Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
It's that time of year again.
Originally I had planned to get up early to snag the CPKC Holiday Train, but they had gotten in earlier than expected and I was really tired from getting up early three days in a row and working three shifts in a row so I stayed in bed for a bit. Regardless I managed to get out of bed and went out for a few trains and see the Holiday Train later at Franklin Park. We started out at Dolton for a bit and did a short chase of CF&E FWCH from there to Calumet City, before catching a Metra at Blue Island before heading to the Bensenville/Franklin Park area to get a few trains and then see the Holiday Train.
After that we got word that they were gonna head North along the Union Pacific's Milwaukee Sub to the C&M Sub to head North towards La Crosse where they would head down the River Sub to their next stop in Iowa which made for a nice little bonus C&M run later in the evening. Which is always welcomed! The holiday train season is officially in full swing now! Enjoy!
Now here are the trains in order.
Train 1: EB Mixed Freight
CF&E C40-8W #4034 *G&W Whisker Heritage Unit, ex-CSX 7872*
CF&E C40-8W #4038 *ex-CSX 7822*
Train 2: Outbound Metra
Power:
METX MP36PH-3C #403
METX CabCar #8566
Train 3: EB Mixed Freight
Power:
CP ES44AC #8825
CP ES44AC #8945
We then get a few shots of the lead unit, 2246, idling during their stop in Franklin Park. We couldn't get a lot of shots due to limited parking and being rather crowded, but we also managed to get I45 leaving FP as well.
Train 4: EB Mixed Freight
Power:
CP SD70ACU #7046 *ex-CP 9148*
CP ES44AC #8942
Train 5: WB CPKC Holiday Train
Power:
CP GP20C-ECO #2246 *US Holiday Train*
Our final two shots show the Holiday Train make it's way through Norma Jct on the Milwaukee Sub and then speeding through Rondout on the C&M Sub towards Wisconsin.
Taken on 11-23-25
It's that time of year again.
Originally I had planned to get up early to snag the CPKC Holiday Train, but they had gotten in earlier than expected and I was really tired from getting up early three days in a row and working three shifts in a row so I stayed in bed for a bit. Regardless I managed to get out of bed and went out for a few trains and see the Holiday Train later at Franklin Park. We started out at Dolton for a bit and did a short chase of CF&E FWCH from there to Calumet City, before catching a Metra at Blue Island before heading to the Bensenville/Franklin Park area to get a few trains and then see the Holiday Train.
After that we got word that they were gonna head North along the Union Pacific's Milwaukee Sub to the C&M Sub to head North towards La Crosse where they would head down the River Sub to their next stop in Iowa which made for a nice little bonus C&M run later in the evening. Which is always welcomed! The holiday train season is officially in full swing now! Enjoy!
Now here are the trains in order.
Train 1: EB Mixed Freight
CF&E C40-8W #4034 *G&W Whisker Heritage Unit, ex-CSX 7872*
CF&E C40-8W #4038 *ex-CSX 7822*
Train 2: Outbound Metra
Power:
METX MP36PH-3C #403
METX CabCar #8566
Train 3: EB Mixed Freight
Power:
CP ES44AC #8825
CP ES44AC #8945
We then get a few shots of the lead unit, 2246, idling during their stop in Franklin Park. We couldn't get a lot of shots due to limited parking and being rather crowded, but we also managed to get I45 leaving FP as well.
Train 4: EB Mixed Freight
Power:
CP SD70ACU #7046 *ex-CP 9148*
CP ES44AC #8942
Train 5: WB CPKC Holiday Train
Power:
CP GP20C-ECO #2246 *US Holiday Train*
Our final two shots show the Holiday Train make it's way through Norma Jct on the Milwaukee Sub and then speeding through Rondout on the C&M Sub towards Wisconsin.
Taken on 11-23-25
