Work began this week in preparation for moving the retired Illinois Central engine and caboose to make way for a new north parking lot on the west side of the railroad tracks in Homewood.
Crews removed the metal fencing around the equipment and are continuing site preparation.
The engine and caboose are an attraction for regional railroad enthusiasts and are featured during Homewood’s annual Rail Fest. The festival has been canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two pieces of rail history will remain at the site. According to conceptual drawings released by Metra in 2017, the Railroad Park will be located just north of the new parking lot.
The project is part of the Homewood train station renovation project, which received full funding last year when Metra was awarded a $9.2 million Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning grant.
The project is a joint effort between Metra and Amtrak and will include an extensive upgrade of the station. Amtrak’s portion of the project will include building a ramp on the west side of the station to improve passenger accessibility to the boarding platforms.
The ramp will take up space currently used for parking south of the train station building. In order to maintain the current number of parking spaces, the north lot is being expanded, and the Railroad Park is being moved to make room.
Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld said the village had hoped to salvage the shrubbery that was part of the Railroad Park.
“I feel bad about losing the greenery,” Hofeld said. But Metra officials decided the vegetation would not survive transplanting and would have to be removed.
The project will include new landscaping along Park Avenue to help protect homes on the west side of the street from light and sound from the north parking lot.
Related story:
- Homewood train station renovation project now fully funded (Oct. 28, 2019)
- Metra: New plan would address most Homewood train station problems (July 12, 2017)