Most of the traffic is seen on the Belt, being run through freights, transfers, and locals. The CN/IC sees a dozen or so trains mostly being locals. Miniscule Hawthorne Yard is East of the junction and only sees a switcher or two a day ...

Tags: CN BRC CP NS UP ATSF IC Hawthorne NERSKA Lemoyne Chicago Corwith Clearing Yard Swing Bridge Lemont Joliet Junction Belt Railway Ash Street Railroad Train Railfan Foamer

The follow-up vid consists of everything on the CN/EJ&E. CN might be in charge, but their new operations are no where near boring. Today was the busiest I've ever seen the old EJ&E trackage in the Pine area. The NS and CSX lines were also very busy so if you havn't already, watch the previous footage also made today. 8:35AM- Here's a meet I've been waiting to see since I first went to Pine. The "Line Train" or whatever CN calls it has orange power today. Not only did this job have EJ&E power ...

Tags: NS CSX CSXT EJ&E AMTK CSS CN Norfolk Southern Elgin Joliet Eastern Amtrak South Shore Railroad Train Manifest Mixed Freight Coke Intermodal Container Local Gary Indiana Chicago Steel Mill USS Arcelor Mittal Hotspot Pine Railfan Foamers

Lots of trains rolled under the dreary Gary skies this morning and even though there was sporadic rain, I still was out. I compiled so much footage today that I have to make it into two videos! Make sure you view the following video featuring CN/EJ&E footage around the Pine area. 8:25AM- A manifest that left Chicago earlier this morning now hits Pine at track speed. NS SD70M-2 #2670 BNSF C44-9W #740 8:40AM- Inbound Amtrak Lake Shore Limited 49 travels into Pine at it's expected time. P42DC ...

Tags: NS CSX CSXT EJ&E AMTK CSS CN Norfolk Southern Elgin Joliet Eastern Amtrak South Shore Railroad Train Manifest Mixed Freight Coke Intermodal Container Local Gary Indiana Chicago Steel Mill USS Arcelor Mittal Hotspot Pine Railfan Foamers

2:25PM- The M342 travels by the Spencer Rd. Grade crossing shortly after getting the warrent onto the Matteson Sub. BCOL CW44-9 #4645 CN SD60F #5562 (c) 9th Street Productions.

Tags: EJ&E CN M342 M343 M302 M303 Freight Manifest Land Barge Train Railroad New Lenox Joliet Gary Frankfort Illinois Railfan Foamer

Today was the coldest day that I could remember. 1:26PM- Light power enroute to Gibson Yard to pick up a vehicle train. IHB SD38-2 #3861 IHB SD20 #2924 1:39PM- A fouled K5LA adorns the lead unit of an Eastbound stack train. CSXT C40-8W #7674 CSXT AC4400CW #296 CSXT ES44AC #874 1:40PM- Meeting the CSX train is a UP transfer out of Proviso with cars to be set off at Riverdale and Gibson. UP SD9043MAC #8027 UP SD9043MAC #8114 2:16PM- Metra Outbound Scoot 515 smokes it up as it heads for Joliet ...

Tags: CSX IHB CN IAIS CRL Metra BNSF NS UP Rock Island GTW B&O Blue Chicago Barr LaGrange Tower Bridge Crossing Diamond Crossover Manifest Intermodal Power Locomotive Freight Train Railfan Foamer

2:45PM- The first train of the evening came out of Michigan Avenue Yard on the IHB. This BNSF empty taconite train will take the IHB to Argo where it will get back on the Transcon. BNSF C44-9W #5421 BNSF C44-9W #5273 3:19PM- A five pack of power leads a manifest East across the bascule bridge. NS SD70M-2 #2765 NS C40-9W #9815 NS C40-9 #8884 NS C40-9W #9691 NS C40-9W #9025 3:33PM- Amtrak Wolverine 353 rolls inbound with the newest addition to the Michigan Service roster leading. P42DC #37 ...

Tags: NS EJ&E CN IHB B&O PRR CR Hick CP503 CP502 Arcelor Mittal Steel Mill East Chicago Indiana Harbor Lake Michigan Whiting Hammond Gary Pine Train Railroad Intermodal Container Manifest Unit Transfer Local Throughbred Railfan Foamer

Friday The Thirteenth railfanning! 1:15PM- A manifest most likely coming from Galesburg slows as it approaches the junction. BNSF C44-9W #4602 CSXT ES44AC #828 1:33PM- Out of nowhere, a hotshot originating out of Bedford Park travels track speed through the junction. CSXT SD70MAC #4722 CSXT SD70MAC #4517 1:49PM- BC Rail leading! I've never actually caught one of these on the point of a train even though the Chicago area has been plauged with them lately. This one is leading a manifest down ...

Tags: CSX IHB CN IAIS CRL Metra BNSF NS UP Rock Island GTW B&O Blue Chicago Barr LaGrange Tower Bridge Crossing Diamond Crossover Manifest Intermodal Power Locomotive Freight Train Railfan Foamer