posted
I'll be leaving for Chicago Friday morning on 49 out of Cleveland and I have some questions. Are you able to walk around the Amtrak yards, or the sides of them? Where are some places to view the yards from overhead? Should I ask if I can have permission to walk around the platforms to take pictures? Do you have any other advice on watching Amtrak in Chicago? If so, please tell me. Thanks in advanced. -Paul
tubaallen Member # 2057
posted
Ok, this is tubaallen the friend talking, not tubaallen the employee talking...get it? If you just go and walk around the yards or platforms and no one sees you, then no one sees you . Fortunately, the Roosevelt St. Bridge is a GREAT place to get overhead pics of the yards. You will also catch the BN route of Metra from there. However, I do have to seriously warn you...if you decide to sneak around in the yards and whatnot, PLEASE be careful, as this is a very dangerous place.
RRRICH Member # 1418
posted
Many years ago (long before the remodeling of Chicago Union Station) I used to be able to walk out through the AMTRAK gates at CUS onto the platforms and take pictures or watch trains coming and going, and there was never any problem. However, nowadays, I don't believe it is as easy to just walk through the gate onto the platform without someone stopping you, but I suppose it's worth a try. (besides that, I believe most of the AMTRAK gates are locked most of the time, unless they are boarding or unboarding a train). If you walk out to one of the METRA platforms like you are boarding a commuter train, I don't suppose anyone would stop you, since people walk out to catch trains all the time. However, you may not be able to get to the platforms that AMTRAK uses.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
Yes, very dangerous, especially in today's nervous society. If Amtrak or railroad police spot you, you could be in for a free ride in a police car, maybe some meals, maybe even a night in the cells. It's not worth it. Staying on public property is the best bet. Or go up Sears tower - a great view of the yard.
Geoff M.
CK Member # 589
posted
I agree with geoffm. In our post 9/11 world the police have plenty of work to do to ensure all of our safety. Train enthusiasts, no matter how well intention, have no business trespassing. It gives us all a bad name. We should be extra "eyes & ears" to reports suspicious occurrences, and not cause police resources to be tied up checking on us. The fact that an Amtrak employee provides "friendly" advise in the posting above is another area of concern.
tubaallen Member # 2057
posted
quote:Originally posted by geoffm: Yes, very dangerous, especially in today's nervous society. If Amtrak or railroad police spot you, you could be in for a free ride in a police car, maybe some meals, maybe even a night in the cells. It's not worth it. Staying on public property is the best bet. Or go up Sears tower - a great view of the yard.
Geoff M.
This is true, but it isn't even what I meant. Your own personal safety is an issue too. I don't know how familiar you are with yards, but they can be deadly places, with trains moving each way unexpectedly. Probably the most dangerous part (especially if you're taking pictures) is that you'll look down a track at a train that is creeping, but you don't know, it may be accelerating...or whatever. Also, when I first started working in the yards, I had a hard time getting used to looking both ways for EACH track I crossed. This is IMPERITAVE. When I started, I was in the habit of looking both ways once before I started across the tracks, but then I just kept walking. BAD IDEA. By the time you get to the 5th track (or about that) there could have been movement that you hadn't seen originally, and now there's a train headed straight for you. It probably is not a good idea to get that entangled. However, the road that leads down to the Amtrak yards from Roosevelt I believe is a public road. You can probably get away with going down there, but definitely in this post-9/11 era, don't get caught taking too many pics.
dilly Member # 1427
posted
Sorry tubaallen, but I don't get it either. Why even suggest to the original poster that he "might" be able to get away with sneaking into the yards (or other unauthorized areas) to snap pictures. Trespassing is illegal. Period. And trespassing in a highly dangerous place like the Chicago railroad yard is NEVER okay. Not even when you look both ways before crossing the tracks. Not even when "no one sees you."
From the sound of it, Amtk271 wants to look at trains safely and legally. But many other people read this board, and there are too many idiots out there. Don't encourage them.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 01-23-2003).]
tubaallen Member # 2057
posted
dilly, Maybe you're right. I was just trying to be what I thought was helpful. But you're right, probably the best option is to not be there...take your shots from the Roosevelt Rd. bridge. Or buddy up with some employee that can escort you .
posted 
. Fortunately, the Roosevelt St. Bridge is a GREAT place to get overhead pics of the yards. You will also catch the BN route of Metra from there. However, I do have to seriously warn you...if you decide to sneak around in the yards and whatnot, PLEASE be careful, as this is a very dangerous place.
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