Post by Keith Yearman on May 2, 2010 6:09:50 GMT -5
Illinois Geographical Society Pre-Meeting Field Trip
April 29, 2010
Joe Kubal organized this field trip to run from Rochelle to Monroe. Keith Yearman, Don Tolen, Steve Thomas, Jim Lennert, Len Hodgman, Len Ealey and Katherine Ealey were the members on the trip, along with Len’s daughter Teagan.
The trip started at the Rochelle Union Pacific Intermodal facility, Global 3. The group heard a bit about the facility and its operations in a conference room. Then we were brought to the
control room to see the automation of the facility’s gate. Entering trucks are extensively photographed, and the numbers on the boxes are matched to UP’s database. Once a match is found, the truck driver’s fingers are scanned (an additional security measure), and the truck is assigned a parking spot. Contractors take over and load the boxes onto the train.
We headed over to Rochelle Railroad Park for a brown-bag lunch. The railroad park is located at Rochelle’s “Double Diamond,” where the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific tracks cross. Ross Freier of the Rochelle Tourism & Visitor’s Association met us and spoke about the history of Rochelle.
We moved to Lincoln Highway, and “toured” the old Standard gas station that is now the home of the Tourism & Visitor’s Association. We made a brief stop at the Emily Post mural, before heading up to Byron.
We headed north to Monroe and stopped at the Kapotas sculptures. The Kapotas sculptures are spread over private property (which has been opened as religious garden). The status of the site is unknown (Joe noticed a “for sale” sign on the property in late 2009). A totem pole actually collapsed between two of our cars as we were departing.
This marked the last stop on the trip before we headed to Rockford.
April 29, 2010
Joe Kubal organized this field trip to run from Rochelle to Monroe. Keith Yearman, Don Tolen, Steve Thomas, Jim Lennert, Len Hodgman, Len Ealey and Katherine Ealey were the members on the trip, along with Len’s daughter Teagan.
The trip started at the Rochelle Union Pacific Intermodal facility, Global 3. The group heard a bit about the facility and its operations in a conference room. Then we were brought to the
control room to see the automation of the facility’s gate. Entering trucks are extensively photographed, and the numbers on the boxes are matched to UP’s database. Once a match is found, the truck driver’s fingers are scanned (an additional security measure), and the truck is assigned a parking spot. Contractors take over and load the boxes onto the train.
We headed over to Rochelle Railroad Park for a brown-bag lunch. The railroad park is located at Rochelle’s “Double Diamond,” where the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific tracks cross. Ross Freier of the Rochelle Tourism & Visitor’s Association met us and spoke about the history of Rochelle.
We moved to Lincoln Highway, and “toured” the old Standard gas station that is now the home of the Tourism & Visitor’s Association. We made a brief stop at the Emily Post mural, before heading up to Byron.
We headed north to Monroe and stopped at the Kapotas sculptures. The Kapotas sculptures are spread over private property (which has been opened as religious garden). The status of the site is unknown (Joe noticed a “for sale” sign on the property in late 2009). A totem pole actually collapsed between two of our cars as we were departing.
This marked the last stop on the trip before we headed to Rockford.