Union Pacific's Geneva Subdivision. This is Union Pacific's main line in and out of Chicago from the Overland Route. It also is Metra's West Line (UP-W). It is an east-west route, and has lots of potential. Starting at the east end is Metra's UP-W terminal, Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC). OTC is underneath West Washington Street, West Randolph Street, and West Lake Street in downtown Chicago. Two other lines terminate in OTC, Metra's North and Northwest lines. The Geneva Sub heads right into the underground terminus, so only one sub is covered on this route. After an outbound Metra train leaves, it passes over the UP C&M Sub (home to the MD West, MD North, and the North Central lines) then immediately hooks a sharp left turn to head due west. Halfway through this ninety-degree turn, the North and Northwest lines diverge and head toward Clybourn. Heading west out of downtown, there are four main tracks until the we meet the C&M Sub again where we are now at six mains. After about a mile, the C&M diverges and heads north. Also at this junction is Metra's Western Ave shops. It is also here where there is a wye that heads south to the big Global 1 intermodal yard, which is already in TS on the Racetrack). After passing these shops, the UP-W stops for the first time at the very small Kedzie station. The Geneva sub continues west with five mains and passes Metra's locomotive shops at the Kilbourn Ave overpass. The west line then runs parallel to CTA's Green line until its Harlem/Ale subway stop, where the line terminates. On the left on an outbound train are CTA shops. The second stop on the line, River Forest, is only a short distance passed this. Then it stops at Maywood, Melrose Park, Bellwood, Berkeley, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, College Ave, Wheaton, Winfield, and West Chicago. In between the Melrose Park and Elmhurst stations, there is the well-known Global II intermodal yard, adjacent to the Berkeley station. At the northernmost point at G2 is the beginning to the Milwaukee Sub, where the ex-CNW Proviso Yard is located, only about a quarter-mile away from G2. As the UP-W pushes west, it passes over the Canadian National at Villa Park. It's a pretty easy drive between Villa Park and West Chicago. Just west of the West Chicago station is another junction, this time with the Canadian National . This spot is pretty well known as there is a diamond almost in the middle of the road. There is also a transfer yard on the Geneva Sub, called the West Chicago Yard, and a few house tracks up the line on the CN. As we continue our journey, we cross over the Fox River and stop at Geneva Metra, the subdivision's namesake. After Geneva, the UP line crosses a good amount of farmland before reaching La Foxl, then departs for Elburn, the western terminus for the UP-W. This route would include a variety of freight cars, but the most important would be intermodal, both TOFC and COFC. A 3GS21B Genset for switching, a GP60 for switching, an ET44AH, C45ACCTE, and a C44-9W. For Metra, the Nippon Sharyo gallery cars and an F40PHM-2 and the traditional F40PH-2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3GS21B: GP60: ET44AH: C45ACCTE C44-9W Nippon Sharyo Gallery Cars F40PHM-2 F40PH-2
