Producer Green Frog
Locations: Chicago, Blue Island, Dolton, Hinsdale, Hammond…
Timeframe: 1996
Length: 1 hour
Sources: Richard Kugel, Canrail Video
A sequel to the older Green Frog Rails Chicago from 1986. A variety of hotspots: Blue Island, Dolton, Joliet, Elmhurst, Franklin Park, and more. Over a dozen railroads.
A single DVD-R. Fullscreen 4×3 aspect ratio. Live environmental audio. Balanced soundtrack.
Main Chapter Menu. No maps. Narrated by Dan Chandler.
To the Trains… 👉
Amtrak around the Chicago Union Station area leads off the show.
An Eastbound Conrail freight led by CR 6516 (SD40-2) at Hammond Indiana.
Grand Trunk 5901 leads a pair of Canadian National zebras (5008, 5222) off a Blue Island Bridge. Plenty of various trains at Blue Island.
Indiana Harbor Belt SW-1500 engines, 9201/9203. This Transfer Run is passing through Blue Island Crossing.
Dolton Crossing. CN 9527 leads a freight moving slowly off the Union Pacific to Indiana Harbor Belt tracks.
Southern Pacific power with engines 8115 and 8114, haul a freight past the picturesque Hinsdale Highlands Station.
An extended chapter at Hinsdale. BN Highlands Depot. Fast moving action here. There are Metras, Amtrak, Canadian National and more! Busy location.
BN switchers 318/234 see a Metra Commuter blow past at the Hinsdale main station.
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief at Joliet. Metra trains as well as Amtrak.
Joliet Station with a long chapter. A Santa Fe double stack. Leader is 5372. A concentration of moves at this hotspot!
Union Pacific engine 9547 leads a freight train through Elmhurst.
The towerman hoops up orders to this Iowa Interstate train. This procedure ended in July, 1995.
Trio of Warbonnets led by 935 are Eastbound on a double stack.
CSX is Eastbound at Joliet, as it travels towards the Chicago vicinity. CSX 1620 (GP-15) leads the 4 unit lash-up. A modern replacement for venerable GP7/9 era diesels. They are often seen in 1995.
Chicago and NorthWestern is a part of Union Pacific now. CNW wide cabs pull a Coal Train through Elmhurst. Locomotive 8649 with 8717 that is wearing Operation Lifesaver scheme.
Rails Chicago ’95 The Hot Spots
Chicago is the mecca of US Railroads. Electro-motive SD40-2 locomotives were ubiquitous on Class Ones. An argument could be made that Chicago needs coverage in additional volumes. There is so much more. However, Green Frog makes the most for a one hour program.
Picture quality is fine for an older video. Mainly excellent to some slight graininess. This is not a modern standards hi-def product. Still, it is very watchable. Dan Chandler is a professional announcer with a smooth delivery. Good script and a nicely paced show.
Given the wide range of area coverage. A fine program to tour some of the Chicago area. Realize there is much more to see in this program. Any Railfan or Model Railroader can find this an enjoyable release.
Rating: 5 Stars
American Train Video Reviews 