Trip to Rochelle, Illinois

We made our annual trip to Rochelle, IL this past Memorial Day weekend as we try to do every year. We ended up seeing 105 trains from 2:00 Friday afternoon (5/25) till 2:00 Sunday afternoon(5/27), not counting what came through during the nights. We started the 2 days at 9:00 a.m. and ended both nights at about 10:00 p.m. The majority of the trains were UP over BNSF but still plenty of action. UP ran manifest, coal, but mainly intermodal trains. BNSF ran manifest and intermodal trains as well, but no coal. It is quite amazing how many stack trains come through Rochelle especially now that UP has that Global III intermodal yard West of town.
We loaded up the grill again this year tailgating all 3 days with some brats, burgers, and cheese dogs, YUMMMM!!! This way we don’t miss out on any of the action because it was non-stop. Plus we met some railfans from Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and as far away as Louisiana who were there all weekend enjoying some trains. It ended up being nice Friday and Sunday but Saturday was a rain fest. Thank goodness for the pavilion or we would have been sitting in our truck all day.
As we started heading back home Sunday, we decided to stop off at a few other places for some trains. Our first stop was at Creston. IL on the UP Geneva Sub. After spending an hour there for 1 train we ended up heading further South to Toluca, IL on the BNSF Chillicothe Sub., talk about busy. For the hour we were there we saw 6 trains, plus a meet right in front of us. If only that BNSF line went through Rochelle. Finally, we headed back towards home and called it quits for the weekend. As always, we had a blast despite the one rainy day. I know the gas prices are high, but this place is worth the trip.

Here are the photos:

UP 4986 & CNW 8701(unpatched) at Rochelle Railroad Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 247&size=l

UP 9089 at Rochelle, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 551&size=l

UP 9035 at Rochelle, IL near Global III yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 099&size=l

UP 7295 at Rochelle, IL near Global III yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 114&size=l

UP 6619 at Rochelle, IL near Global III yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 622&size=l

UP 4986 & CNW 8701(unpatched) at Rochelle Railroad Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 992&size=l


UP 4986 & CNW 8701(unpatched) at Rochelle, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 404&size=l

UP 4662 at Rochelle, IL near Global III yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 829&size=l

UP 3069 at Rochelle Railroad Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 453&size=l

CNW 8701 at Rochelle, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 622&size=l

Rochelle Railroad Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 150&size=l

BNSF 857 at Rochelle Railroad Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 664&size=l

UP 691 at Rochelle, IL near Global III yard:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 449&size=l

UP/BNSF Diamond at Rochelle, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 771&size=l

BNSF 7768 at Rochelle, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 490&size=l

BNSF 5018 at Toluca, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 522&size=l

BNSF 5298 at Toluca, IL:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 060&size=l

More photos from the weekend:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiv ... x?id=22763

Thanks for looking!!!

Take Care,

~Mike

hi mike ,
thanks for the trip report and the photos .
That number of trains in a weekend is something i can only dream about here in New zealand .

It sure was exciting, that's why we try to make up there every year.

~Mike