METRA RAILFAN TIPS

UNION PACIFIC - WEST LINE

(UP - Geneva Subdivision)

AAR Radio Channel 52 - 160.890

Originally constructed as the Galena and Chicago Union Rail Road in 1848, this was Chicago's first railroad, before becoming part of the Chicago and North Western Railroad. This is now the UP freight main line to Omaha, connecting with the original UP, and has the heaviest freight volume of any of the UP commuter lines. Intercity passenger service beyond Geneva to Clinton, Iowa, was discontinued with the formation of Amtrak in 1971. Much of the line has 3 tracks, although there are no faster Metra trains scheduled to pass any slower Metra trains. Metra service ended at Geneva until January 23, 2006, when the service was extended 8 miles further west to Elburn. Many local stops existed in Chicago until 1958, when they were discontinued as part of a streamlining of the commuter service. The first suburb outside Chicago is the historic old town of Oak Park. And through Oak Park, the south portion of the right of way is now used by CTA's Lake Street Green Line. A few miles west of Oak Park is Proviso Yard, UP's main freight yard in the area. Immediately west of the yard is Elmhurst, which is a popular train watching spot. There are other good spots west of Elmhurst, where freight trains operate at a greater speed. Portions of the route once paralleled the Chicago Aurora and Elgin line, which was instrumental in the growth of many of the older suburbs in Du Page County. At the time, those electric interurban trains were more comfortable than C&NW's steam trains. But the interurban trains were discontinued in 1957, and much of the right-of-way was preserved as the Illinois Prairie Path. The Illinois Prairie Path parallels the UP through Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, but trees between the rights-of-way obstruct the viewing and photography possibilities. Wheaton is the seat of Du Page County, although a new county government complex has been constructed west of Wheaton, which is visible to the south by County Farm Road. Wheaton is also the home to Wheaton College. Geneva is the seat of Kane County, and is a historic old town along the Fox River, with many interesting shops and attractions within walking distance of the station. The river is crossed immediately before arriving in Geneva. Geneva's main business district is a few blocks north of the station, on 3rd Street. Weekdays are the best days to ride this line, as the more frequent Metra trains enable stopping over at different stations to watch freight trains.

Stations/Former Stations/Milepost Locations

Direction is westward from Chicago to Elburn

0.0 CHICAGO
0.2 Lake Street (tower)
0.4 Clinton Street
2.6 Western Avenue (tower/Metra crossing/east end coach yard)
3.6 KEDZIE (junction-UP/west end coach yard)
4.5 Harding Avenue (junction-UP)
4.8 Keeler
5.5 Kenton Avenue
6.7 Austin
7.2 Austin Blvd.
7.7 Ridgeland
8.2 Oak Park Avenue
8.5 OAK PARK
9.1 Lathrop Avenue.
9.7 RIVER FOREST
10.0 Vale
10.5 MAYWOOD
11.3 MELROSE PARK
11.8 25th Avenue (east end Proviso Yard)
12.1 Provo Jct.(junction-IHB)
12.7 BELLWOOD
14.2 Wolf Road
14.3 BERKELEY
15.2 Park (west end Proviso Yard)
15.7 ELMHURST
17.8 VILLA PARK
19.9 LOMBARD
22.4 GLEN ELLYN
23.8 COLLEGE AVENUE
25.0 WHEATON
27.5 WINFIELD
29.5 Turner
29.7 WEST CHICAGO
30.3 Washington St. (EJ&E crossing)
32.1 Kress
35.5 GENEVA
38.2 Peck
40.8 LA FOX
43.5 ELBURN

Tracks numbered north to south.

4 tracks from Clinton Street to Kedzie, signalled for single direction operation. South pair of tracks for normal main line trains, and north pair of tracks for movements to and from California Avenue coach yard. Left hand operation is used.

5 tracks from Kedzie to Harding Avenue, CTC in use for 3 main tracks to south.

3 tracks from Harding Avenue to Vale, and 2 tracks from Vale to Park, CTC in use.

3 tracks from Park to Turner, CTC in use. Wayside signals are not used with cab signal system outside of interlockings.

3 tracks from Turner to Cress, and 2 tracks from Cress to Peck, CTC in use.

3 tracks from Peck to Elburn, and 2 tracks west of Elburn, CTC in use.

Automatic Train Control in use between Clinton Street and Elburn.

CTC is controlled by dispatcher in Omaha.

Speed Limit: 70 mph
Chicago-Kedzie Avenue: 50 mph
Kedzie Avenue-Kenton Avenue: 60 mph

TRACK DIAGRAM

All main tracks are shown, along with most switches within interlockings, and other tracks used by main line Metra and freight trains. Not shown are hand operated industrial switches.

Information is subject to change, and is based on observations, along with information from employee timetables and from the CORA (Chicago Operating Rules Association) guide dated 2001, and Google satellite imagery.

The following colors are used to indicate types of operation:
BLUE - manual interlocking
RED - centralized traffic control (CTC) or bidirectional signals
GREEN - automatic block signals (single direction, current of traffic)
BLACK - unsignaled

Thin lines across tracks indicate signals. In CTC or bidirectional signal territory, signals usually exist for both directions at all locations, except at interlockings where the signals usually are only in the direction entering the interlocking. Between Elmhurst and West Chicago, where cab signals exist without wayside signals, the blocks are also shown.

PHOTOS