Passing a set of former IC highliners, a Metra commuter continues its way down the Milwaukee North line after diverging off the Canadian Pacific's C&M Subdivision at Rondout.

SOO Line 1003 is making its way home from the Shriners Hospital for Children fundraiser on the far west side of Chicago. Here it is seen crossing over at Rondout so it can get on the Fox Lake Sub ... (more)

SOO Line 1003 is making its way home from the Shriners Hospital for Children fundraiser on the far west side of Chicago. Here it is seen holding the main at Rondout for an eastbound Metra to come ... (more)

SOO 1003 heads west past Rondout Tower, about to jump onto the Fox Lake Sub. For just a few minutes, time was turned back at Rondout. Both the 1003 and the tower are 100+ years old!

SOO 1003 puts on a nice show as it heads east by Rondout Tower and the Milwaukee Road searchlights. 1003 is enroute back home to Hartford, WI after attending a fundraiser for the Shriner's Childre... (more)

SOO 1003 exits the Metra Fox Lake Sub and begins its trip down the CP C&M Sub to Chicago. In the process, it passes the famed Rondout Tower.

Metra MP36 427 leads a outbound train past Rondout tower.

Amtrak 127 leads Hiawatha train 339 west through Rondout, past Rondout tower and the endangered searchlight signals.

Adam Farence Photo

Freshly rebuilt MP36PH-3C #401 leads a private passenger special past Rondout Tower towards Fox Lake Illinois

Echoing the sights, sounds, and smells of Milwaukee Road passenger and freight trains of the past is Nickel Plate Road 765 coming off of Metra's Fox Lake Subdivision at Rondout with The Varsit... (more)

The Varsity, led by NKP Berkshire 765, crosses the former EJ&E and passes Rondout Tower. Just up ahead, the train will access Metra's Fox Lake Sub.

How many railroads have their own manhole covers? At the crossing of the MILW and the EJ&E in Rondout.

CEFX AC4400CW 1059 leads CP 484 east through Rondout.

I was 32 days too late.

Railroad interlocking towers are rare and getting even more so. So when I finally was able to visit one of the most storied towers in the land, it was with a heavy heart ... (more)