Joliet, IL: EJ&E Phoenix Yard

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I normally don't write about wrecks, but this one taught me about another EJ&E yard. Not only does the yard still exist, but most of the rail-served heavy industry still exists. That has become rather rare in the 21st Century. The mainline is elevated to go over the Des Plaines River, the BNSF/Santa Fe, and the CN/GM&O/Alton. So the yard lead has a steep incline down the side of the embankment to the grade level yard and industries.

Tim J Latham posted three pictures with the comment: "My dad was operating this train this day. he worked at ej&e for 46 years Ernest Latham":

1

It looks like the engine knocked over the covered hopper cars that were already on the yard track. That at least help reduce the impact on the locomotive. That is, they did not hit an immovable object. Judging from the pictures, the engine was operating long-hood forward. Nonetheless, it is obvious the cab sustained significant damage.

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3

Tim J Latham posted
Dillon Harrison Now I recognize this... This is the little fiddle Yard on the Phoenix. Hell of a little grade running down off the main down onto the branch.
Jim Barnes Switch at the bottom of the hill was normally lined for a clear alley, unfortunately on this day it was lined into a track with a cut of cars sitting on it.

I have to see something about seven times before I remember it. I didn't remember EJ&E's Phoenix when I saw Harold posts below. But I've obviously seen it before concerning this wreck and concerning a train parked over IL-53. So Halsted provided a third opportunity for me to learn about the Phoenix Job.

Halsted Pazdzior posted

Another one from yesterday. Spring is in full effect as the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve comes to life. CN 4787 is in charge of dropping off two loaded hoppers for Hanson and grabbing last week's two empties. The rest of the train will go to the Phoenix Branch which had to be postponed until today as flood waters became too high for them to safely make it back to the main yesterday.

5/17/20

Dennis DeBruler

I know the Bug Line to Romeoville is in the Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve:

GoogleMap

Where is the Phoenix Branch?

Halsted Pazdizior commented on Dennis' comment

Halsted caught this local earlier that showed the flood threat that trapped them up by Rocks Etc.

Halsted Pazdior posted

CN 4787 wades through some water on its way down the "Bug Line"

5/17/20

Halsted Pazdzior

They are trapped on the bug line now. Flooding got worse. Joliet Yard will be down a 4 axle unit that is needed to work industry on the Phoenix branch.

Joel J. Sieracki

Any idea who the tank cars are for?

Halsted Pazdzior

Joel J. Sieracki

 they combined the train that goes to Phoenix as well. Those will go down the Phoenix branch.

Mark Bilecki Sr.

I got even closer to the flood gates and noticed there were 6 of 7 open now.

Michael Riha

Good news, as of 1:45 pm on May 18, the water has sufficiently receded and they are sitting waiting for clearance on to the main.

While looking for the location of the above train, I discovered that CN actually does some maintenance on the Bug Line.

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