Pictures 1-9 and the audio were taken on July 15, 2007, by AndyWS.
Pictures 10-51 and the 1st video were taken on May 8, 2021, by Tommy McGowan. The 2nd video was taken on June 27, 2025, by Rus. Pictures 52-115 and videos 3-4 were taken on April 20, 2026, by Rus.
This crossing is located on the UP Harvard Sub or Metra UP Northwest Line.
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A wide view looking south as we drove by in the car on US 14.
The signals in action for an inbound Metra train as it stops at the Mt. Prosepct station. The pictures are looking north. In picture 3 you can see that the southbound road gate has a delay going down.
These pictures were taken when we visited northern Illinois for the weekend for a wedding in the family.
This crossing is on the Metra/UP "Northwest" line, which parallels the Northwest Highway (US Highway 14) for much of its length in the greater Chicago area. The line eventually continues into southern Wisconsin.
On the north (southbound) side, the crossing has a large cantilever with a double-wide mast and 5 pairs of 12" x 24" lights. The northbound signal is a mast signal with 12" x 20" main lights and 2 pairs of 12" x 24" sidelights. All lights are LED. There are five gates in total, including sidewalk gates, and a WCH electronic bell on the mast signal. There are also at least three "NO TURN" signals for the intersection with Prospect Avenue that light up with the crossing signals.
The FRA has a lot of things about this crossing wrong. For example, it says that the UP is the only user of this line, and does not mention Metra. In consequence it also says that the daily passenger train count is zero, when in fact Metra passenger trains make up the majority of the 70 daily trains. The report also fails to mention the cantilever.
There is a little confusion about the name of the street. The street signs say Main St., but Google Maps has that name alternating with Elmhurst Rd., and the FRA calls it Elmhurst Rd. as well. The only thing known for sure is that it is also Illinois State Highway 83.
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Some people waiting at the sidewalk gate on the opposite side of the street.
The train begins to move again. The gate on this signal is quite long.
Video stills of the rear of the mast signal as it activated for another Metra train.
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Video still of the rear side of the cantilever and the opposite side pedestrian gate.
Picture 1 was taken on July 14, 2007. All other pictures and the audio file were taken on July 15, 2007.
This crossing is in a quiet zone. Trains do not sound their horns at the crossing.
CLICK THE ICON TO THE LEFT TO HEAR THIS CROSSING IN ACTION. (RECORDED JULY 15, 2007)
Between 2007 and 2021, the only major change was the Safetran Model 85 pedestrian gates were replaced with WCH gates.
By April 2026, the mast lights on the northern signal were replaced and the DOT tags were turned to face forward.
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Overview of the slightly updated setup facing north.
Overview facing south.
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The updated northern signal. Its DOT tag was relocated to the mast of the cantilever. The diagonal striping remains on the pedestrian gate, and is likely to be one of the last ones remaining on the line.
