Weekend Deadhead
A pair of Metra Electric District EMUs amble down the Blue Island Branch, approaching its Vermont Street terminal. It's a Sunday, when this branch- probably the most lightly-used on the entire Metra system- receives no scheduled service, so this is most likely a deadhead move from Kensington Shops or possibly 18th Street Yard. The track in the forground equipped with a derail is essentially the only connection to the "outside world" for the passenger-only Electric District, and shows why, despite nothing but downgrades in service over the years, Metra can't really rid itself of this marginal, but very interesting branch line. Diesel-hauled MOW trains and equipment moves use this track to move between the Electric and Rock Island Districts.
Weekend Deadhead
A pair of Metra Electric District EMUs amble down the Blue Island Branch, approaching its Vermont Street terminal. It's a Sunday, when this branch- probably the most lightly-used on the entire Metra system- receives no scheduled service, so this is most likely a deadhead move from Kensington Shops or possibly 18th Street Yard. The track in the forground equipped with a derail is essentially the only connection to the "outside world" for the passenger-only Electric District, and shows why, despite nothing but downgrades in service over the years, Metra can't really rid itself of this marginal, but very interesting branch line. Diesel-hauled MOW trains and equipment moves use this track to move between the Electric and Rock Island Districts.