Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Dolton Junction, a busy multi-diamond crossing located 20 miles from Downtown Chicago, was a place once synonymous with railroad greats like the Pennsylvania, Chicago and Western Indiana, Missouri Pacific, Louisville and Nashville and the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal. Times have changed, mergers have occurred and some track arrangements have been made, but one constant remains at Dolton: the endless parade of trains by this still-manned IHB interlocking tower. The Pennsylvania Panhandle Route, now mostly abandoned, has given way to hot bottle moves of the Norfolk Southern on what little bit of this route still exists. Conrails presence, which was commonly found on the tracks of the Indiana Harbor Belt have also given way to trains of the NS. Missouri Pacifics merger has made their rails now those of Class 1 giant Union Pacific, as they now run the route that was once MoPac/L&N (nee-Chicago and Eastern Illinois) and C&WI. L&N and B&OCT moves are now under the umbrella of CSX, and account for many moves seen on a variety of routes through the busy plant. The Indiana Harbor Belt, which has resisted the change that many other routes have had, was and still is a very busy line, mingling their own traffic with hosted moves from CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and even shortline Chicago, Ft. Wayne and Eastern. Doltons close proximity to UPs Yard Center, CSXs Barr Yard and IHBs Blue Island Yard assists in making this place an outstanding hotspot. Throw in pooled and run-thru power from Santa Fe, BNSF, KCS, FerroMex, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and the Indiana Railroads use of Montana Rail Link power and you will witness firsthand why this location is a railfans paradise.
Dolton Junction, a busy multi-diamond crossing located 20 miles from Downtown Chicago, was a place once synonymous with railroad greats like the Pennsylvania, Chicago and Western Indiana, Missouri Pacific, Louisville and Nashville and the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal. Times have changed, mergers have occurred and some track arrangements have been made, but one constant remains at Dolton: the endless parade of trains by this still-manned IHB interlocking tower. The Pennsylvania Panhandle Route, now mostly abandoned, has given way to hot bottle moves of the Norfolk Southern on what little bit of this route still exists. Conrails presence, which was commonly found on the tracks of the Indiana Harbor Belt have also given way to trains of the NS. Missouri Pacifics merger has made their rails now those of Class 1 giant Union Pacific, as they now run the route that was once MoPac/L&N (nee-Chicago and Eastern Illinois) and C&WI. L&N and B&OCT moves are now under the umbrella of CSX, and account for many moves seen on a variety of routes through the busy plant. The Indiana Harbor Belt, which has resisted the change that many other routes have had, was and still is a very busy line, mingling their own traffic with hosted moves from CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and even shortline Chicago, Ft. Wayne and Eastern. Doltons close proximity to UPs Yard Center, CSXs Barr Yard and IHBs Blue Island Yard assists in making this place an outstanding hotspot. Throw in pooled and run-thru power from Santa Fe, BNSF, KCS, FerroMex, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific and the Indiana Railroads use of Montana Rail Link power and you will witness firsthand why this location is a railfans paradise.
