I have been to Rochelle several times. My last visit was probably the most memorable. I drove down from Rockford with Sunrise, the current Queen of the Hobos on a Tuesday nite. We stopped along the way and bought a couple bundles of overpriced firewood at a C-store. When we got there, the platform was deserted, and we carried our wood down to the "hobo jungle", laid in a little fire, and spent the night swapping lies and watching trains. It was a beautiful Autumn night, the fire was just right, and the trains were rollin'. Lots of trains, and almost every Engineer waved and tooted the airhorns an extra time as he rolled past. We were down there 'till after midnite.
If you're planning a trip, plan to be there AT NIGHT!!! That's when all the action is. Conversly, don't plan to sleep there at night. There's a grade crossing just to the East, and ALL eastbound trains are on the airhorns....mebbe 50 feet away.... as they roll across the diamonds and pass the platform. Granda Dudley (Hobo King 2002-2003) and I tried to spend a nite there once, and sleep was not an option. The hobo we were waiting for didn't show up on the second day, so that nite we went south of town a few miles, found a dead end dirt road, and rolled out on opposite sides of my truck on the ground. Slept like babies. Our third day there our friend showed up, we saw him a few minutes, and then it was back to Ohio (Michigan for Grandpa Dudley).
Railohio, I only live a few miles away from you. If you ever want to try again, let me know. I'm ALWAYS up for a trip to Rochelle.
OMcG