RailRoadFan.com

Hey guys! I'm planning a trip to the Chicago area for the summer of 2017 and I'm just wondering on any Chicago area CN lines, where the best spot to catch a EJ&E painted SD38-2?

Easy spots to get up close to the EJE are at:

1. Griffith, IN. I-94 to Cline Ave, exit 5, south 2.5 miles. Park is located on the northeast quad of the diamonds where the GTW line crosses the EJE line.
2. Chicago Heights, IL. Lincoln Hwy (US 30) to Halsted Avenue south a mile. The EJE crosses a UP/CSX line running north/south. (not a place you want to be after dark)
3. Matteson, IL. Matteson Railfan Park. Lincoln Hwy to Orchard Drive south a half mile to North Street west a half mile to dead end. This is where the IC main to EJE main cloverleaf is at.
4. West Chicago, IL. I-88 to Rt 59 north six miles to W. Washington, west a mile. The UP transcon crosses the EJE here. Loads of Metra at rush hour.
5. Elgin, IL. Spaulding Avenue. Southeast of downtown.
6, Waukegan, IL. Numerous spots along the waterfront.

I would not count on seeing EJ&E power on former EJ&E trackage as it has been scattered across the CN system. You're just as likely to see it in Battle Creek or Stevens Point as you are Matteson or Griffith.

For just about as long as I have lived in Wisconsin, No. 660 has been the power on the West Bend local:

EJE660CulvertWestBendWI2-8-15 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

I'll second the comment above, I've spent hours on the UP/ EJ&E at west Chicago and have only seen CN and BCOL painted units. I've had Bette truck shooting an EJE unit in Detroit than on EJE lines. But if you're going to Chicago, I would recommend west Chicago as a good spot for train count.

I wish one would come up to where I live near Lansing, MI on the CN/GTWflint sub to switch in a yard called "Cory Yard."

Both an EJ&E painted SD38-2 and the last B&LE painted SD38-2 have been used as local power on CN in Lansing within the last year.

Is Markham Yard a good spot to catch EJ&E?

It's no better or worse than any other location listed in this thread.

SD80MAC wrote:Both an EJ&E painted SD38-2 and the last B&LE painted SD38-2 have been used as local power on CN in Lansing within the last year.

When would be a good time to go see the local if there is any?

The Lansing engine can usually be found either at Snow yard near the corner of Snow rd & Pierson hwy, or at Cory yard near Billwood hwy & Guinea rd.