Run-time: 1 hour and 43 mins approx.

A polished steel highway travels north to south through the middle of Illinois that is the Canadian National (CN) Chicago Subdivision; we took our cameras to check out the action on this busy inter-state main line. In addition we also followed the CN Matteson Sub to Griffith in Indiana, not far from the south side of Chicago as it makes its way towards Kirk Yard at Gary, IN.

Join us on our journey as we begin the show at the flat diamond junction next to the Amtrak station at Effingham, where we witness long road freights heading north and south as they pass over the CSX line to East St Louis.

Moving north we head for Gilman, IL, where our former Illinois Central line crosses the Toledo, Peoria and Western metals - two long manifests are seen heading south and north. Next we are at a snowy Danforth and Ashkum where our first Amtrak passenger train is seen heading past the massive grain silos. Next we continue north through Kankakee and on towards Richton, Matteson and the Railfan Park at Homewood. It is here that we pick up the electrified Metra line that runs south to University Park - we catch a number of double-deck commuter units at work.

We then head east into Indiana to the popular train-watching town of Griffith. This is where the CN Matteson Sub heads north up to the major Yard and interchange at Kirk.

In this programme a whole host of motive power is seen including Class 1 railroad power, including CPKC, UP, NS and CSX as well as CN power with Grand Trunk and Illinois Central colours providing the variety, on this fascinating set of railroad routes and locations making it a focal-point for U.S. railfans.