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Description
This is a close up (as close as i could without getting in trouble) of the new flyover track linking the Union Pacific and the Indiana Harbor Belt. The IHB is elevated here, crossing the mainline and East end of the yard with a series of bridges and high embankments. It's in the background, where a black Procor tank car can be made out just below and behind the trestle on the left. The new flyover in the foreground links the IHB directly to the South side of Proviso yard, and the UP's Geneva Sub mainline. For the last couple decades or so, Westbound traffic leaving the city via the IHB would wait at a signal out of sight to the right (South). When given the OK, the train would creep forward, down a very steep ramp and over a test spot in the rails for the Automatic Train Control system (ATC) If the train control flashed a clear signal in the cab, it meant the ATC was probably working and the train could run on the mainline. At the bottom of the ramp was another absolute signal, allowing access to the UP/CNW line itself. Once permission was obtained to enter the main, trains could only enter on main track 2, which is normal for Geneva sub operations as we typically run on the left (a holdover from the Chicago & Northwestern). However, if something went wrong with the train, or it could not proceed for some reason, it could create a major bottleneck. And during Metra commuter operations hours, nothing could come off the hill without causing a real mess.
So with this new track, trains can come off the hill, which the IHB will appreciate since parked trains just make their jobs harder. And trains can pull directly into the yard on 44 main for re-crew, inspection, repairs, engine moves, or just to hold them until traffic permitted them to head out. Taken in Bellwood IL 1-26-12

Description
This is a close up (as close as i could without getting in trouble) of the new flyover track linking the Union Pacific and the Indiana Harbor Belt. The IHB is elevated here, crossing the mainline and East end of the yard with a series of bridges and high embankments. It's in the background, where a black Procor tank car can be made out just below and behind the trestle on the left. The new flyover in the foreground links the IHB directly to the South side of Proviso yard, and the UP's Geneva Sub mainline. For the last couple decades or so, Westbound traffic leaving the city via the IHB would wait at a signal out of sight to the right (South). When given the OK, the train would creep forward, down a very steep ramp and over a test spot in the rails for the Automatic Train Control system (ATC) If the train control flashed a clear signal in the cab, it meant the ATC was probably working and the train could run on the mainline. At the bottom of the ramp was another absolute signal, allowing access to the UP/CNW line itself. Once permission was obtained to enter the main, trains could only enter on main track 2, which is normal for Geneva sub operations as we typically run on the left (a holdover from the Chicago & Northwestern). However, if something went wrong with the train, or it could not proceed for some reason, it could create a major bottleneck. And during Metra commuter operations hours, nothing could come off the hill without causing a real mess.
So with this new track, trains can come off the hill, which the IHB will appreciate since parked trains just make their jobs harder. And trains can pull directly into the yard on 44 main for re-crew, inspection, repairs, engine moves, or just to hold them until traffic permitted them to head out. Taken in Bellwood IL 1-26-12