Producer: C. Vision
Location: Blue Island
Timeframe: 2006
Length: 1 hour 58 minutes
Source: Marshall Beecher
Here is a prime Chicago area hotspot. Third in a CVP series covering Chicago area. Here is Blue Island Junction. The famous 5 railroad bridges that cross the Cal-Sag Canal in Blue Island, Illinois. Converging lines: CSX, Canadian National ( ex: Grand Trunk) and Indiana Harbor Belt. The Metra high line crosses over the tracks and one wishes it was still Rock Island instead of mainly boring Metra commuters. A cornucopia of locomotives are present at this high volume location.
Railroad locomotives seen here include: CSX, Indiana Harbor Belt, Canadian National, BNSF, Union Pacific and more. A couple of Regionals, Iowa Interstate and Chicago Rail Link. Only space for some samples here.
A single DVD-R. Pro shot video. Live environmental audio. Beecher maximizes the area with varied setups.
Main Chapter Menu. Hidden chapter advance. A map of the junction. Don Grant is the narrator. The narrated part has an on/off choice.
To the Trains… 👉
Although the Indiana Harbor Belt once was all Electro-motive switchers. Contemporary power has expanded with road locomotives. Illustrated here with IHB 2923 passing the squat looking Interlocking Tower. It has #1520 (SW1500) on a transfer run with Corn Product cars. This is likely to the large Argo plant.
CSX slows to a stop with Intermodal traffic. Canadian Pacific 8550/8619 pair passes in front of the stopped CSX train.
Union Pacific 3854/3984 moves towards a bridge at the road crossing.
A great panoramic view of the 5 bridges. BNSF 7636 travels on the IHB Gibson Yard located in Hammond, Indiana.
Iowa Interstate has been waiting for clearance to proceed. Engines 719/708 ease forward and then backup on an adjacent track.
CSX 2741 with 6355 on a light power move, has a different view of the street crossing. Tower is in the background.
An impressive lash-up of Union Pacific and ex: Southern Pacific units pulling freight towards the bridges.
Indiana Harbor Belt 1515 with a transfer caboose. Above is the Metra High Line. That is the former Rock Island trackage.
CN 6015 and repainted IC 6124 and Illinois Central Operation Lifesaver 6071 cross the street.
Canadian National Q118 enters at a time of congestion. Trains from CSX and UP are both stopped here.
A relettered BNSF Warbonnet GP60M leads a circus-like lash-up of various BNSF locomotives. Note the Kansas City Southern 4604 (AC4400) which is buried deep in the lash-up.
This longshot provides a great view of some details at Blue Island Junction. Checkout the tracks, crossing tower, road crossing and shows 2 of the 5 bridges.
Windy City Rails Volume 3
C Vision has plenty of high quality productions. Their Blue Island hotspot easily rates as a top tier show.
Videographer Marshall Beecher has done an outstanding job at capturing the action and feel of Blue Island Junction. The fantastic live audio is best heard through a sound bar. Script/ narrative is on the basic end. There are not a lot of individual train specifics. However, the sheer volume and variety of railroad traffic are excellent.
This C. Vision Blue Island show rates highly in their catalog. It can beat or compete with anything in the marketplace covering this fascinating junction. Perhaps, Chicago’s ultimate hotspot.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 