Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join Drew on his Chicago railfan adventure as he dives deep into the heart of Metra's operations, visiting two legendary railroad towers: A5 and A2. Get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look inside these historic interlockings, once part of the Milwaukee Road lines. You'll meet the dedicated operators who manage hundreds of trains daily, witness their intricate control systems, and experience the thrill of watching trains from unique vantage points. This video offers an unparalleled glimpse into the complex world of modern and historic rail traffic management in the Windy City!
TIMESTAMPS
* 00:35: Exploring Metra's A2 Tower
* 00:58: Inside Tower A5: Pacific Junction History
* 01:49: Witnessing Amtrak's Empire Builder
* 02:22: A2 Tower: North America's 2nd Busiest Interlocking
* 04:23: Meet the Tower Operators: Jim (Director) & Al (Leverman)
* 06:39: The Guts of the Operation: A2's Relay Room
* 08:05: Up Close & Personal: Trains from the Tower's Base
* 09:28: Norfolk Southern Freight Surprise
Created: October 30, 2013
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#Metra #ChicagoRailroads #TrainOperations #Railfan #RailroadTower #Interlocking #A5Tower #A2Tower #RailwayHistory #Amtrak #NorfolkSouthern #FreightTrain #CommuterRail #WindyCityTrains #BehindTheScenes
Join Drew on his Chicago railfan adventure as he dives deep into the heart of Metra's operations, visiting two legendary railroad towers: A5 and A2. Get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look inside these historic interlockings, once part of the Milwaukee Road lines. You'll meet the dedicated operators who manage hundreds of trains daily, witness their intricate control systems, and experience the thrill of watching trains from unique vantage points. This video offers an unparalleled glimpse into the complex world of modern and historic rail traffic management in the Windy City!
TIMESTAMPS
* 00:35: Exploring Metra's A2 Tower
* 00:58: Inside Tower A5: Pacific Junction History
* 01:49: Witnessing Amtrak's Empire Builder
* 02:22: A2 Tower: North America's 2nd Busiest Interlocking
* 04:23: Meet the Tower Operators: Jim (Director) & Al (Leverman)
* 06:39: The Guts of the Operation: A2's Relay Room
* 08:05: Up Close & Personal: Trains from the Tower's Base
* 09:28: Norfolk Southern Freight Surprise
Created: October 30, 2013
Subscription and links
See more of our railfan videos at Trains.com trains.com/vid/railroading
Follow Trains.com, the world’s #1 destination for all things trains:
🌎 Website: trains.com
📖 Subscribe: trains.com/subscription-plans
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/KalmbachTrains
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/trains_magazine
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/TrainsMagazine
Shop Model Trains:
Website: shop.trains.com
#Metra #ChicagoRailroads #TrainOperations #Railfan #RailroadTower #Interlocking #A5Tower #A2Tower #RailwayHistory #Amtrak #NorfolkSouthern #FreightTrain #CommuterRail #WindyCityTrains #BehindTheScenes
