One can stand trackside and see the headlights of three or more approaching trains in the distance . . .

Chicago’s Metra commuter system is one of the busiest in the U.S., with lines emanating from downtown in all directions to the suburbs.  Trains originate from four stations: Union, LaSalle Street, Millennium (near the site of the Illinois Central Railroad’s Central Station) and the Ogilvie Transportation Center (a skyscraper built on the site of Chicago & North Western’s Northwestern Station).  Every weekday morning trains pour into the downtown area, packed with commuters headed to work in the city.  The late afternoon hours find the reverse as commuters head for home.

Of the many routes operated by the system, the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy line to Aurora is the busiest.  During the height of the commuter rush, one can stand trackside and see the headlights of three or more approaching trains in the distance on the triple track mainline.  The northern-most track finds trains making local stops, while express trains take the middle track and a combination of empty deadhead moves and eastbound commuter trains take the southernmost track.

The station at Hinsdale, Illinois, is one of the many stops on the old Burlington Route.  All stops locals take around forty-five minutes to reach Hinsdale from Union Station, while express trains making the stop reach it in half the time.  It is one of the busier stops, hence some of the express trains pausing there.  These photos were taken at the Hinsdale station in March, 2009.

Commuters are dispersing after exiting a westbound “Dinky,” seen receding into the distance over the shoulder of the man walking toward the camera.  In the foreground, another detrained passenger looks on; waiting while a deadheading train passes on the far track as it speeds downtown for another load of westbound commuters.  The roof of the old Burlington station peeks out behind him and above the eastbound train.

On the south side of the mainline, a woman waits in front of the old Burlington station building, drink in hand, as her eastbound train arrives against the fading light of dusk.  The train is running cab-car first, with the locomotive shoving the train downtown.

Charging westbound down the center of the triple main tracks is one more “Dinky,” this one an express train bound non-stop for the western suburbs.

Mary McPherson – Photographs and text Copyright 2021