As an Amtrak zips by, a Metra approaches the Belmont station.

A modern day shovel nose for Chicago built in 2003 by the pioneering firm MPI. Too bad the headlight wasn't placed above the windshield like the Railroad: Metra
Locomotive: MPI MP36PH-3S
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Locomotive #: METX 405
Train ID: Unknown
Photo Date: January 20, 2008

Leaving a cloud of snow in its wake.

Operating positional signals are a highly contrasting relic of another era against the contemporary downtown skyline

Inbound from Joliet, a "scoot" passes the venerable 16th Street Tower on a bitterly cold New Year's Day.

An afternoon commuter train heads out of LaSalle Street Station on a humid summer day in Chicago.

The wreaths still adorn the light poles the night after Christmas.

Metra 426 is on its way to its next stop at Mont Clare, as it passes by Mars.

An outbound Metra crosses Hickory Creek as it covers the final few miles of its trip to Joliet on a beautiful fall day. This shot required some creative trailblazing through the woods.

An outbound double header highballs past the new construction on the site of the Rock Island's freight yard. Once it's complete, this wonderful view of the Rock Island tracks from Roosevelt will b... (more)

First train of the second time railfanning of the day.

Metra eastbound on the old Rock Island toward Joliet on the Sunday schedule, making like an honorary steam locomotive throttling back up after passing through the Blue Island bridge.