Railfanning Aurora, Illinois on 15.05.12: BNSF, Amtrak & Metra

Train 1:
BNSF GEVOs #6386 and 6191 bring a coal train off the Chicago Sub and onto the Mendota Sub at South Aurora.

Train 2:
A little later, four Dash-9s- #4888, 4424, 4943 and Santa Fe Warbonnet #662 bring a hot intermodal train across the river and through the South Aurora junction onto the Aurora Sub, headed for Minneapolis and beyond.

Train 3:
Next, Amtrak's 'Southwest Chief' comes gliding through and takes the green indication on the CB&Q searchlight marking the beginning of the Mendota Sub. P42DCs #203, 177 and an unidentified one lead the usual consist west. Number 203 is one of the few P42s remaining that still has its original (not bolt-on) nose.

Train 4:
Later on the other side of the Fox River at the abandoned Aurora Union Station (which served CB&Q, BN and later Amtrak until the Chicago suburban stop was changed to Naperville), BNSF Dash-9s #4847 and 4744 move west with a manifest bound for the Aurora Sub.

Train 5:
Amtrak's eastbound 'Southwest Chief" moves past the old station for the "High Line" through downtown Aurora, heading for Chicago.

Train 6:
Later on, we are at the Aurora Transportation Center (the city's Metra station and western end of the Metra BNSF Line), where an inbound express run with six cars departs, F40PHM-2 #191 shoving the train through the empty Aurora Coach (or "Hill") Yard.

Train 7:
MP36PH-3S #403 brings an outbound run with 7 cars to a stop at the Aurora terminal, framed by the CB&Q caboose that is on display here.

Trains 8 and 9:
Now aboard an inbound Metra train, we head up the passenger main through the east side of Aurora, coming up on the West Eola junction where the Metra spur to the ATC joins the BNSF "Racetrack" Chicago Sub main line. Past here at the west end of Eola Yard, a local or yard job with GP50 #3148 and GP38-2 #2332 are seen, while a manifest waits to move, with Dash-9 #4664 and GEVO #6740 on the point of the train that includes several trash containers.

Train 10:
Continuing further east on the 'Racetrack', we pass an outbound express between Belmont Road and Main Street in Downers Grove. F40PHM-2 ("Winnebago") #192 leads 10 cars.

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