I drove into Rochelle Railroad Park, parked the rental car then took my computer and set up at the viewing platform. It did not take long for the first train to arrive.
Rochelle Railroad ParkThe Rochelle Railroad Park is the first park in the nation built just for visitors to see operating trains. The story of railroads in Rochelle begins in 1854 when the Air Line Railroad was completed between Chicago and the town of Lane (Lane was the first name of Rochelle). The railroad later became the Chicago and North Western and today is owned by the Union Pacific. Sixteen years later the Chicago & Iowa Railroad was built through Rochelle in 1870 and it crossed over the Air Line Railroad between 11th Street and 12th Street. The railroad was later called the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy before becoming the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. In January 2005 another name change took place, and even though the holding company name remains the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the introduction of the new rail subsidiary name and logo took place. The railroad is now identified as the BNSF. The original BNSF depot on Main Street was built in 1921 when it replaced the original 1890 Depot. For many years both railroads had daily passenger service to Chicago or the West Coast, but the last passenger service in Rochelle ended in 1971.
Today these two railroads daily haul millions of tons of merchandise on at least 80 to 90 trains a day through Rochelle in a 24 hour period. This has made Rochelle a "hot spot" for train watching, drawing visitors from every state in the nation and world wide. Because of the number of visitors Rochelle acquired the land in 1995 and constructed a park just for train watching. The park, which was dedicated August 30, 1998, includes a handicapped-accessible observation pavilion with various vantage sites for the best visitor viewing and photography. Visitors can see locomotives from many different railroad companies pass through Rochelle. They include the Union Pacific and the BNSF. Other units from railroads of the Eastern United States, Mexico and Canada also pass through from time to time. One will also see engines wearing their color schemes from past mergers, mixed within the power of a passing freight. The radio transmissions that you are listening to are actual railroad communications from the dispatcher to the train crews and track workers. We monitor both main lines through Rochelle for the UP and the BNSF. Dispatching originates for the UP in Omaha Nebraska, and out of Fort Worth, Texas for the BNSF.
BNSF UP 5609 East went through Rochelle.
Union Pacific 7335 East with a coal train.
W.F. Hall Printing Company Whitcomb 50-ton side-rod 5 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1946.
The Rochelle Railroad Park viewing platform.
BNSF 2325 with a local came through next.
That was followed by Union Pacific 5713 East.
The next train was Union Pacific 8416 East.
The BNSF local came back east through Rochelle.
BNSF track inspector came through heading west.
Union Pacific 4312 West.
Chicago and North Western track speeder 562 on display.
Next came Union Pacific 4302 West.
Bucksgahuda & Western Railroad Whitcomb 7 ton switcher built in 1928.
Milwaukee Road side rib caboose 902083 built by the railroad in 1951 as 02083.
Union Pacific 5777 West.
Rochelle Railroad Park views.
BNSF 6660 East came through next.
BNSF Norfolk Southern 8010 West was my last train through Rochelle Railroad Park. Having had my fill of trains for the day, I drove north to Rockford and the Red Roof Inn where I checked in then went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner before working on stories the rest of the evening.
5/18/2013 I arose at the Red Roof Inn in Rockford and had to walk over to Burger King for a very good pancakes and sausage breakfast then worked on making trip pages and numbering pictures until 10:30 AM when I checked out, and drove the Interstate 90 Tollway back to the Chicago-O'Hare Airport exit. I filled the car with petrol then returned it before noon. I was shuttled over to Terminal 1 and used the United Kiosk to print my boarding pass. The United people made me put my computer bag into my back pack under the two bag rule. I went through security with no problems then made my way to Gate C 20 where I called Let's Talk Trains. It felt odd calling from an airport rather than a train station. I made a Rochelle page for this story before doing Sudoku puzzles until my boarding time. I was boarded early onto the plane and had a good flight home, watching "The Great and Powerful Oz" and once I landed, my mother picked me up at the airport and it was sure good to be home.
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