Rochelle Railroad Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rochelle Railroad Park |
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The Rochelle Railroad Park Gift Shop
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| Location | Rochelle IL |
| Operated by | City of Rochelle IL |
| Open | 24/7 |
| Awards | 1st Railfan Park in US |
| Parking | Free |
| Facilities | Restrooms, Gift shop, Free Wifi |
The Rochelle Railroad Park is a special city park in Rochelle, Illinois. It's a fantastic place where people who love trains, called railfans, can safely watch and take pictures of them. This park is known as the first "railfan park" in the United States. It opened on August 30, 1998, and is open all day, every day.
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Where is the Park Located?
The park is in a unique spot in Rochelle, Illinois. It sits in the eastern part of a "double diamond crossing". This is where two major railroad lines cross each other. These lines belong to the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and BNSF Railway (BNSF). They connect Chicago to places further west.
Understanding the Diamond Crossing
The two main train lines cross on the southwest side of Rochelle.
- The UP line, once called the Chicago and North Western Railway, goes from the southwest to the northeast. It travels from Chicago towards Clinton, Iowa, and Omaha.
- The BNSF line, which used to be the Burlington Northern Railroad, runs from the northwest to the southeast. It goes from Aurora, Illinois, to Savanna, Illinois, and then to Minneapolis-St Paul.
This special crossing has four tracks and is known as NX Crossing. It's a very busy spot for trains!
How the Park Started
Before the city built this park, train fans would often park near an old track that connected the two railroads. This spot was not very safe. Cars were sometimes too close to the tracks. There was also nothing to stop people from accidentally walking onto the tracks.
The city of Rochelle decided to create a safe and fun place for everyone. They chose the eastern part of the crossing to build the park. This way, train lovers could enjoy watching trains without any danger. The old connecting track has since been removed.
Big Boy 4014's Visit
In September 2024, a very famous train visited the park. It was the Union Pacific's restored 4-8-8-4 Big Boy 4014. This huge steam locomotive was on its Midwest tour. It made a public stop at the park, and thousands of train fans came to see it!
What Can You Do at the Park?
The Rochelle Railroad Park has many cool features for visitors.
- There's an elevated viewing platform with a roof, like a gazebo. This gives you a great view of the trains.
- You can find picnic tables for snacks or lunch.
- There's a display of old-fashioned strap rail track.
- A small preserved Whitcomb switching locomotive is on display. This type of train was made right in Rochelle!
- The park has a paved parking lot, public restrooms, and vending machines.
- There's even a small shop where you can find model railroad items.
Cool Tech for Train Fans
The park offers some neat technology to make train watching even better:
- Live Radio Scanner: Speakers on the viewing platform let you hear live radio chatter from both the UP and BNSF railroads. You can also tune in on FM 106.9.
- Free Wi-Fi: Stay connected while you watch trains.
- ATCS Monitors: These screens show a live map of the UP Geneva Sub line, so you can see where trains are.
- Live Webcams: There are cameras on the viewing platform's roof. You can watch the trains live online through Trains Magazine, EarthCam, and Virtual Railfan.
Knowing When a Train is Coming
There are ways to know when a train is getting close to the park:
- Defect Detectors: For trains coming from the west, both railroads have special detectors. These signal train information over the radio.
- Grade Crossing Signals: For trains coming from the east, the signals at N 9th Street will light up. These protect the road crossings. Since 2016, trains no longer blow their horns in Rochelle because it's a "quiet zone."
