Over the past few months I’ve been studying movements of some of the afternoon express trains. Both while riding the trains and when out at stations. Most notably the Downers Grove and Naperville runs. For those familiar with the route, general thinking is most express trains will cross over to the center track at Union Ave interlocking then run express to either Fairview or east Naperville before crossing over to either mains one or three, depending on the train.
1235 (2:30pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route.
1239 (3:18pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route. Occasionally will run center track to Fairview.
1243 (3:58pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route. Occasionally will run center track to Fairview.
1247 (4:28pm). This run is technically an express, despite making stops out to Cicero. A few years ago a stop was added at Fairview. Don’t know why this is but when it ran express to DG, it could go center track if needed. But generally runs main one for the entire route.
1251 (4:44pm DG express). First PM rush train to run center track. Sometimes it will stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. Occasionally could cross over onto main one at Highlands, don’t know why this is.
1257 (5:00pm Naperville express). Center track run. Sometimes can stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. Sometimes can cross over to main one at either Fairview or Lisle. This could be if a freight is staged between Lisle and Naperville.
1259 (5:04pm DG express). Center track run. Sometimes can stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. After Lisle stop, generally returns to the center track for its run into Aurora.
1267 (5:22pm Naperville express). Same as 1257. Major difference is this run goes to main 3 at Lisle or East Naperville. If it goes to main 1, it is unusual.
1269 (5:26pm DG express). Same as 1259. This run occasionally will go to main 3 at Fairview. Only if one or more westbound locals are running late getting into Fairview or DG and eastbound 1288 is on time.
1277 (5:45pm Naperville express). Same as 1257.
1279 (5:49pm DG express). Same as 1269, but this run more than 90% of the time will cross over to main 3. Should an eastbound freight be on main 3 between Lisle and DG around 6:15pm, it will cross over to main one.
1283 (6:14pm Naperville express). Same as 1267.
1373 (6:18pm DG express). Same as 1259.
1287 (6:52pm DG express). Same as 1239, 1243.
Although these express runs are given priority over most other movements, freight train movements and other Metra trains can affect how some of these long range express trains run. Having crossovers every four miles allows for such flexibility. It’s also now possible that some of the crossovers that were once good for only 35mph might have been upgraded to support faster speeds. Berwyn (MT1 to MT2), Congress Park, and Lisle are points where crossovers are good for 50mph.
1235 (2:30pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route.
1239 (3:18pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route. Occasionally will run center track to Fairview.
1243 (3:58pm DG express). Generally runs main one for the entire route. Occasionally will run center track to Fairview.
1247 (4:28pm). This run is technically an express, despite making stops out to Cicero. A few years ago a stop was added at Fairview. Don’t know why this is but when it ran express to DG, it could go center track if needed. But generally runs main one for the entire route.
1251 (4:44pm DG express). First PM rush train to run center track. Sometimes it will stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. Occasionally could cross over onto main one at Highlands, don’t know why this is.
1257 (5:00pm Naperville express). Center track run. Sometimes can stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. Sometimes can cross over to main one at either Fairview or Lisle. This could be if a freight is staged between Lisle and Naperville.
1259 (5:04pm DG express). Center track run. Sometimes can stay on main one to Cicero B or Berwyn. After Lisle stop, generally returns to the center track for its run into Aurora.
1267 (5:22pm Naperville express). Same as 1257. Major difference is this run goes to main 3 at Lisle or East Naperville. If it goes to main 1, it is unusual.
1269 (5:26pm DG express). Same as 1259. This run occasionally will go to main 3 at Fairview. Only if one or more westbound locals are running late getting into Fairview or DG and eastbound 1288 is on time.
1277 (5:45pm Naperville express). Same as 1257.
1279 (5:49pm DG express). Same as 1269, but this run more than 90% of the time will cross over to main 3. Should an eastbound freight be on main 3 between Lisle and DG around 6:15pm, it will cross over to main one.
1283 (6:14pm Naperville express). Same as 1267.
1373 (6:18pm DG express). Same as 1259.
1287 (6:52pm DG express). Same as 1239, 1243.
Although these express runs are given priority over most other movements, freight train movements and other Metra trains can affect how some of these long range express trains run. Having crossovers every four miles allows for such flexibility. It’s also now possible that some of the crossovers that were once good for only 35mph might have been upgraded to support faster speeds. Berwyn (MT1 to MT2), Congress Park, and Lisle are points where crossovers are good for 50mph.