As a SoCal Railfan, I always believed that Chicago is the best place to railfan because there are a lot of railroads and locomotives alike

As a New Yorker, I’d definitely say Chicago is the best place to railfan. You’ve got great railroads and a great subway system. Hard to be bored of the action there

As a railfan from Chicago, I must admit, I was quite surprised when I got the notification for this!

As a carman from the BRC (belt railway of Chicago) It’s really cool to see this

As someone who lives in the suburbs of Chicago - we always take the train! Metra is great, and a fraction of the cost of parking let alone the rest of driving.

I always forget how Chicago has 15 Amtrak routes that go through Union Station; it's awesome. All of the best Amtrak routes start or stop there. I'd love to see Amtrak one day invest in buying up ROWs in the Midwest

I've taken trains in and out of Chicago on many, many occasions--both long haul (Lake Shore Limited and California Zephyr) as well as local and regional service. It's a great place for train travel, that's for sure!

As a Chicagoan I can confirm through every window YOU WILL FIND A TRAIN TRACK.

I am going to the city of Chicago possibly in the spring of this year, along with the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.

A great book about the history of Chicago that I definitely recommend is "Nature's Metropolis" by William Cronon. He goes into great detail about the development of reefer cars and the role that they, alongside numerous other factors, played in the city's development!

If you've never spent a weekday rail fanning BNSF's triple track Racetrack, you've missed out.

This makes me want to visit Chicago even more

3:03 I like to call Chicago the “Hub of America” For Trains and cars, their “ways” all seem to lead into Chicago. For planes, you got O’Hare and Midway!! That’s a crap ton of stuff coming in!!!

I worked in LaSalle Street Station in 1976-77, in the "Chicago Relay" Wire Chief's office on the 7th floor. Ride in on the commuter train, go upstairs to work and vice versa. The GREAT old days! I miss seeing the old station, every time we visit. And the popcorn. Just the right size for the ride home to Oak Forest.

Thx for doing this! As a railfan from Chicago, this just makes me happy.

I live in Kenosha, Wisconsin and I take Metra (the UP North Line, which is the only Metra line that has a stop in a different state) to get to downtown Chicago to visit the museums. Chicago is special because of the trains, but I also think Milwaukee is special for trains also as it is close to Chicago, but far enough away that there is little to no congestion in rail traffic.

Chicago was destined to be a both trading and rail hub because of its geographical position

I live on the outskirts of Chicago’s suburbs and the very first line that went to Chicago goes through our town. It’s the Geneva Sub

Thanks for the excellent video about Chicago and its railroad history. Even though I'm not from the U.S., I'm a big fan of American railroads. Also, thumbs-up for using rare footage of MILW only pair of the ALCo DL-107s at 4:57 (They're my favorite locomotives).

Chicago is quite the spectacle for railfans. I love the diversity of it all, and I just love watching old railroad movies of famous passenger trains emerging from the station.

"Hello, Chicago, hell-o! Gotta drink to that! Yeah..."

My hometown--an encampment turned settlement founded by a New Yorker seeking his fortune in the 1830's Western plains of Chicagoland--had the fortune of being along the path of the CB&Q/BNSF artery to Aurora, IL. It was at one time equipped with a locomotive service yard, located near a siding to a still operational lumber supply store, just East of the Belmont Rd. underpass.

You’re 90 percent right. Speaking from a rail perspective, trains approaching from the east have to pass the southern tip of Lake Michigan and turn north. Downtown is a mess of three river branches to be crossed or avoided. Gary or Whiting Indiana would have made more sense logistically and from an engineering angle. Chicago was a magic place before railroads and canals. Native Americans knew this and it’s place in destiny was secured by geography. The north and south branches of the Chicago River empty into Lake Michigan and drain to the Atlantic Ocean. Close to the south branch of the Chicago River is the Des Plaines River. It flows the opposite direction and drains to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. In the dry season a portage of only a few miles was the land link of an intercontinental waterway stretching from coast to coast. In wet weather watercraft could make the entire journey. The mouth of this unique river on the Lake Michigan shore would be exclusive to one location only. Chicago is the third largest city in America.

my hometown and favorite place to watch trains go by

This is awesome!, I’ve always wanted to see a video about Chicago and the railroads it brought, thanks for making this video it was really good. :)

I love Chicago and the railroading in it. I've been there before and it's amazing that you can see trains from eastern railroads and western railroads passing by each other, even in the pre-Amtrak era, that ritual was common. I do agree that Chicago is the rail hub of the United States. The topography works well since it's up against a great lake, has lots of land, and would have lots of industry spawn there. The variety of train types going in and out of Chicago is also outstanding, you can see all kinds of passenger and freight trains going in and out of there every day.

I've only mainly transferred trains in Chicago, but sure looks like a place to do railfanning. I love planes and trains, so I'm sure I would have a blast. I've also been to MDW and ORD.

Thanks for the video. My great grandpa, Jim Rice, was the president and general manager of the Chicago West Pullman & Southern, a switching industrial railroad on the southside of Chicago. He didn't own it himself but managed it as a part of the board of directors for the company. Before that, he worked for the Detroit Terminal Railroad, and before that, military service. Unfortunately, he later passed away on Saturday, July 11th, 2009 from a car wreck.

Even as someone who lives out in the Chicago suburbs, its always fun to watch these videos and remember why Chicago is such a great rail hub💜

Fun fact: In Spider-Man 2 the runaway train sence was filmed in Chicago on the l line.

They say St. Louis is the "Gateway to the West." Those people are proven wrong every time more railfan footage, more Trainz maps, and more layouts focus on Chicagoland.

Man, Super Mario World music works so well with rail videos. Great vid!

8:27 been to that bridge used in the filming of the Blues Brothers with my own Bluesmobile replica!!

A someone who grew up and lives in Chicago, it's sad how many friends my age don't realize how much of a rail hub Chicago was and is because of how car-dependent it became. Sure, I like the independence of driving around, but if Chicago had more lines that crossed the hub-and-spoke styled network it has now I'd definitely use the train more, instead it's only useful to get closer or farther from the city.

Besides railroad, Chicago is home to two major airports, Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago O Hare International Airport. Plus, United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago.

*excellent* *documentary*

Thank you for sharing this information with us rail fans!

I stan Chicago.

Excellent video of these commuter routes only the South Shore Line has a timezone change because South Bend is in the Eastern Time Zone Central Time Zone eastbound train gain an hour ahead of Chicago while Westbound trips from South Bend lose an hour westbound towards Chicago

As someone who is 10 minutes from the Dune Park South Shore station, I am glad you mentioned them.

Chicago is the place to be for railroad lovers

THANK YOU FOR COVERING THIS!

hell yeah!! Thanks for talkin' about our awesome city!

One of these days I would like to do some railfanning in the Chicago area because it looks practically nonstop.

Over 150 years ago Chicago was the Main logistical hub for a manufactured products going west and all agricultural products heading east.

7:41 Kansas City Southern merged with Canadian Pacific, so yes, KCS does go to Chicago now (as the CPKC.)

And I would say Toronto is Canada's rail capital. With 4 Subway lines, a large streetcar network, a DMU powered Airport train, 2 light rail lines under construction, an Automated subway line under construction, 7 fast and busy commuter/regional rail lines (With probably the most pioneering Rail operator in NA, GO Transit) and is the hub of VIA Rail's fast Intercity and cross country trains

I’m watching this video in the hotel right next to the western Maryland scenic railroad and just heard a whistle how perfect

Theres a metra station just north of where i live. And i often see trains as i drive to and from work. The perks of living and driving along IL route 50. And i just found out theres an amtrak station down the street from where i work. I had no idea it was amtrak! I like their phases 2 and 3 livery.

As resident and railfan that lives and also used work for the City of Chicago, I enjoyed this video!

Millennium: Metra Electric & South Shore Line along with Washington/Wabash for CTA Orange, Brown, Green, Pink, & Purple Express Lines

I went to Los Angeles just recently 8 days (A Week and 1 Day) and im back home

That shot of the freighter was from the blues brothers wasn’t it?

I went to Chicago recently and had the oppurtunity to take the L trains and Metra Electric to go see NYC&HRR No. 999 and the CB&Q Zephyr at MSI.

You know, you'd be surprised how many suburbanites would rather be stuck on I-90, unfortunately. Chicago has a bit of a conundrum in that it has one of the most extensive public transit systems in the US, and yet barely enough ridership to justify keeping it around and definitely far from enough to be able to expand it properly. And yet, the highways keep getting more and more congested, so there's definitely demand for transportation into and out of the city. When I asked my mother, who lives in the Chicago area, why this is the case, her default response is "it's too dangerous, crime in Chicago is out of control". And yet when I look it up, the _per-capita_ (note, not gross rate - the gross rate is heavily inflated due to Chicago's high population) crime rate of Chicago is only slightly elevated compared to the national average, so that's really like claiming that you won't swim in one pool but you will in another just because you saw someone nearly drown and have to be rescued in the former once. I'm also pretty sure it's not just typical American reluctance to use public transit. Other cities have better average ridership in terms of percentage of capacity, albeit on much smaller networks. It might be the fact that Metra has issues with keeping to timetables, but that doesn't happen out of nowhere. If late trains are causing poor ridership but poor ridership is causing a lack of funds for maintenance that causes delays, then something had to cause one of those things in order to start the feedback loop to begin with.

Awesome video

i´m currently rewatching siries "Snowpiercer" and its stunning how much the City plays a role in it, how they assembled the train there (never shown tho) or how they "play" hide and seek in the shunting yard. i just love the siries

LaSalle: Metra Rock Island District & potentially Southwest Service & Southeast Service along with LaSalle for CTA Blue Line & LaSalle/Van Buren for CTA Orange, Brown, Pink, & Purple Express Lines

As a Chicagoan this makes me very happy

Lovely, lovely history!

We have America's Last Electric Interurban. The Chicago Shore And South Bend railroad.I ride many of the trains here This is a brilliant railroad town. The South Shore Interurban train runs from Millennium Park downtown Station in Chicago to South Bend Indiana Airport.

Chicago baby!!!!!!

"I can't think of anyone who wants to be stuck in traffic on I-90" 😂 too relatable

"Chicago, hog butcher for the world". This quote comes from poet Carl Sandburg's poem, 'Chicago'. In my time in the Chicago metropolitan area, there was a rail road track within three a three block radius. No wonder, that I have always loved trains! I'd love to see Chicago reclaim its crown as the railroad capital of the United States of America! Being geographically almost in the center of the country, it simply makes sense!

Union: Metra BNSF Railway, Milwaukee District North Line, Milwaukee District West Line, North Central Service, Southwest Service (might be rerouted to LaSalle), Heritage Corridor & Amtrak Hiawatha, Empire Builder, Pere Marquette, Blue Water, Wolverine, Illinois Zephyr & Carl Sandburg, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Lincoln Service, Texas Eagle, Illini & Saluki, City Of New Orleans, Lake Shore Limited, Capitol Limited, & Cardinal along with Clinton for CTA Blue Line & Quincy for CTA Orange, Brown, Pink, & Purple Express Lines

8:28 isn't that from the Blues Brothers? i wouldn't be surprised, lol

will do, trip is planned. However, there is the small issue of the atlantic ocean in the way

Ogilvie Transportation Center: Union Pacific North Line, Union Pacific West Line, & Union Pacific Northwest Line along with Clinton for CTA Green & Pink Lines

I would love to take the train if you could leave Chicago after 6pm on a weekday

As a New Yorker, whenever I visit Chicago, I make a point to get there and/or back by train (at least one way), as well as to take advantage of Chicago’s nice transit system. Having said that, I wouldn’t underestimate New York City as the author did. While Chicago is the main hub of North America’s freight rail network, as we as the main transfer point between Amtrak’s eastern and western long-distance train routes, its Union Station is only the fourth busiest in the US (with New York Penn Station being The busiest). Same is true about commuter rail. Metra and South Shore together have more lines, but those lines are not the busiest. Guess which commuter railroad is the busiest? LIRR (with MNR being the second). And, of course, as large and heavily used the CTA rapid transit system is, New York City Subway system is still larger and carries much more riders. So, no, New York is not somewhere on the sideways like Detroit. It’s also up there, along with Chicago, leading the nation on rails.

8:23 uhm, well dont forget to maintain the tracks or it will be like this or even more dangerous. just came across your channel and loving such mini documentaries 👍

Could you imagine that loud thing running behind your house at midnight, lol.

Used to ride the south shore line to go to school. I miss it

5:01 Rock Island AB6

3:36 was wondering when the Monon would be mentioned, I actually volunteer at a Monon museum local to me in Salem Indiana (if your in the area stop by)

My Metra commuter rail line is the greatest. I have ridden the system 52 years. and that include the South Shore Line.

wish i could take the train more, but the closest service near me (NCS Metra) has such a bad schedule and not even running on weekends, plus some stations aren't that convenient. with one crossing over another line (the yellow one i forgot the name) and not even having a station to connect the two, could help a ton.

Lost terminals: CNW Wells, Grand Central, Great Central, Dearborn, & Central

0:23 A dog in a cage suspended at the top of a telegraph pole? Ok back to the trains

Zelda music, what an amazing way to start a video

Great video! What's the source of the map at 5:08? Could you share its link? Thank you.

Well uh, I guess all Class 1s run to Chicago now *CPKC Moment*

I’m going to be taking the Empire builder to Chicago this December

I was with you until you included subways! In terms of train traffic when you include subway trains then NY tops Chicago! Besides the subways, you have PATH train's Metro North at Grand Central with its 3 commuter lines and now also the LIRR. At Penn Station you have Amtrak to both the NEC and the Empire Corridor. The LIRR and NJT commuter train to multiple routes. When you throw in the subways with its 28 separate lines NY clearly surpasses Chicago in terms of train traffic.

7:40 I thought KCS was merged into CP by this point, leaving just six Class Is.

M I L W A U K E E R A I L R O A D

O’Hare has the CTA Blue Line while Midway has the CTA Orange Line

So glad you didn’t put 210 in the thumbnail! 😂

Excellent video, but I could have watched a 1hr video with more information on this subject.

With the new CP/KCS merger, KCS does run trains to Chicago, just under CP train symbols

I feel like kansas City or St.Louis is the busiest as far as freight rail goes

I LOVE TRAINS 🚂 🚂 🚂 🚂 🚂

Now that CPKC has been established, all 6 Class 1 railroads have links into Chicago

I road the southwest chief to Chicago and back many times

Easy answer: Large centrally-located city (great for long-distance passenger rail) with a large industrial base (lots of demand for freight rail) and a massively sprawling greater metro area (heavy demand for commuter rail service).

nice

St. Louis said BOATS! Chicago said TRAINS! Look who won.

Detroit is the second best rail fanning because of all the yards

Zürich main station 3000 trains per day….on 26 tracks…461’000 travelers a day… and this is only ONE station…

Ketu is gonna flip