Black Hawk (Amtrak train)

The Black Hawk is a planned Amtrak intercity rail route between Chicago, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa via Rockford, Illinois. Service between Chicago and Rockford was planned to begin in 2015, but was put on hold by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. Service to Dubuque was to open at a later date. Once train service begins, the new service will operate under the Illinois Service umbrella.

Black Hawk (previous route)

The Black Hawk at Dubuque in 1981
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Illinois, Iowa
Predecessor	Land O'Corn
First service	February 13, 1974
Last service	September 30, 1981
Former operator(s)	Amtrak
Route
Start	Chicago, Illinois
Stops	6
End	Dubuque, Iowa
Distance travelled	182 miles (293 km)
Average journey time	4 hours 10 minutes
Service frequency	Daily
Train number(s)	370-372
On-board services
Class(es)	Unreserved coach
Catering facilities	On-board cafe
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Track owner(s)	Chicago Central (CN)
Route map Dist. Station 0 mi 0 km Chicago 18 mi 29 km Elmhurst 85 mi 137 km Rockford 113 mi 182 km Freeport 138 mi 222 km Warren 164 mi 264 km Galena 180 mi 290 km East Dubuque IL IA 182 mi 293 km Dubuque

Amtrak previously operated the Black Hawk from 1974 to 1981 Illinois Central route, now the Canadian National's Chicago Central/Iowa Zone. From 2010 to 2014 plans called for the restored route to follow the same corridor; however, the state government could not come to an agreement with the railroad. Instead, the route will follow Metra's Milwaukee District / West Line from Union Station to Big Timber Road, then the Union Pacific Railroad to Rockford.

History

Previous operation

The Black Hawk, made up of Budd Rail Diesel Cars, at Rockford in July 1975

Prior to Amtrak, the Illinois Central Railroad operated the Land O'Corn between Chicago and Waterloo, Iowa, discontinuing it in 1967. The first Black Hawk began running on February 13, 1974, using Budd Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs). Conventional diesel locomotives and coaches replaced the RDCs after February 2, 1976.[1][2] Equipment varied, including ex-Chicago & North Western gallery cars, dome cars, boat-tailed observation cars, full diners, lunch counter diners and ex-ATSF Hi-Level Coaches. Further, power for the Black Hawk also varied on a regular basis with GE P30CHs, EMD SDP40Fs, EMD F40PHs and the occasional Illinois Central Gulf "Geep" filling in for ailing power (an ICG EMD GP10 towed the last RDC consist into Chicago in 1976). Amfleet coaches arrived in November 1976.The Black Hawk ceased on September 30, 1981, after Illinois reduced its appropriations for passenger service.[3]^{:248; 251}

Several Rockford based groups sponsored special charter trips to Chicago events such as Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox games as well as performances of "The Ice Capades" on the Black Hawk. On these trips, the consists could swell to as many as seven to 10 cars. During the RDC days, the usual consist consisted of three RDCs. During the mid-to-late 1970s the consist usually included 3 cars, including a food service car of one type or another. During a good part of the summer of 1977, the Black Hawk ran with a full dining car and dome coaches.

The route used the former Illinois Central Railroad route (then part of the Illinois Central Gulf) between Chicago's Union Station and Bridgeport and the Freeport Subdivision west of Bridgeport.[4]^:44

Restoration

Black Hawk (new route)

Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Proposed
Locale	Illinois, Iowa
Predecessor	Black Hawk
First service	TBA
Route
Start	Chicago, Illinois
Stops	3 (initially) 7 (later)
End	Rockford, Illinois (initially) Dubuque, Iowa (later)
Service frequency	Once daily (initially) Twice daily (later)
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed	59 miles per hour (95 km/h) (initially) 79 miles per hour (127 km/h) (later)
Track owner(s)	METX, UP, CN (later)
Route map New proposed route via MD-W and Union Pacific Old proposed route via Freeport Subdivision Service to start after Chicago–Rockford begins Station Dist. Dist. Station 0 mi 0 km Chicago Elgin 36 mi 58 km 39 mi 63 km South Elgin-Coleman Huntley 49 mi 79 km 61 mi 98 km Genoa Belvidere 74 mi 119 km 81 mi 130 km Rockford–Alpine Rd. 86 mi 138 km 86 mi 138 km Rockford 113 mi 182 km Freeport 125 mi 201 km Lena 164 mi 264 km Galena Illinois Iowa 182 mi 293 km Dubuque

In 2007 Amtrak, at the state of Illinois' request, conducted a feasibility study to reinstate the Black Hawk route to Rockford and Dubuque. Initial capital costs ranged from $32 million to $55 million, depending on the route. Once in operation, the service would require roughly $5 million a year in subsidies from the state.[5] On December 10, 2010, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced the route choice for the resumption of service to begin in 2014 going over mostly Chicago Central railway owned by Canadian National.[6]This line will be the only Amtrak Illinois Service route that will not be on track used by Metra. IDOT confirmed the return of the "Black Hawk" name in 2012.[7]

The equipment to be used on the route was to be the Next Generation Bi-Level Passenger Rail Car built by Nippon Sharyo at a new plant in Rochelle, Illinois, which is located just 24 miles south of a portion of the proposed route.[8] However one of the first cars manufactured failed a critical safety test, the contract was cancelled and the plant never fully opened.[9] The equipment will instead be single level Siemens Venture cars built at its plant in Sacramento, CA, similar to cars supplied to Brightline/Virgin Trains for its services in Florida.

New proposal

On April 10, 2014, a new plan for Amtrak service that would terminate in Rockford was released after the IDOT was unable to negotiate a deal with the Canadian National Railway, who owns the tracks the old proposal was going to use. IDOT will continue to work with the CN to eventually get the route extended to its planned terminus of Dubuque, IA. The new proposal would use a route along former Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western tracks through downtown Elgin, Huntley, and Belvidere before terminating in Rockford.[10]

Plans on hold, later funded

On February 9, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner announced that the plans for the route would be put on hold until further notice, as the state did not have sufficient funds to continue the project. $3 million had been spent out of the $223 million plan. Huntley, IL had spent over $50,000 to build a station platform.[11]

However, after a new transportation bill was passed by the state legislature in July 2019, supported by Governor J.B. Pritzker, $275 million was appropriated to begin service.[12] IDOT hired a project manager in 2020 with the intent to begin engineering and environmental analysis.[13]

References

1. Amtrak System Adds Three New Routes Amtrak News April 15, 1974 page 5
2. Superior Passenger Service Key to Boosting 1975 Ridership Amtrak News January 1, 1975 page 2
3. Sanders, Craig (2006). Amtrak in the Heartland. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34705-3.
4. Solomon, Brian (2004). Amtrak. Saint Paul, Minnesota: MBI. ISBN 978-0-7603-1765-5.
5. "Amtrak-Illinois DOT Feasibility Study Determines Most Direct Route Best for Service to Rockford, Northwestern Illinois and Dubuque, Iowa". National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Press release). Amtrak. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
6. Weskerna, Nicole (11 December 2010). "Amtrak will roll through Genoa". Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
7. Sweeny, Chuck (18 May 2012). "Amtrak route for area on target for late 2014, early 2015". Rockford Register-Star. Rockford, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 24 Jun 2012.
8. Leaf, Brian. "Rochelle's Nippon Sharyo train car plant lands $352 mil contract". Rockford Register-Star. Rockford, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 29 Nov 2012.
9. Bomkamp, Samantha. "Rochelle rail-car plant loses $352 million Amtrak contract to California". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
10. "$223 Million Announced to Restore Chicago to Rockford Amtrak Service". WIFR. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
11. "Plan for Amtrak service from Chicago to Rockford on hold". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
12. "Rail group celebrates 'big win' for Amtrak line from QC to Chicago". WQAD.com. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
13. DeCoaster, Ken (24 September 2020). "Stadelman: Passenger rail service to Rockford gains traction". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

External links

• Timetable from 1981
• 2007 Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service Chicago-Rockford-Galena-Dubuque (archive)