WHAT'S NEW
Recent additions and changes to this site.
Amtrak adopted Chicago as its main hub outside the Northeast Corridor. And because Chicago historically had six separate terminal stations for intercity passenger trains, consolidating all Amtrak trains into Union Station was sometimes a challenge. Described are how this all was accomplished. (added March 31, 2019)
Pages include links to zoomable Google Maps covering the larger cities and cities with multiple railroads, making it easier to understand the railroad geography in these areas. (added March 25, 2019)
Zoomable Google Maps showing present and past railroads, stations, junctions crossings and towers in the most important cities in Illinois and Indiana and Michigan and Wisconsin. Maps of larger cities originally created for the "Great Union Stations" section of this web site have been enhanced, and new maps for smaller cities have been added. (added March 23, 2019)
Zoomable Google Maps showing all present and past railroads in the Chicago area. Added to the maps are present and past railroad junctions and towers, along with present and past railroad roundhouses and turntables. Those had previously been included on separate maps. (added February 22, 2019)
Zoomable Google Maps completed, showing known lost stations throughout the states of Illinois and Indiana and Michigan and Wisconsin. (added January 19, 2019)
It had been 40 years since I had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. This trip lasted a week and a half. In London, with a quick round trip by train to Scotland. Then the Eurostar train to Brussels, and the Thalys train to the Netherlands for the final few days. (added September 28, 2018)
After a recent trip to Europe, this section is highlighted here, covering the great passenger stations in London and the comprehensive railway system in southeast England. Along with the impressive railway network in the Netherlands. And how these rail systems continue to handle frequent intercity and commuter trains. Includes new photos of the stations. (added September 16, 2018)
More detailed information on the histories of service at discontinued commuter, suburban and neighborhood stations in Chicago and various suburbs. (added March 31, 2018)