Ghosts of the J: Canadian National's Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway

NON-NARRATED VERSION HERE: • Ghosts of the J: Canad...
On February 1st, 2009, the Canadian National took over operations of Chicago’s Outer Belt - the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern. Sixteen years later and the CN has totally transformed the line into one of their busiest and most important segments of operation across their 20,000 route miles of track. In this video, we will take an in-depth exploration of modern operations on the the east end of the J between Gary and Joliet, and see how the railroad has so successfully repurposed the route to a heavy Class I mainline.
Filmed during the fall and winter of 2024, we will also see a colorful and ever-changing phase of the Canadian National’s motive roster, and take a look at a few connecting railroads as well.
Some GREAT resources to check out:
EJ&E Archive (Only J resource you'd ever need): www.ejearchive...
CN's Grey Ghost SD40s: www.traingeek....
Current CN Diesel Roster: www.thediesels...
Matteson Subdivision Operating Information (A great site for all operation-related info for just about every modern Chicago mainline. Provides a much better timetable than my elementary cartography skills): www.chicagorai...
Tornado Chases Train Video: • Tornado Chases Train
Just about the only CHTT Info Available: casr.dhke.com/...
*Note, in this video I do NOT cover the EJ&E’s Calumet Spur. (Limited) coverage of the branch is featured in my Amtrak Shop Run video: • Tales from the Branch ...
Thanks for watching!

[@FallenFlagPhotography]

There's not too many 1 hour & 45 minute videos I'll watch straight through but this is definitely one of them! As always, thank you for putting the time and effort into this masterpiece!

[@trtrproductions]

Thank you so much Ryan! That means a lot. As always, so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@andrewpalm2103]

Whew! That was a tour de force which I had to watch in pieces over a few days. But I quite enjoyed it. Even though I grew up in The Region, my only personal experience with the J was their switching of a Gary steel mill where I worked for four summers in the mid-60's. So it was great to see all this present day action on it's east end. I now live less than a mile from the CN (ex-MILW) line that runs east from Neenah, but it's a sleepy branch compared to what's in this video. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@trtrproductions]

Thanks Andrew! Glad you enjoyed the video, and glad I could channel some nostalgia for you as well. Can't imagine getting see the J in the 60s... much different than now, that's for sure!

[@GmanftpG59]

i definitely saw you guys filming on Colfax street on my way to work lol

[@trtrproductions]

I'm hard to miss when I'm gawking at trains haha. Thanks for watching.

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

This video certainly helped to get some more railfanning locations on the J

[@Straight2_Official]

Well well well

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

@Straight2_Official nope

[@Straight2_Official]

Don’t get any ideas

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

@@Straight2_Official nuh uh

[@Steven_Williams]

This was outstanding! Thank for the time and effort that you put into making this video!

[@trtrproductions]

Thanks again, Steven! Like Ryan above, I always love reading comments from you guys. The support means more than words can say. Thanks again!

[@marktracy6376]

What a great video.Totally enjoyed it. I work for the CN exIC employee.Thanks

[@trtrproductions]

Thank you very much, Mark! Glad you enjoyed!

[@gp3829]

Fantastic video and thoroughly enjoyable to watch, thank you. As commented, the sheer effort you've put into this is very worthy. Also, combined with the Map it has been good to learn from.

[@trtrproductions]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed, though I'll be the first to admit my map making skills still need a bit of cleaning up lol. Thanks again for watching!

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

great video. notice the new paint on the viewliner at 5:52

[@trtrproductions]

Thank you very much! And good catch... before your comment, I didn't notice it myself!

[@WesleyEast-RRfan]

@trtrproductions you bet

[@jeffgrise4386]

One heck of a video definitely cant wait for the next one

[@trtrproductions]

Thanks Jeff! Glad you enjoyed it! More to come!

[@TomStarcevich-fb3qo]

Awesome video as always 👌 👏 👍

[@trtrproductions]

Thank you so much, Tom! So glad you enjoyed!

[@paulsiefert823]

Excellent video.

[@trtrproductions]

Thanks Paul. Glad you enjoyed!

[@orbitsrailfanvids]

Depression cured, trtr posted

[@trtrproductions]

You're too kind! Thank you very much!

[@Straight2_Official]

1:29:00 oh no

[@Rickybnsf]

You're not safe

[@Straight2_Official]

@ pLEASE

[@RailfanVince]

What equipment you running around with?

[@trtrproductions]

My go to is a JVC GY-HM170U. A tough camera to learn, but an absolute workhorse when you do.

[@footedFanboy]

Hi

[@trtrproductions]

Hello!

[@FallenFlagFoamer]

Man I wish Gary wasn’t so dangerous so I could visit Kirk Yard.