Metra Train Locomotive Breaks Down At Ravinia Train Station

Yesterday, July 12th, at approximately 1:00 PM, a Metra train's locomotive broke down at the Ravinia train station (not the Ravinia Festival station). The cause of this breakdown is unknown at this moment, but it has been confirmed by multiple witnesses that there was a small fire on the underside of the locomotive. I myself can confirm seeing and hearing multiple fire trucks speeding towards Ravinia around that time. Fortunately, fire crews were able to extinguish the fire before it became a far more serious a problem. The locomotive in question is the EMD F40PH, a diesel-electric locomotive. These locomotives carry large amounts of diesel, and as a result, had the fire reached the interior of the diesel tanks, we could be talking about a significantly larger response to that scene. The explosion from the locomotive could easily have damaged nearby buildings. Thanks to the Highland Park Fire Department, that did not happen.

Metra Police responded to the scene, along with 2 Metra mechanics. Both mechanics worked for hours, while Metra delayed and canceled other trains during this time period. Ultimately, they decided to tow the broken down locomotive with another train. Around 3:45 PM, Metra mechanics finally gave the green light for the combo train to pull away. Standing next to the damaged locomotive, you could hear a loud clicking sound. This clicking sound, in my opinion, sounded like the diesel trying to spark, similar to how your car needs to spark its gasoline to start up. In the video linked below, you can hear what sounds like your gas stove turning on, but much louder. I arrived on the scene around 3:15 PM, and instantly knew this was the broken locomotive because of that sound. This sounded nothing like the normal, loud, Metra Locomotive.

Now, the train did not actually leave at 3:45 PM. Many stranded Windy City Smokeout concert-goers and other riders took their time to decide what to do--continue riding south into the city on this slow-moving combo train, which from my understanding, was making full stops, or to stay in Ravinia and figure out a new plan. Some of these people may have just been trying to get home, and unfortunately were delayed in doing so by at least three hours.

After about 15 minutes of people stranded riders making their decisions, we finally heard the classic "[Ding Dong]" "Caution: The doors are about to close." And then, the combo between Metra #816 (damaged) and Metra #818 (tow train) finally pulled away, headed for the city. I was unable to walk to the south end of this combo train, but from my observations, it appeared to be about ten-cars long (including both locomotives). The train pulled away slowly, but surely. It looked to have just left the Ravina Festival train station about 8-10 minutes after initially pulling away from the Ravina train station. We have not heard any news about this train experiencing further mechanical failures on its ride into Chicago.

The Ravinia railroad crossing was opened by Highland Park Police around 4:05 PM.