| The Gregarious Railfan |
Dolton, IL
60419 (population, 25,000)
GPS: N 41.6407, W 87.6105 Google map
Scanner: CSX: 160.230 [8], 160.290 [12], & 160.320 [14]; UP: 160.410 [20], 160.470 [24], 161.145 [69]; IHB:
160.980 [58], 161.070 [64], 161.565 [97]; Amtrak uses UP frequencies.
Railroads: CSX Chicago Division, Barr Sub; IHB Chicago Division; UP Chicago Division, Chicago Sub;
Description: Dolton, Illinois is a working class suburb of Chicago on the south city limits of Chicago. Dolton junction
(N 41.6405, W 87.6124) is at the East end of Blue Island classification yard and is the Southern entrance of Chicago
of the UP (former MP). The facilities are limited. Parking is in the municipal lot at Dolton City Hall, which is also the
police station. Do not stray onto railroad property. NW across the diamond (N 41.6430, W 87.6125) there is a
city park (softball fields) with a poorly marked entrance off Lincoln Ave. The grass is generally high by the tracks,
but there is a better view of the trains in all quadrants of the diamond. There are a lot of varied trains, including
Amtrak, IHB yard movements, and UP and CSX manifest freights. IHB runs their famous “bottle train”, carrying
molten steel, through Dolton intermittently; (It discontinues on occasion when economic conditions warrant.). The UP
running south is actually a joint line with the CSX for about 65 miles south to Woodland Junction, where the CSX
splits to go east and the UP continues west.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 100+
Nearby RR stuff: The Blue Island Bridges
Photo opportunities: The “Bottle Train”
Food & Lodging: There are not many good offerings for food, fuel or lodging; but you would not have to travel too
far in south suburban Chicago to find these things.
Personal observations: This is a great place to watch trains. In the warm weather, many railfans gather on weekends
in the municipal parking lot, and they generally see over 100 trains a day.
GPS: N 41.6407, W 87.6105 Google map
Scanner: CSX: 160.230 [8], 160.290 [12], & 160.320 [14]; UP: 160.410 [20], 160.470 [24], 161.145 [69]; IHB:
160.980 [58], 161.070 [64], 161.565 [97]; Amtrak uses UP frequencies.
Railroads: CSX Chicago Division, Barr Sub; IHB Chicago Division; UP Chicago Division, Chicago Sub;
Description: Dolton, Illinois is a working class suburb of Chicago on the south city limits of Chicago. Dolton junction
(N 41.6405, W 87.6124) is at the East end of Blue Island classification yard and is the Southern entrance of Chicago
of the UP (former MP). The facilities are limited. Parking is in the municipal lot at Dolton City Hall, which is also the
police station. Do not stray onto railroad property. NW across the diamond (N 41.6430, W 87.6125) there is a
city park (softball fields) with a poorly marked entrance off Lincoln Ave. The grass is generally high by the tracks,
but there is a better view of the trains in all quadrants of the diamond. There are a lot of varied trains, including
Amtrak, IHB yard movements, and UP and CSX manifest freights. IHB runs their famous “bottle train”, carrying
molten steel, through Dolton intermittently; (It discontinues on occasion when economic conditions warrant.). The UP
running south is actually a joint line with the CSX for about 65 miles south to Woodland Junction, where the CSX
splits to go east and the UP continues west.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 100+
Nearby RR stuff: The Blue Island Bridges
Photo opportunities: The “Bottle Train”
Food & Lodging: There are not many good offerings for food, fuel or lodging; but you would not have to travel too
far in south suburban Chicago to find these things.
Personal observations: This is a great place to watch trains. In the warm weather, many railfans gather on weekends
in the municipal parking lot, and they generally see over 100 trains a day.
Map
Links
Dolton Railfan Map My Google Maps
