20190402 StJoe basement dug, slow intermodal

On my way to vote, I noticed the crossing signal was flashing for a long time with no train on the road. I wondered if it was another false closing. No, it is more proof that the signals installed in 2014 are still dumb enough to go down as though the approaching train is going 70mph, the track speed for passenger trains. Then when I saw how slow an intermodal train was going on The Racetrack, I shot a short video to record the speed. The track speed for freight is 45mph. And intermodals are supposed to be BNSF's fastest freights. Since this video is short, I decided to experiment with including a video directly in the blog rather than use YouTube.

I stepped into StJoe's parking lot to get a clear shot of the construction of the addition through the gate.

From the sidewalk, you can see where they have put safety tape along the hole dug for the basement of the addition.

2:26:16 I took this photo to get a timestamp of when the intermodal train finally cleared the road. It took over three minutes for it to pass through town. As you can see, it backed up traffic north of Franklin.

They put a barrier up indicating that you are not supposed to go up that grass to get a better shot. Fortunately, I can read the model number of the Cat through the fence: 314E L CR. Note the big dirt pile behind the gravel pile.

2:27:50 Another "get a timestamp" shot because the gates are going down. It was a commuter, so no more shots of that train.

2:45 I voted and I'm walking East on Warren. A crossing gate bell started ringing, so I stood at the parking lot for Community Bank of Downers Grove to wait to see what is coming. It is an eastbound commuter, and it is still going pretty fast considering that it needs to come to a stop pretty soon. Although, looking at a map, it does have four more blocks to go.

You have to take two photos of a commuter to record direction because the engine is always on the west end. The car on the east end of the train has special controls for the engineer to drive eastbound trains. It is called a cab car. The building behind the the train is called Burlington Junction, and it is finally done. I checked Google Maps, the bank building that was torn down to make room for these apartments still appears on the satellite image.

There was a gap in the traffic, so I quickly took another view of the school construction.

The gap continued, so I more carefully framed the construction activity.

Again, the safety tape outlines where the hole has been dug.