METRA TIPS
ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT
The bankruptcy of the Rock Island eventually resulted in this line being the first to be completely owned and operated by Metra. The first several miles of the line parallels the Dan Ryan Expressway, which includes a rapid transit line in its median strip. It was the 1969 opening of the rapid transit line which eventually led to the demise of several inner city stops on the Rock Island line. At Englewood, the line passes over the Norfolk Southern (ex Pennsylvania) main line on a bridge, which was completed in 2014 and eliminated a busy crossing. Metra's first stop now is Gresham, which is the junction for the branch line through the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago. Most trains travel via this branch line, making stops every four blocks through a scenic residential area. The branch line rejoins the main line in Blue Island at Vermont Street. The main line in that area has rush hour service only, but it can be ridden by railfans without too much difficulty. Vermont Street is a popular train watching spot, and is also the end of the Metra Electric Blue Island branch. For variety, one can ride one line going and the other line returning. The Metra Electric branch does not operate on Sundays. Another popular train watching spot in Blue Island is the Grand Trunk crossing, about a mile southwest of Vermont Street. To get there from the Metra station, walk west to Western Avenue, south over a river bridge, down a stairway to Broadway, and west on Broadway to the crossing. The Metra line southwest of Blue Island passes mainly through newer suburbs and undeveloped areas on its way to Joliet. Joliet has a classic old restored station at the crossing with the Santa Fe and the Illinois Central (ex Gulf Mobile & Ohio) main lines, and is a popular train watching spot. Joliet is the seat of Will County, and the new court house is one block west of the station. And a few blocks west of the court house is the Des Plaines River, and the Harrah's casino boat. During rush hours, Joliet is also served by the Metra Heritage Corridor trains. Freight action on the Rock Island District is light and is provided by three railroads which had acquired former Rock Island trackage. Chicago Rail Link (CRL) provides local freight service in the Chicago area using trackage rights, while CSX and Iowa Interstate have trackage rights over Metra to reach the former Rock Island trackage west of Joliet. CSX now owns the former Rock Island main line trackage from Joliet to Utica. And Iowa Interstate has trackage rights over CSX, owning the old main line west of Utica to Omaha.
Speed Limits:
Chicago-Englewood: 70 mph
Englewood-Gresham Jct.: 79 mph
Gresham Jct.-Blue Island: 60 mph
Blue Island-Joliet: 79 mph
Gresham Jct.-Western Avenue Jct. via Beverly Hills: 30 mph