Chicago Rail Link
{{Short description|Switching railroad in Chicago, Illinois, US}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox rail|railroad_name=Chicago Rail Link|marks=CRL|locale=South Side of Chicago|start_year=1980|end_year=present|predecessors=* Rock Island
- LaSalle & Bureau County Railway: 1892-1986|headquarters=2728 E 104th Street, Chicago, Illinois|operator=OmniTRAX|gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}|length={{convert|72|mi}}|website={{URL|https://omnitrax.com/chicago-rail-link-2/|OmniTRAX: CRL}}|logo=Chicago-Rail-Link-logo.svg}}
The Chicago Rail Link {{Reporting mark|CRL}} is a shortline switching railroad in Illinois. It owns and operates more than 72 miles of track on the South Side of Chicago.{{Cite web |title=Our Managed Railroad: Chicago Rail Link |url=https://omnitrax.com/chicago-rail-link-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219134946/https://omnitrax.com/chicago-rail-link-2/ |archive-date=19 December 2022 |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=OmniTrax}} It is owned by OmniTRAX.{{Cite web|url=http://www.progressiverailroading.com/short_lines_regionals/news/OmniTRAX-honors-five-employees-safety-efforts--39779|title=Rail News - OmniTRAX honors five employees' safety efforts. For Railroad Career Professionals}}
History
The Chicago Rail Link was essentially organized 29 August 1980{{Cite web |title=Chicago Rail Link CRL #420 |url=http://www.up.com/up/customers/shortline/profiles_a-c/crl/index.htm |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=www.up.com |language=en}} after the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad abandoned track when it went defunct. It was originally called the LaSalle & Bureau County Railway and owned former CRI&P track between LaSalle and Midway, Illinois. This track was abandoned in the Link's early years and is now owned by the Iowa Interstate Railroad.{{Cite web |title=FRA - Safety Map |url=https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/gisfrasafety/ |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=U.S. Department of Transportation}} The Chicago Rail Link merged with Chicago, West Pullman & Southern railroad on August 15, 1996.
In late 2018, Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced that the Chicago Rail Link will receive $1.6 million in funding from the United States Department of Transportation to implement positive train control.{{Cite web |title=Rail News - New York, Illinois senators announce federal PTC funding for several roads. For Railroad Career Professionals |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ptc/news/New-York-Illinois-senators-announce-federal-PTC-funding-for-several-roads--55433 |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=Progressive Railroading |language=en}}
The Chicago Rail Link was the contract switching operator for Union Pacific and CSX's intermodal facilities in Chicago as of 2010, but it is unclear whether this contract is still effective.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Rail Link, LLC |url=http://www.omnitrax.com/rail_crl.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701185529/http://www.omnitrax.com:80/rail_crl.aspx |archive-date=1 July 2010 |website=OmniTRAX}} The CRL serves the Port of Chicago, as well as being the current switching operator over Metra trackage to their Blue Island yard on the Rock Island District.
Trackage
The Chicago Rail Link's trackage stretches between Kensington, Irondale, Mokena, and Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Rail Link has access to the BNSF Railway, the Canadian National Railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway, the CSX Transportation network, the Kansas City Southern Railway, the Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad through the Belt Railway of Chicago. This is supplemented by trackage rights on the BRC for direct access. The Chicago Rail Link also provides access to the Iowa Interstate Railroad through Blue Island.
= CRI&P Subdivision 1B =
The majority of the Chicago Rail Link's trackage was CRI&P's Subdivision 1B, which was constructed in 1874. Automatic block signalling was installed in the 1910s; however, upon Chicago Rail Link ownership, the line was downgraded to be unsignaled and single-tracked.{{Cite web |title=RAILROAD OPERATING INFORMATION |url=https://www.chicagorailfan.com/rfttcrl.html |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=www.chicagorailfan.com}} This subdivision was used by Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for passenger trains crossing the Rock Island main line at Gresham Junction. This junction is now where Metra Rock Island District splits.
There was a former extension of the line that went almost one half of a mile further, which intersected the main branch of the current day Metra Rock Island District.
Industrial Site Development
The Chicago Rail Link owns two plots of land in the South Side of Chicago. It is a part of OmniTRAX's Rail-Ready Sites program. OmniTRAX is cooperating with the Calumet Area Industrial Commission to sell these plots of land. They are both served by the Chicago Rail Link.{{Cite web |title=CRL-combo |url=https://omnitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CRL-combo.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219162357/https://omnitrax.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CRL-combo.pdf |archive-date=19 December 2022 |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=Chicago Rail Link }}
Equipment
| class="wikitable"
!Model !Road number |
| rowspan="5"|EMD GP7
|4 |
| 28 |
| 29 |
| 2066 |
| 4297 |
| rowspan="2"|EMD GP9
|58 |
| 59 |
| EMD GP10
|1042 |
| rowspan="2"|EMD GP18
|14 |
| 15 |
| rowspan="1"|EMD GP35
|2 |
| rowspan="2"|EMD SW8
|43 |
| 46 |
| EMD SW9
|51 |
| EMD SW1200
|52 |
| rowspan="2"|EMD SW1500
|18 |
| 19 |
[https://www.thedieselshop.us/CRL.HTML Locomotive roster]{{Cite web |title=CRL - Chicago Rail Link Locomotive Roster |url=http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CRL |access-date=19 December 2022 |website=RR Picture Archives}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Railways}}
- {{official website|https://omnitrax.com/chicago-rail-link-2/}}
{{Illinois railroads}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chicago Rail Link}}
Category:Railroads in the Chicago metropolitan area