End of the Chicago hot metal trains

On 5/13/2025 we follow a hot metal train of the Cleveland Cliffs steel mills between the former Inland Steel mill in East Chicago, IN and the ACME mill in Riverdale, IL. Cliffs is closing the Riverdale plant in late June, so these are some of the last few mainline moves of molten steel in the country. Cars from all 3 major manufacturers are seen in this video: Treadwell, Pollock, and Reichard.

The most elusive of all Chicago switch engines makes an appearance; National Processing Co located across the Little Calumet River swaps out cars in the Riverdale plant yard. Ladle car moves are frequent through the facility.

0:00-3:23 Inland loaded subs shove out to IHB Lakefront yard at CP502
3:24-4:26 SCIH shoving to Inland mill at Whiting
4:27-5:57 NYC crew at IHB Lakefront yard getting hot metal ready to cross CP502 onto the Kankakee line.
5:58-10:54 CP Calumet empty hot metal
10:55-13:36 Crew swap at IHB Michigan Ave yard
13:37-15:27 Loaded hot metal at CP Calumet and Grasselli
15:28-16:36 CP Columbia
16:37-17:51 west of state line
17:52-20:11 Dolton
20:12-23:35 CF&E at Dolton
23:36-27:07 Cliffs Riverdale
27:08-28:37 NS, Cliffs switcher, and ladle car run
28:38-34:57 hot metal train swap at Cliffs Riverdale
34:58-36:51 the most elusive switcher in the Chicago area, from NPC
36:52-40:48 Loaded ladle car move