Railfanning Porter, Ogden Dunes, Gary,and East Chicago Indiana In A Day. 8-15-10.

11:41AM-
One of the "new" places I went to this great Summer morning was Porter Junction in Porter, Indiana. The small town along the NS Chicago Subdivision main is a far cry from Gary where Pine Junction is but they are only minutes apart by train. Pine Is CP499 while Porter Junction is CP482. At this point on the NS, Amtrak's Michigan trains leave the main line and enter their own line owned by Amtrak itself. The lightly used CSX Porter Branch arrives from the Southwest but sees minimal action.

All was quiet at the Jackson Street Crossing until an Eastbound BNSF coal train thundered through.
BNSF ES44AC #5766
BNSF ES44AC #5737

11:49AM-
Heading West under the new signals, a UP-led manifest continues on for Chicago.
UP SD70ACe #8438
NS C40-8W #8443

11:56AM-
Still with no NS power leading, an intermodal from the West sports what looks to be swapped coal train power.
BNSF ES44AC #6075
BNSF SD70MAC #9577

12:01PM-
Now at CP488 a little West of town, an intermodal bound for Chicago crosses Continental Road.
NS SD70M-2 #2665
NS C40-9W #8896

12:26PM-
Another UP trackage rights manifest is seen Westbound.
UP SD70ACe #8448
UP SD70M #3961

12:41PM-
Another long container intermodal makes its way through The Dunes.
NS SD70M-2 #2773
NS C40-9W #9572

12:55PM-
NICTD train 3 makes a station stop at Portage-Ogden Dunes with an older M.U set. The parking lot of the station is actually sandwitched between the NS and CSS.

3:11PM-
After exploring more areas nearby, I finally made my way further West into Gary. I visited Pine Junction and of course, it was insanely busy. A nice post-merger lash on the CN/EJ&E is there when I arrive, pulling a manifest West.
EJ&E SD38-2 #658
EJ&E SD38-2 #673
CN C44-9W #2535

3:13PM-
A sight for a GE-weary railfan arrived in the form of four CP SD40-2s leading an intermodal West at Pine. What eye candy this was in the good light.
CP SD40-2 #5612
CP SD40-2 #5749
CP SD40-2 #6920
CITX SD40-2 #2804

3:16PM-
IC #1506 and EJ&E #703 return to Kirk Yard for their next assignment, the Whiting Job.

3:32PM-
Later on, GTW GP38-2 #5856 is seen at CP502 leading the CN/EJ&E Lakefront Transfer to South Chicago.

5:54PM-
The UP Produce Train, now on CSX trackage, passes Calumet Tower as it pounds the IHB.
UP SD70ACe #8484
UP AC4400CW #7006
UP ES44AC #7782

6:00PM-
The catch of the day has finally arrived. Coming around the curve on the Whiting Branch, EJ&E GP38-2 #703 paired with IC SW14 #1506 lead the transfer towards BP.

6:21PM-
If things couldn't get better, this four-pack of IHB Geeps leads a lengthy manifest West down the main.
IHB GP40-2's #4017, 4019, 4014, and #4015

9:05PM-
Way back at home now, I decided to catch this evening's BICB at Mokena Front Street, which had IAIS #703 LHF and #512.