AMTRAK RAILFAN TIPS
NORFOLK SOUTHERN
Chicago Line
The New York Central Railroad originally used La Salle Street Station, sharing a route with the Rock Island Railroad as far south as Englewood. At Englewood, the route turned southeast to parallel the Pennsylvania Railroad. It is along this stretch where the rival railroads' Twentieth Century Limited and Broadway Limited trains raced against each other, operating between Chicago and New York. But those railroads merged in 1968 into the Penn Central, and all trains were consolidated onto the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad route, serving Union Station. Under Conrail, the route became known as the "Chicago Line", and became part of Norfolk Southern after the Conrail breakup. Amtrak trains departing Union Station proceed south for several miles, passing US Cellular Field and NS's 55th Street Yard on the way. The route then turns southeast over the Dan Ryan Expressway, where two CTA rapid transit lines are visible. East of the expressway at Englewood, the route crosses the former Rock Island line, now a Metra commuter line. And southeast of there, the former New York Central right of way parallels to the north. East of the Hammond-Whiting Amtrak station is CP 506, where the connection was constructed by Penn Central with the New York Central line. East of there, this main line is the former New York Central route, while the former Pennsylvania route is now abandoned east of there. The route passes the various steel mills and other industries in the Gary/northwest Indiana area. Other trains continue over this line, which parallels the South Shore Line for several miles. At Porter (CP 482), trains to Michigan diverge northeast, mostly over the former Michigan Central line now owned by Amtrak. The "Pere Marquette" to Grand Rapids diverges over the former Pere Marquette route, now part of CSX.