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"RAILFANNING IDEAS"

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
"RAILFANNING IDEAS"
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Saturday, February 2, 2019 7:15 PM

[Merged with moved "RAILFANNING FUN"]

Hi Guys n Gals 

Along with working on a new layout, I like to railfan here in Oregon,  but I would like to know when a train is coming instead of waiting all day to at times seeing a quiet mainline, I would also love to hear the radio chatter between dispatch and the train crew, that would add to the excitement of railfanning, I  was wondering, which radio is best to buy and use??? 

Thanks All 

Happy Modelrailroading Cool

Trainsrme1 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, February 2, 2019 9:13 PM

I can't tell you which is the best. I have a PRO-75, which is from the late 90's, and I listen to the CN, UP, WSOR, and the local tourist train down the street, the East Troy Electric.

https://www.easttroyrr.org/

You just need to find a decent scanner, and find out the channels that the railroads, local to you, use.

Here's one of many sites to get that information:

https://www.radioreference.co

Configure your scanner accordingly, and listen in.

Most of what I hear is from main dispatch, from what area your in, to the trains, and MOW chatter.

Mike.

EDIT:  You can get the base station type, add an antenna, you good to go, or you can use a portable, like mine, runs on batteries or a plug in adaptor for home use.

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, February 2, 2019 9:35 PM

TrainsRMe1
I would like to know when a train is coming instead of waiting all day to at times seeing a quiet mainline,

I'd like to know that too.  There is a website and I think app, called broadcastify.  I've only listened to it on computer, but to me, it's disappointing.  I don't really know what I an listening to. 

  • There is a lot of noise as in non verbal noise, hiss, alert tones?
  • You can only hear one side of some conversations
  • It's hard to know where trains are based on what I hear.
  • Defect detector announcements are clear.

This is Altoona Pa NS channel  https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/2247/web

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
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Posted by Harrison on Sunday, February 3, 2019 6:51 AM

You will get more results if you post this in the Trains forums, as this is not a model RR topic.

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111.aspx

 I would recomend the Uniden Bearcat scanner, just put in all your channells and set it to scan, has decent range and decent price.

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 3, 2019 6:59 AM

I replied to this last night???? where did the other posts to this thread go?

BigDaddy also replied to this last night. ?????

I think it's OK in here, maybe in the Prototype forum.

Mike.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, February 3, 2019 7:40 AM

mbinsewi
I replied to this last night???? where did the other posts to this thread go?

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/274251.aspx

Maybe the OP forgot he posted.  Memory problems are all the rage this weekend.Devil

Would we be model railroaders if we weren't railfans of some sort?  I don't quite get chasing one train for half a day, but maybe that's a function of the traffic where I live.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 3, 2019 7:46 AM

BigDaddy
Memory problems are all the rage this weekend

OK, I thought I was the only one with that problem!

I never thought to look around, as I couldn't remember where he posted it first.

See, there's that memory thing again!

Mike.

 

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, February 3, 2019 9:01 AM

Harrison
You will get more results if you post this in the Trains forums, as this is not a model RR topic.

Actually this in prototype information for the modeler forum and should work since many modelers are also railfans.

Modeling and railfaning goes together like peanut butter and jelly since this is how modelers gain modeling ideas..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by dh28473 on Friday, February 8, 2019 9:24 AM
I have a radio shack scanner works great trains and aircraft
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Posted by dh28473 on Friday, February 8, 2019 9:25 AM
Try ebay
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  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Sunday, February 10, 2019 8:51 PM

Uniden Bearcat is what I use.

It gets pretty good reception, and does at times pick up from quite a distance.

But, unless you know the mile markers on the line you are rail fanning, you are still going to be guessing to some extent. Yes, actual engine crew transmissions are from relatively close by, but I can pick up dispatchers for the entire division on clear days.

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, February 10, 2019 9:07 PM

dh28473
I have a radio shack scanner works great trains and aircraft

Mine is a Radio Shack,  Tandy Co., is listed as the manufacturer.  Yea it's old, from the 90's, but still works.

New channels have a longer number, which I can't get, so I might check into an upgrade.

Also, when I listen to the CN, they don't give a specific train ID such "train QT220", it's always the lead locos number.

Mike.

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