Chicago Railway Disaster

[Luv2play]

A day ago I started a thread in the Lounge on railway overpasses in Chicago. Today we are witnesses to the deadly results when cars and trains are not separated at crossings. The fact that it happened in a Chicago suburb and to a CN train, which were the focus of my post, is somewhat chilling.

 

My understanding from initial reports is that a woman died and three others were seriously injured when they were waiting in their car at a level crossing for a freight train to pass. Apparently the train was carrying an inflammable cargo and derailed nearing the crossing, sending flames and debris into the waiting cars.

 

After writing my posts yesterday I checked on the Chicago City website to see what was being done about railway overpasses. I learned that Mayor Daley recently announced a $1.5 billion infrastructure upgrade that would be addressed not only to building overpasses but also better signalization and other improvements.

 

It would seem that such action is highly warranted.

[raulgmanzo]

Sorry to be pedantic. The accident apparently happened near Rockford which is NOT a chicago suburb. Actually it looks like it may have happened in Cherry Valley which I guess is a suburb of Rockford and some 80 or 90 miles from Chicago.

 

I guess many news outlets might be saying Chicago because many people outside of Illinois may never have heard of Rockford even though I believe it is (or was until recently) the second largest city in Illinois.

 

Still it is a valid point that the much of the infrastructure in Chicago, Illinois and the U.S. is in need of improvement.

[KMEM]

Some people think that nearby Wisconsin is a suburb of Chicago, at least they talk and live that way. That doesn't change any of your points which I believe to be entirely correct.

 

I worked one summer in Rockton, IL which is 3 miles from WI, South Beloit which is a suburb of Beloit, to be exact, both of them in WI. As I recall Rockford, Rockton and Wisconsin are all around 90 miles from Chicago.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[seaboy4hire]

I know nothing of the railroads other then one of our fav dykes work for them. But I do want to chime in and welcome Raul back to the board Missed ya!

 

Hugs,

Greg

[rvwnsd]

Some people think that nearby Wisconsin is a suburb of Chicago, at least they talk and live that way. That doesn't change any of your points which I believe to be entirely correct.

 

Although the suburbs reach farther than ever (Huntley, anyone?) Rockford is definitely NOT a Chicago suburb. As to Wisconsin, there are people who commute from Kenosha, WI to downtown Chicago on Metra (commuter rail).

[raulgmanzo]

Yes Kenosha, Wisconsin IS often considered a suburb of Chicago (though Racine is NOT). Kenosha besides having commuter rail to Chicago is at 40 or 50 miles away considerably closer than Rockford. I believe people in Kenosha are traditionally much more likely to watch Chicago television stations etc. And of course many Chicago suburbs are in Indiana, not surprising since the city proper of Chicago runs up against the Illinois - Indiana border.