North Central Service (NCS) trains - traffic/noise (Buffalo Grove) (Joliet: schedule, hills)

[webwesen]

is there a heavy freight traffic on NCS?
Vernon Hills - Buffalo Grove portion of the tracks...

I can check Metra schedules, which show pretty light traffic, but I have no idea how to check freight line traffic.

thanks!

[SJaye]

There is definitely a significant amount of Freight traffic on that line. The freight traffic is actually why the METRA traffic is so light. However, there are freight lines out there with more traffic, so I might categorize the freight traffic on that segment of that line as "moderate".

[pvande55]

Much of the freight switches onto the EJ & E north of Vernon Hills so it may not be as heavy where you are looking.

[css9450]

Originally Posted by webwesen

is there a heavy freight traffic on NCS?
Vernon Hills - Buffalo Grove portion of the tracks...

I too would characterize freight traffic on that line as "moderate". It was much lighter back about 30 years ago (perhaps a half-dozen or so per day) but traffic grew in the 90s to around 15-20 a day. Its since declined somewhat after the CN/EJ&E merger in 2009 which saw certain freight trains making the turn at Leithton (just north of Vernon Hills) to follow the old EJ&E line down to their new hub in Joliet. If I had to guess, I'd say there's maybe a dozen per day. Perhaps less.

EDIT - Pvande55 beat me to it while I was typing! I'm too slow...

[webwesen]

thanks! this helps