The Village of Homewood, Illinois is proud to announce that the
Railfan Park and Equipment Display are now open for business!
The railfan park (think Rochelle, IL as an example) is located on the east side of the Canadian National (ex-Illinois Central) / Amtrak /
Metra right of way in downtown Homewood IL. Including Metra trains, train counts at this location routinely exceed 100 per day. Action
includes plenty of CN/IC, Amtrak, and Metra trains, along with UP and NS run-throughs. The viewing platform is located just south of one of
the few remaining steam-era Illinois Central multi-track signal bridges on the railroad, which makes a great prop for southbound traffic.
The south throat of Markham Yard is just a few hundred yards north of the platform site, so something is always happening here! Both
admission and parking are free. Be sure to park in a municipal lot--the pay/permit lots immediately surrounding the Metra station are NOT
free, and you will get towed if you park in them without paying, or displaying the proper permit. Plenty of free space is available,
however, including a lot
right across the street from the platform. Downtown Homewood offers plenty of quaint shops and restaurants just a short walk from the site.
The Equipment Display is located on the west side of the right of way (which is 8 tracks wide through downtown Homewood). The display
includes Illinois Central GP10 8408 in the 1990's "Deathstar" scheme, and IC caboose 9426, in the 1960's orange "I-Ball" scheme. Both units
have been freshly restored and were successfully moved onto the site on Sunday, 25 March 2007. They are presently surrounded by temporary
fencing to prevent vandalism, but will have permanent wrought-iron fencing installed over the course of the summer, along with some
sidewalks, lighting, and other features to allow disabled access.
Both sites have landscaping items to complete, but can be visited and are otherwise fully functional. Other reasons to visit include our
vintage 1923 Illinois Cental depot, still open and in daily use complete with station agent for Amtrak. This station was the only southwest
style station ever built on the Illinois Central railroad. CN/IC's busy Markham Yard, Woodcrest Locomotive Shops, and US corporate
headquarters are all located in the village also. The yard and shops are private railroad property, and we ask all visitors to please
respect our good relationship with the railroad and not trespass; but many good photos can be taken from the public roads which surround
the complex. The Metra and Amtrak platforms in downtown Homewood are also public ways and good locations for pictures, along with the new
railfan platform itself. A mural of the Illinois Central's famous "Green Diamond" streamliner is located in the commuter/pedestrian tunnel
linking the east and
west sides of the right of way (this tunnel also accesses the Metra and Amtrak platforms). Other railroad themed murals will be installed
there as time goes on.
We hope you will consider visiting us in Homewood. Our community is located in the south suburbs of Chicago, and is easily accessible via
Interstate US 80, Interstate US 57, or via Amtrak or Metra train service. We are striving to be the premier railfan destination in the
Chicago metro area. Homewood's Rail Heritage Weekend will be on May 19-20 this year and includes a multi-media slide show, train show with
vendors and operating layouts, and prototype equipment displays. Admission to all venues is free. This year's party will also include the
official "grand opening" of the park sites, but come and see them early before all the hoopla--then come back for the big event! More info
on this annual extravaganza will be forthcoming soon. Come and see us--we think you will enjoy our town and the great tradition of
railroading we offer here!
Please feel free to forward this message to any individual or group whom you may feel will be interested.
Thanks, and we hope to see you soon in Homewood!
Paul Burgess
Homewood, IL
Rail Heritage Committee
3/26/2007