Coming Down the Ramp Track Main Street Rockford IL
Perhaps nothing is more iconic in Rockford railroading than the famous and steep ramp track that connects CP and IR to UP. CP and IR interchange cars with UP in the upper UP yard. In prior eras it was used by the Milwaukee Road and the CB&Q.
There's speculation about IR one day taking over UP's remaining customers in Rockford and Loves Park, cutting service back to a point at I-90 in Cherry Valley. That would potentially involve rebuilding the ramp track so that trains enter and exit from the west instead of the east, allowing IR if it goes through to abandon the tail track that crosses Main Street and is required when moving strings of freight cars up and down it.
Coming Down the Ramp Track Main Street Rockford IL
Perhaps nothing is more iconic in Rockford railroading than the famous and steep ramp track that connects CP and IR to UP. CP and IR interchange cars with UP in the upper UP yard. In prior eras it was used by the Milwaukee Road and the CB&Q.
There's speculation about IR one day taking over UP's remaining customers in Rockford and Loves Park, cutting service back to a point at I-90 in Cherry Valley. That would potentially involve rebuilding the ramp track so that trains enter and exit from the west instead of the east, allowing IR if it goes through to abandon the tail track that crosses Main Street and is required when moving strings of freight cars up and down it.