TitanTrainSpotter

Kole and I spent a few hours at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union on Friday 08/09/24 - our first visit this year. It was "Diesel Days" and we were able to catch a few classic diesel locomotives - both passenger and freight. We ran into TTS subscriber Joey, who was kind enough to give Kole a real railroad safety vest. Later in the evening we were finally able to catch the ever elusive (to us, anyway) Friday night autorack train on Union Pacific's Belvidere Sub in South Elgin. Among other businesses along the line that runs from West Chicago to Belvidere, this line serves the Belvidere Assembly Plant. This is the line (in addition to the CPKC/Milwaukee West) that will provide Metra commuter service all the way out to Rockford in the next couple of years if this plan comes to fruition. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

Canada's version of Amtrak is Via Rail Canada. It's newest trainsets are manufactured by Siemens in California, and they have to get to Canada somehow, right? Today we caught some switching, freight and Metra action on the Homewood, Illinois side of CN's Markham Yard. Ultimately we were able to catch a CN engine towing two Via Rail sets out of the yard to begin their journey north to be placed into service. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

Kole and I ended the month of July with an afternoon on the platform of the historic (and no longer used for its intended purpose) Joliet Union Station next to UD Tower (also no longer used for its intended purpose). Many decent catches, including Amtrak, freight, Metra and a trespassing scofflaw. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp Track: "Begin", GUM Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/faXZZt

While driving in Lemont, Illinois, I noticed that a new park is being built on the north side of town near the BNSF line. Being a curious person, I drove to check it out. Once there, I found that an access road (trail really) that formerly was posted with "no trespassing" signs was no longer marked with these signs. Well...you know what I had to do. Taking the old car over and "through" some enormous potholes, I found a really nice location to catch trains on the Chilli Sub that gives a different view than my usual spot. I also had a good view of some tugboat and barge traffic on the Illinois Waterway (Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal), and was able to catch an Amtrak train on the nearby CN track via the drone. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp Music by Slip.stream - GUM "Easy" - https://slip.stream/tracks/d214e9fc-9a16-4319-9cfd-e19e3527be23

The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is a Class III connecting railroad that serves as an "inner belt" around the Chicago metropolitan area (vs CN's Ex-EJ&E which serves as an "outer belt"). While it is classified as a Class III carrier, it has 320 miles of track, including 30 miles of single mainline track, 24 miles of double-main track, and 266 miles of additional yard track and sidings. It serves as a vital connecting railroad in the massive Chicago area rail network. It is jointly owned by Conrail Shared Assets and CPKC. It interchanges with 16 other Chicago area railroads . IHB is the largest switch carrier in the U.S. It switches 160 customers and generates 170,000 carloads annually. The line runs from its connection with CPKC's Elgin Subdivision in Franklin Park, Illinois south, then east through Chicago's southern suburbs into East Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. The railroad was founded in 1896. Today the channel brings you freights passing on the IHB in LaGrange, Illinois, as well as some commuter action on the nearby BNSF Chicago Subdivision, which crosses over the IHB near Ogden Ave in LaGrange. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp Music by Slip.stream - GUM "Easy" - https://slip.stream/tracks/d214e9fc-9a16-4319-9cfd-e19e3527be23

After leaving a long day of work, I made a quick stop at the triple-track main line of the BNSF in Naperville for a short video. Enjoy! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter

Lombard, Illinois is a western suburb of Chicago. The original railroad through this area, the Galena and Chicago Union, was the first railroad built in the Chicago area with intentions of connecting Chicago with the Mississippi River and westward and began operation in 1848 (chartered in 1836). In 1865 it merged with the C&NW, and continued operating under this banner for 130 years until it was merged into the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995. Today we visited Lombard and watched trains roll along these historic Chicago-area rails. We also luckily caught a glimpse of Metra's C&NW heritage locomotive pulling a commuter train through town. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

A Sunday afternoon of railfanning. Rain, sunshine, a CN train that never comes, and a short window to get an idling NS train down the BNSF tracks. It's all right here. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

We spent a Saturday in Joliet and covered pretty much everything. We started off at the diamond at the old Joliet Union Station, where we caught numerous freights and people movers. Add another freight on CN's Matteson Sub (ex EJ&E) and a squeaky IAIS freight train on CSX's New Rock (named for the Rock Island) Sub making its nightly westward trip from Blue Island to Council Bluffs. It was hot and muggy, but we wouldn't have it any other way! Enjoy! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

A little July thunderstorm did not stop us from railfanning at the West Chicago diamond. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

Kole is a member of the Valley Model Railroad Club in South Elgin, Illinois. A couple of days a week, he goes and runs model trains on a massive and realistic HO layout. On Sunday 07/07/24, it was raining off and on. I had planned to get outdoors and shoot some train video. Instead, I opted to take the camera inside the club and and show you a really neat layout. Enjoy! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp

Enjoy this short video from our "close to home" railfan spot, which allowed us to spend the holiday with our family and still catch a few trains! Have a safe and happy 4th! Track: "The Sun Sets Again" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/iH7HRp Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter

Just a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive to see what could be found along the Class I railroads in Chicago's western suburbs. Enjoy the drive! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl

Today (06/27/24) we visited Wyoming Yard in Grand Rapids, MI (on the border of the City of Grand Rapids and the City of Wyoming). We played peak-a-boo with a CSX switching train that kept backing behind the trees and caught another short train entering Wyoming Yard. The TTS drone also grabbed some still shots of CSX 911 - the locomotive honoring first responders. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Music by Slip.stream - GUM "Easy" - https://slip.stream/tracks/d214e9fc-9a16-4319-9cfd-e19e3527be23

A short video from a day of misses in Scranton, PA. Bad timing seemed to be the theme of the day. Enjoy the short video and the photos at the end! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Music by Slip.stream - GUM "Easy" - https://slip.stream/tracks/d214e9fc-9a16-4319-9cfd-e19e3527be23

Driving to Meadville, PA from a visit to Erie, Kole and I were hopeful of catching some WNYP train action. However, Kole was a little skeptical once he read that the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad had recently abandoned much of its main line between Saegertown and Jamestown, essentially disconnecting it from it connections to several other railroads, and its own lines that extend into western New York. However, upon our arrival, we found a bustling yard were the shortline connects to Class 1 service via Norfolk Southern's Meadville Line subdivision. We arrived just in time to see a train switching cars. Our hopes were initially dashed when the first movement we caught was the train pushing cars back into the yard, but we then caught some amazing spur switching action on an industrial track in Meadville. It turned out to be a fantastic day of railfanning, despite the 90+ degree temperatures. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl

Kole and I went to Griffith, Indiana for a HOT afternoon of railfanning at the Griffith Train Museum on Broad Street. While I had a brain fart and did not hook up the audio feed to my better quality microphone (DJI Mic...which helps control the wind noise on windy, hot days like today), we still managed to catch some decent train videos. My audio is direct from the camera, so please excuse the wind noise. Several CN freight trains came through, one pulled by Illinois Central "Deathstars," and there was a celebration of sorts. The Boy Scouts were selling hot dogs and cold drinks next to the museum property. There were lots of people getting outside and enjoying a hot summer-like day. This historic location is where two CN subdivisions (Matteson and South Bend) meet and cross at grade. The CN Matteson Sub is ex-EJ&E trackage and the South Bend Sub is ex-Grand Trunk trackage. Many years ago, the C&O and Erie also met and crossed at this location. There was a time when 180 trains came through Griffith each day. Enjoy the video, and Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads watching. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl

A short railfan visit to Eola Yard in Aurora, Illinois.

Our railfan outing in photos. Enjoy this short slideshow. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "All In Good Time" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/mVK2U1

We started our long day of railfanning off on Techny Road in Northbrook, Illinois (the basis for the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois in the Breakfast Club). We caught a Metra, a new Borealis Amtrak and a CPKC freight train here, and were then on the move. The day led us to Bensenville, Illinois adjacent to O'Hare International Airport. I couldn't help myself from pointing the camera at a few planes as they flew over our heads. Our day culminated with spotting a locomotive on a shortline where I had never seen a train before. After chasing the train a short distance, I spoke with the engineer and got some railfan intel! This led to a quick check-in on the abandoned Burlington Northern locomotive at a nearby industrial park. Enjoy the video. It's a long one. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl

Two cool freight trains on the BNSF Chicago Sub, and a short Amtrak Train mixed in with several Metra trains. It's Thursday afternoon on the rails. Enjoy! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Track: "Begin", GUM Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/faXZZt

Friday night railfanning on the Ex-Milwaukee Road in Elgin, Illinois. National Street Station is one of the stations near downtown Elgin. This rail line is the Elgin Subdivision of the CPKC. Metra also utilizes it as their Milwaukee District West Line (the line's name pays homage to the fallen flag Milwaukee Road) for commuter service from Chicago to Big Timber Road west of Elgin. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Track: "Begin", GUM Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/faXZZt

We spent Memorial Day Weekend in the Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois getting back in touch with nature. We also carved out some time for railfanning on CN's Bluford Sub in both Illinois and Kentucky. I had been under the impression that most of the traffic on Bluford was usually headed south, but we did catch a northbound train at sunset entering Metropolis, Illinois from Kentucky, via the Ohio River bridge. Watch the entire video for some amazing views of Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest at the end! Enjoy the video. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button if you haven't already! Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Track: "Begin", GUM Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/faXZZt Track: "Settling", Birdo Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/VxHpiY Listen on Spotify: https://go-stream.link/sp-birdo

One of my frequent BNSF locations, this by far has the best view. We are talking about the parking lot just east of the Lisle commuter train station near the village hall. This vantage point gives you a fantastic view to the east, and a picturesque curve in the tracks to the west. This is definitely one of my favorite locations to railfan. On this Thursday before Memorial Day Weekend, I was able to spend about an hour trackside and catch everything that runs on this line. Two Amtrak trains, Metra trains and a long intermodal freight train. Enjoy the video, and enjoy the holiday weekend. Spend some time with those who are important to you this weekend. Get Your Train Merch Here! (wall art, pillows, blankets, puzzles, cups, etc) https://donald-maulding.pixels.com Check out TTS on Instagram at https://instagram.com/titan.train.spotter Track: "Falling For You Instr" Music provided by https://Slip.stream Free Download/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/WrW2wl Track: "Begin", GUM Música fornecida por https://Slip.stream Download grátis/Stream: https://get.slip.stream/faXZZt