| The Gregarious Railfan |
Franklin Park, IL 60131 (population, 18,333 (2010))
GPS: N 41.93680, W 87.86901 (Tower B-12) Google map
Scanner: Metra and CP road 161.520; CN Waukesha Sub road 160.920, CN dispatcher 161.295, IHB 160.980
Railroads: Metra Milwaukee District West, Metra North Central Service; CN Chicago Terminal Division, Waukesha
Sub; CP Chicago Division, Elgin Sub; IHB
Description: Franklin Park, Illinois is a near northwest suburb of Chicago about 13 miles NW of the Loop. Located on
Metra's Milwaukee West Line and just east of CP's Bensenville yard, the city holds a multi track diamond, 2 Metra
Stations, and the relocated and restored Tower B-12 and a restored caboose. The Tower provides a comfortable
trainwatching spot on the East West line. View of the diamond is a little more problematic. The park in the NW
quadrant of the diamond, next to the police station is said to have high fences but still provides the best views.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 120 on weekdays, substantially less on weekends. The majority of trains are
commuter.
Nearby RR stuff: Tower B-12 and caboose, N 41.93680, W 87.86901;
Metra - CN diamond, N 41.93420, W 87.85878; MW Metra Station, N 41.93660, W 87.86642;
Breakfast: Denny's, 2447 Mannheim Rd, Franklin Park, N 41.924063, W 87.88421
Fast Food: McDonalds, 2627 Mannheim Rd, Franklin Park, N 41.92669, W 87.88433
Ice Cream: Baskin Robbins, 10131 W Grand Ave, Franklin Park, N 41.92999, W 87.87833
Pub and Grub: Mike O'Donnell's Irish Pub, 9573 Franklin Ave, Franklin Park, N 41.93506, W 87.86524
Hala Kahiki Tiki Lounge, 2834 River Rd, River Grove, IL, N 41.93165, W 87.84797
Lodging: Super 8, 3160 N River Rd, River Grove, N 41.93711, W 87.85114
GPS: N 41.93680, W 87.86901 (Tower B-12) Google map
Scanner: Metra and CP road 161.520; CN Waukesha Sub road 160.920, CN dispatcher 161.295, IHB 160.980
Railroads: Metra Milwaukee District West, Metra North Central Service; CN Chicago Terminal Division, Waukesha
Sub; CP Chicago Division, Elgin Sub; IHB
Description: Franklin Park, Illinois is a near northwest suburb of Chicago about 13 miles NW of the Loop. Located on
Metra's Milwaukee West Line and just east of CP's Bensenville yard, the city holds a multi track diamond, 2 Metra
Stations, and the relocated and restored Tower B-12 and a restored caboose. The Tower provides a comfortable
trainwatching spot on the East West line. View of the diamond is a little more problematic. The park in the NW
quadrant of the diamond, next to the police station is said to have high fences but still provides the best views.
Approximate # trains per 24 hours: 120 on weekdays, substantially less on weekends. The majority of trains are
commuter.
Nearby RR stuff: Tower B-12 and caboose, N 41.93680, W 87.86901;
Metra - CN diamond, N 41.93420, W 87.85878; MW Metra Station, N 41.93660, W 87.86642;
Breakfast: Denny's, 2447 Mannheim Rd, Franklin Park, N 41.924063, W 87.88421
Fast Food: McDonalds, 2627 Mannheim Rd, Franklin Park, N 41.92669, W 87.88433
Ice Cream: Baskin Robbins, 10131 W Grand Ave, Franklin Park, N 41.92999, W 87.87833
Pub and Grub: Mike O'Donnell's Irish Pub, 9573 Franklin Ave, Franklin Park, N 41.93506, W 87.86524
Hala Kahiki Tiki Lounge, 2834 River Rd, River Grove, IL, N 41.93165, W 87.84797
Lodging: Super 8, 3160 N River Rd, River Grove, N 41.93711, W 87.85114
Map
- Todd Sestero's Franklin Park map
Links:
. Tower B-12 website
. Original views of the Tower at the crossing
. Franklin Park Railroad History
. Todd Sestero's Franklin Park page
. Franklin Park, IL Railfan Information Page
. Franklin Park 2018: Best of Franklin Park, IL Tourism - TripAdvisor
. Village of Franklin Park - Official Page
. Virtual Railfanning Franklin Park, IL
. Franklin Park Railroad Days
. Tower B-12 website
. Original views of the Tower at the crossing
. Franklin Park Railroad History
. Todd Sestero's Franklin Park page
. Franklin Park, IL Railfan Information Page
. Franklin Park 2018: Best of Franklin Park, IL Tourism - TripAdvisor
. Village of Franklin Park - Official Page
. Virtual Railfanning Franklin Park, IL
. Franklin Park Railroad Days
