DanM64

Diesel all the way!! I actually am an engineer. Worked 7 years for the Union Pacific until I left them to work for my current employer- Metra (Chicago commuter railroad). I've been an engineer at Metra since I started there January. I currently work the Rock Island and Southwest Service Metra lines. I don't railfan too much, but I enjoy all old diesel equipment. The old CB&Q/D&RGW/WP California Zephyr is my favorite train. Here are a couple trains I was running taken by local railfans.

This is quite possibly the classiest photo of me ever taken! I'm being my usual self while at work.

I just saw that. Very sad. Depression is a serious thing, and mental health treatment in the United States is a joke. He also did A LOT of drugs throughout his lifetime, that can mess up your mental health as well. Sad, one of the most major 'stars' to die in my adult life time. That's a very good point. I don't know why so many people decide to do drugs. Dumb. Either way, this is a tragedy.

I just saw that. Very sad. Depression is a serious thing, and mental health treatment in the United States is a joke.

I've never ridden the SFDK one or Possessed, but they're MUCH longer than the ones on Wicked Twister. I'm going to say they're the same as SFDK, but that's just a guess.

I decided to just go ahead and post the info on here in case others are interested. I STRONGLY encouage public transportation, and though Chicago's is old, it's convenient and gets you everywhere. Plus it's way cheaper than paying for parking at the park! Your first option which works every day of the week is to take the Metra Union Pacific North line to Waukegan which leavs from the Ogilvie Transportation Center.f you came to Chicago on Amtrak you will need to walk 3 blocks north from Union Station to Ogilvie. You can then take Pace bus #565 from the Metra station to the park. The SFGAm bus stop is at Grand Ave and Six Flags Drive, so you'd still have to walk down Six Flags Drive to the park entrance. All easy to do without a rental car. Just FYI- Bus fare is $1.85 each way for an adult. Metra train fare is $6.75 each way for an adult during the week. Weekends are $7 for unlimited rides. If you don't buy a round trip on a weekday downtown and end up needing to buy a ticket on the train for the trip home they only accept cash on the Metra train. The second option is easier but only works Friday through Sunday because the express bus only runs on those days. Take the CTA Blue Line. Fare for the CTA is $2.25. Credit cards are accepted everywhere on the CTA. Take the Blue Line train heading to O'Hare and get off at the Rosemont stop (last one before O'Hare). Once you get there you can take the Pace #284 "Six Flags Great America Express" for $4- exact change only- and that bus will take you directly non-stop from the Rosemont station to the park. This bus stops right at the park entrance, too.

I think your best bet would be to take the Metra to Waukegan and then take the Pace Bus to SFGAm. I've never used the Pace Bus, so I can't speak from personal experience on that, but the Metra system is very nice. Thanks for the Info very helpful!! You have either that Metra option, or you can take the CTA. I'm PMing you with more info.

Correct. Sorry if I came off as rude, that wasn't my intention. Ride operators are generally teenagers most of whom don't know any more than we do. Most of what they say is untrue, I'd take it worth a grain of salt, especially a rumor as far fetched as this one. Superman is 11 years old, V2 is 13. Do you really think they would leave the problem that long without doing upgrades to the park's electrical system if that rumor were true? Granted it is Six Flags, but even they wouldn't be that dumb!

Somebody fed you a line of Grade A crap!! V2 uses LIMSs anyway, not hydraulics. That's not how electricity works! One thing can't "suck power" away from everything else. Either it all works or it all blacks or browns out. If V2 really did effect Superman, they would BOTH go down. One can't just take electricity away from the other. Now my thoughts on the Viper incident. I've lived in Chicagoland all my life and gone to the park as long as I can remember. Those of you who can't see how much worse the operations, customer service, and clientele in the park have gotten over the last few years then you aren't looking hard enough. The ads drive me nuts. Half of the ride operators are lazy. There are more and more of the ghetto/YOLO crowd attending the park than ever before. Robb, I'm sorry what you experienced on your visit, but it's pretty typical IMO. Six Flags is going downhill quickly. This used tk be one of the better Six Flags parks, but I don't think that's true any longer. Hasn't been for the past couple years. The booing sounds typical, too, unfortunately. The cheap season passes plus Six Flags marketing the teen YOLO crowd has brought in a lot more riff raff than there used to be. It's sad, really. I don't even enjoy going to the park that much anymore. I guess that's why despite being only an hour away I still have yet to ride Goliath. I just don't look forward to going anymore.

I don't mind some SLCs. T2 is AWFUL. GIBs are fantastic, though.

^That's a great point, Bill. I guess I didn't really think of that. I would THINK that PA announcements were made. If not that is really unprofessional and inexcusable.

It is almost impossible to inform EVERY guest where to go. Just use common sense. Go into a PERMENANT building/structure.

Mine is a combination of the 2 things that consume my life the most, conveniently found together in one picture. The Metra train because that's where I work and spend a very good portion of my life, and the Wipe Out carnival ride for obvious reasons.

Just a word of advice for the Metra train. Buy a round trip in Chicago before you leave unless you have cash. The ticket window in Waukegan closes around noon, and Metra think it's still 1989 so only cash fares are accepted on the train. The ticket window in Chicago will accept any credit cards, though.

HellCat at Timber Falls in the Dells last weekend. I always remember it being good, but never as good as it is! It was absolutely FLYING through the course. What a fantastic little coaster!

Awesome, thanks! I'll definitely try that and hopefully I'll get better results. Much appreciated, Elissa!

AWESOME!! I grill at least twice a week. I don't have a smoker yet, but I'm really close to buying one. This thread makes me want one even more! I'm going to get a Weber Smoky Mountain. The Egg is fantastic, but I can get the WSM a bit cheaper. PLEASE keel posting pics. You're all making me hungry!

^Congrats! I FINALLY finished training at my job. Couldn't be happier with the career change so far!

Those pictures look A.MAZE.ING!

I'm interested in filming some video while riding my jet ski. I've used the suction cup mount to mount my Hero 3+ to the fiberglass hood but I'm not happy with all the vibration. I wouldn't think coaster trains aren't much different. What do you do to get your videos to look so good Robb?

OMG that airtime hill!

It can be done, you would just have to do a few transfers. You'd have to walk from Union Station to Metra Ogilvie Transportation Center, which is only 3 blocks. Take the Metra Union Pacific North line to Waukegan. You can then take a Pace bus from the Metra station to the park. The SFGAm bus stop is at Grand Ave and Six Flags Drive, so you'd still have to walk down Six Flags Drive to the park entrance. All easy to do without a rental car. Just FYI- Bus fare is $1.85 each way for an adult, and your 9 year old is $0.85. Metra train fare is $6.75 each way for an adult, and $3.25 for your child. The information is much appreciated, thank you! No problem at all! If you have any other questions feel free to ask or send me a PM. I did forget to mention one thing. I'm not positive about the Pace bus, but if you buy a ticket on the Metra train it is cash only. Your best bet is to buy round trips for the 2 of you at the ticket counter in Ogilvie- they will accept any credit cards. If you happen to be going on a weekend you can just get a $7 Metra weekend pass which is good for unlimited rides Saturday and Sunday. Make sure to let us know how the trip went!

It can be done, you would just have to do a few transfers. You'd have to walk from Union Station to Metra Ogilvie Transportation Center, which is only 3 blocks. Take the Metra Union Pacific North line to Waukegan. You can then take a Pace bus from the Metra station to the park. The SFGAm bus stop is at Grand Ave and Six Flags Drive, so you'd still have to walk down Six Flags Drive to the park entrance. All easy to do without a rental car. Just FYI- Bus fare is $1.85 each way for an adult, and your 9 year old is $0.85. Metra train fare is $6.75 each way for an adult, and $3.25 for your child.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I'm scared to even go near the railing on the 2nd floor of a shopping mall I'm so scared of heights, yet I'll go on any ride there is. If I ever had to evac off a lift hill I would die, but the height of 4ides and coasters while I'm on them doesn't scare me in the least. No one understands it, they all think I'm weird. The Sears Tower Ledge scared the crap out of me, and I'm sure the Tilt will, too. Looking forward to it!

^Never knew that. Thanks! I've never bought a CityPass before. I'm in Chicago 5-6 days a week for work, so I only do the tourist-y stuff when it's something new or someone is visiting from out of town. I plan on doing the Tilt soon since it's different. The CityPass is awesome if you plan on doing all those attractions. I hope they set up some type of Fast Pass without having to buy all the attractions for the locals, though.