Re: [CBQ] Shoo Fly at Illinois Tollway????

["little-q@att.net" <trains@davidstreeter.net>]

[Actually responding to several people...]

On the Rt. 31 exit project, the new siding was probably cheaper than a new bridge would have been.

Pepperidge Farm still has a track, doesn't it? And I believe the former Moser Lumber siding at Naperville (at one time the connection to the line down to the quarries and other businesses along the river in downtown Naperville) is still in place and occasionally used for maintenance equipment storage.

I can personally testify to the need for more lanes on that stretch of 294. I drive for Renzenberger and frequently go that way, most often taking crews from Eola to the BRC Clearing.

Eola East Yard can be empty, or it can be totally full. More than once, I have had to wait at Eola because the crew I was picking up couldn't bring their train in until another train left. Happened this week.

It occurs to me that BNSF could have asked for the siding just so they could give it away and let the towns feel like they won something.

I find it interesting that the news articles linked early in this thread claimed (or at least implied) that 294 was being widened ONLY between 88 and 55, whereas it actually continues farther south. There is a new bridge over the Santa Fe at Hodgekins/Willow Springs, and the Tollway even built a brand new Hodgekins yard office because the old one was in the way.

From my observations driving under it, the shoofly (I was surprised that train crews didn't know that term when I mentioned it to them) bridge is the same length as the old bridge that was removed, so I don't see how part of it can be used for a siding later. I believe I saw in the plans somewhere that the finished abutments will have space for a 4th track to be added, which is also the case on other bridges along the line.

-- 
David Streeter

On 2/4/2021 1:54 PM, Leo Phillipp via groups.io wrote:

So before Moderator Dave shuts this thread off as not Q related. I’ll try and add some Q related comments,FWIW.

There’s numerous precedents for BNSF requiring improvements in return for working with government agencies on road projects.

1) on the West Batavia branch when the tollway wanted to improve the exit and entrance lanes from I88 to route 31 in North Aurora not only did the tollway and Feds(our money directly) pay for removal of the unused bridge over the tollway they paid for a nice new a approx. half mile runaround built to 30 or 40 MPH standards where there had been nothing before. On the Irish Mail job we used to shove back from Dart(the customer located there) over crossings to the old cooperage runaround a good 3/4 mile. 

2) somewhat related, when Amtrak(our tax $s) and the state of Illinois (many of us on here tax $s) wanted to add the Quad cities trains BNSF  got the expansion of yard tracks at Eola paid for so the Galesburg main would be clear of parked freight trains so Amtrak could use both mains w/o big delays.  I went over the Eola road bridge last week and Eola yard looked as empty as a church parking lot on Monday morning.

The new project to widen I294 is just another case. BNSF has removed ever single side track on the entire east end except for a couple yard tracks at Downers Grove and Congress Park. I’m sure a nice new double ended spur at I294 would be a great operating aid. By the way since I294 is an interstate there’s no doubt that Federal money(here again our tax $s at work) is paying a goodly portion of this project. 

But in defense of the project I294 is a parking lot during both the morning and evening rush hours.

Hey, just maybe this project will uncover the long rumored steam engine that sank in soft soil way back when and was simply used as fill !?

Leo Phillipp

On Feb 4, 2021, at 1:29 PM, Mike Schattl <mike@schattl.com> wrote:



Maybe BNSF is fibbing to avoid public outcry from the NIMBY community, Lol.

Mike SchattL

On 2/4/2021 1:20 PM, Charlie Vlk wrote:

Mike-

No joke….unfortunately.

You would think so but when somebody else is paying the bill cost is not an issue!!

The linked writeup specifically stated the MOW siding is part of the plans and that there is considerable citizen opposition to it.

Charlie Vlk

 

From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of Mike Schattl
Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2021 12:54 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Shoo Fly at Illinois Tollway????

 

I doubt the fourth track is for MoW storage, LOL!!! Perhaps a passing siding but any MoW track could've been located east or west of the new bridge IMHO as bridges are super expensive to build.

Mike SchattL

On 2/4/2021 12:50 PM, Charlie Vlk wrote:

 

David-

The MOW extra track bridge will be part of the new bridge construction and is shown south of the main lines. They may even be considering using the main 3 temporary bridge for it….but that would make too much sense.

BNSF may not be getting the project out of tax dollars but rather out of the Illinois Tollway Authority, whose bonds were supposed to be paid off through toll revenue and the toll roads turned over to the state as free access interstates.  The tolls are paid by taxpayers either directly or embedded in the cost of goods carried in trucks.

Charlie Vlk

 

I've seen the videos too, and I don't recall the storage track being there.

Technically, taxpayers have nothing to do with it. This is a Tollway project and paid entirely out of toll revenues.

-- 

David Streeter

On 2/4/2021 11:43 AM, Charlie Vlk wrote:

Erik-

Thanks for the information!   Interesting that the BNSF is trying to get the taxpayers to build an additional bridge and fill (that is where the fun will begin!!) for MOW equipment.  Bet they wouldn’t spend big bucks to dump fill in that troublesome area and build a new, separate bridge just so they don’t have to inconvenience themselves running rail mounted MOW stuff to the next siding as they have been doing since 1864!!!

Charlie Vlk

 

From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of Erik Spoonmore
Sent: Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:15 AM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Shoo Fly at Illinois Tollway????

 

Charlie,

They are expanding I-294

 

 

Erik Spoonmore

 

'That is a tunnel of noise': Western Springs residents talk sound walls, park impact from proposed I-294 expansion

 

Site preparation for tollway widening expected in August, despite continued opposition in Hinsdale and Western Springs

 

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Site preparation for tollway widening expected in August, despite contin... Kimberly Fornek The Illinois Tollway is moving forward with plans to widen Interstate 294 through Hinsdale and Western Springs w...

 

 

 

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'That is a tunnel of noise': Western Springs residents talk sound walls,... Kimberly Fornek Western Springs residents want a better sound wall on their side of Interstate 294 as part of the Illinois Tollw...

 

 

 

On Thursday, February 4, 2021, 11:01:38 AM CST, Charlie Vlk <cvlk@comcast.net> wrote:

 

 

All-

Does anybody know what the construction is at the Illinois Tollway between

Highlands and Western Springs?  I have seen a video taken from a Dinky on

uTube going both ways and wonder what the details of the project are.

I am not normally interested in any BN/BNSF/Metra events but as this is

taking place in the area that gave the CB&Q fits with sinking roadbed during

the original line construction of the two track grade and when they added

the third track I was wondering why they are doing what looks like a bridge

replacement and if there have been any problems with the fill for the shoo

fly or the new construction.

Charlie Vlk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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