Rondout is a well-known location that is easily reached from downtown Chicago. Take the Kennnedy Expressway, then the Edens Expressway, then the Tri-State Tollway (all I-94) to Illinois Rte. 176 (Rockland Road). Head east on Route 176 about a half mile and cross the Metra/CP main line. Before crossing the next railroad, turn right onto a road (Arcadia St.) that goes through an underpass. You can park alongside the road at the entrance to the Metra area around the tower. The elevation above the underpass has a public bike trail at the top. From Arcadia Street, you will see a path leading up to it. Walk up the path to a chainlink fence at the top; you will see an entrance through the fence once you're up there. The elevation provides an excellent bird's-eye view of the junction from two bridges over the rail lines that cross here.
Alternatively, turn right off Route 176 just before Arcadia at the Metra/CP tracks and park by the underpass there. A trespass sign prevents you from proceding further. At one time, there was a commuter station at the junction, but Metra closed it in 1979. This made access more difficult and train service to the junction impossible. The nearest stations are not within walking distance.
The double track north-south route through here is the former Milwaukee Road main line to Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. It is owned by Metra south of here and used by their Milwaukee North Line trains. Canadian Pacific owns the line north of here and uses trackage rights on Metra to access the Chicago area. Crossing Metra/CP here is terminal road Elgin, Joliet & Eastern's single track main line from Joliet. It terminates at Waukegan, about nine miles to the northeast. A small interchange yard occupies the southwest quadrant of the junction. Just north of the diamonds, an ex-Milwaukee branch line leads off to the northwest. All Metra trains use the branch and terminate at Fox Lake, near the Wisconsin border. An occasional Wisconsin & Southern (formerly Wisconsin & Calumet) freight also uses the branch on trackage rights, as does a CP switch job. All CP road freights and Milwaukee-bound Amtrak trains continue on the main line north of here.
Nearly all of the action--up to 80 trains on weekdays--is on Metra/CP and the Fox Lake Branch. The EJ&E sees only light traffic, with some of it running at night. Rondout Tower, one of the largest towers still in operation in the Chicago area, sits in the southeast quadrant. It is owned by Metra but staffed by CP operators.
Frequencies
Metra: 160.770
EJ&E: 160.350, 161.475, 161.145
The elevated bike path provides a safe and legal vantage point. The elevation once carried interurban trains on the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee's branch line to Mundelein, but the tracks were taken up back in the 1960's. Access at ground level is difficult and not recommended. There is a trespass sign at the tower and another at the underpass along the Metra/CP tracks. At the latter location, you are about 50 yards north of the junction with a reasonably good view of the tower and diamonds. Just north of the diamonds on the west side of the tracks, is a platform that was once part of the Rondout station. Some visitors use the platform, apparently without incident. But you should be aware that the platform is in the area protected by the trespass sign. Proceed at your own risk.
For more on the Metra/CP Milwaukee North Line, see Western Avenue. See also Techny at Other North / Northwest Suburban Junctions, as well as Mayfair and Pacific at Other North Side Junctions.
For more on EJ&E locations, see Chicago Heights, Griffith, Pine Junction and Turner (West Chicago). See also Van Loon at Other Northwest Indiana Junctions and Eola at Other West / Southwest Suburban Junctions. See also Leithton, et al. at Other North / Northwest Suburban Junctions.