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What is the one railroad location in each state every railfan can identify immediately?

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, February 16, 2023 6:25 PM

Early returns are a steam generation plant.  The building is windowless.

Henry

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, February 16, 2023 5:33 PM

Metro Red Line
BigDaddy or Camden Yards, before baseball. Whoa, I always thought the stadium was built over the rail yard, but it looks like was really built over a factory. The old rail yard was really replaced by the parking lot. Laugh

Just getting back to the thread. 

You are Correct!  As you look at the picture, there are only 2 tracks to the right of the warehouse these days.   The stadium was built on the left side of the warehouse and there was consideration given to tearing down the warehouse.

I think the smokestacks were from the "Pyrolysis Plant"  Something that was supposed to burn trash and turn it into useable recycle substances.  It didn't work out.  No idea what the larger building is on the left.  I can ask on a Facebook page, Old Baltimore Photos.

 

Henry

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, February 16, 2023 8:58 AM

Overmod
Florida had the Key West Extension.

And that is about all we had.

-Kevin

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Posted by Allegheny1633 on Thursday, February 16, 2023 8:43 AM

Metro Red Line

 

 
BEAUSABRE

California - Keddie Wye Where the Western Pacific's Feather River mainline  and Great Northern's Inside Gateway  met

 

 




No no no no no...The Tehachapi Loop.

 

 

Absolutely agree!

Tehachapi is instantly recognisable as being "California" - all over the world. It's almost unique, I understand there's a smaller version in Switzerland and as the photo above shows, that ain't Swiss!

Another classic location (for me) is the C&NW's approach into downtown Chicago on a long viaduct, it does shout "Chicago" to me.

Sorry, I have no pictures to post of it.

John

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, January 5, 2023 12:23 PM

It's a free country, you're entitled to your ignorant, wong, southern Californian opinion

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Posted by Metro Red Line on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 5:33 PM

BigDaddy

 or Camden Yards, before baseball.



Whoa, I always thought the stadium was built over the rail yard, but it looks like was really built over a factory. The old rail yard was really replaced by the parking lot. Laugh

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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 6:41 PM

for Maryland I'd guess Helmstetter Curve on the Western Maryland line.

50 years living in Maryland and I never heard of it, although I was on the other side of the state.  Besides Thomas Viaduct, which is in my avatar, as a Baltimoron I would think of the old B&O Mt Royal station, now a part of an art college.

Point of Rocks

or Camden Yards, before baseball.

Henry

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Posted by Metro Red Line on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 3:36 PM

BEAUSABRE

California - Keddie Wye Where the Western Pacific's Feather River mainline  and Great Northern's Inside Gateway  met




No no no no no...The Tehachapi Loop.

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Posted by The Milwaukee Road Warrior on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 5:57 PM

Wisconsin: Duplainville crossing and Brookfield Depot in suburban Milwaukee, and the middle of the lake crossing on Lake Monona in Madison.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lothes/51821840743/

Iowa: the iconic Kate Shelley bridge on the UP near Boone.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpetric/48295357481/in/photolist-2gBTeJ4-2gNYMSM-2gBQdx1-2gzGkcg-2gMYmnV-2gUk5QD-2gPJ2Zc-2gMYmeD-2gMYm8S-2gK5zPL-2gNZvP1-c6TF2f-2gP5g5g-2gP1r5R-2gP65sD-2gP5gt2

Illinois outside of Chicago: the great CGW tunnel at East Dubuque.

 

EDIT: I don't know how I could have forgotten about Cut-Off tower at Muskego Yard in Milwaukee.  Must be thousands of photos taken there.

Andy

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Posted by tankertoad135 on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 3:57 PM

Well, I borrowed this picture from Railpictures.net, and always loved the descent into Butte, MT on the NCL via Homestake Pass.  Unfortunately, I doubt many of today's railfans could ID the location as the line has been embargoed for quite some time.Cowboy

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, October 6, 2022 10:20 AM

If you are looking for one anyone could recognize, from their state or any other, I would say it's very limited.

Hoseshoe Curve, Tehachapi Loop, Cascade Tunnel, Moffet Tunnel, Jack London Square, Keddie Wye, NY Grand Central Station, Fostoria. I'd be very hard pressed to recognize other locations by sight out of my region.

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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 1:44 PM

If you see a picture of the Statue of Liberty, you think "New York"; if you see the Golden Gate Bridge, you think "San Francisco" - whether you've actually been there or not, you still know the image.

I think the OP's question is what railroad-related places are there like that in each state - something so iconic any fairly knowledgeable railfan would see it and know where it is, even if they'd never been there and had just seen pictures or video of it.

For example, I suspect most railfans seeing a picture of Grand Central Terminal would think "New York City" right away. It's been used in so many movies and TV shows even many non-railfans would know it right away.

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Posted by AEP528 on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 8:34 AM

ndbprr

My intent on this topic has been skewed trough readers interpretation. I was looking for locations that everyone would know not just locals.  That being said I have learned about locations that I did not know about before.  But the premise still holds.  For example one I just thought about that is easily recognized is the Columbia river gorge.

 

I have no idea what that looks like and would not recognize it. I agree that quite possibly the only example would be Horseshoe curve, and even then it's quite likely not every railfan would recognize it. I belive the only truly correct answer is, there isn't any. This is a flawed premise: That railfans study every location in the US closely enough to be able to recognize it from a photo

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Posted by ndbprr on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 7:44 AM

My intent on this topic has been skewed trough readers interpretation. I was looking for locations that everyone would know not just locals.  That being said I have learned about locations that I did not know about before.  But the premise still holds.  For example one I just thought about that is easily recognized is the Columbia river gorge.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, October 3, 2022 12:08 AM

I'm glad that I didn't answer this question, and that's not because I'm in a province rather than a state....my interpretation of the question was that there was supposedly one identical location in every state, which would have required only one answer, rather than a list.

Wayne Whistling

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Posted by Outsailing86 on Sunday, October 2, 2022 10:59 PM

We like these areas as they are spectacular, but the railroads want straight lines and track speed

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Posted by Outsailing86 on Sunday, October 2, 2022 10:57 PM

Ohio- Berea, Crestline, or the Hullets

illinois: Rondout, West Chicago, ok there's a lot in Chicago

indiana: burns harbor/Gary/hammond

Wisconsin: Byron hill 

MI (Upper): sualt ste marie lift bridges, escanaba

MI (lower): Durand 

iowa: Dubuque bridge, fort Madison bridge

kentucky: Paducah bridge

louisiana: lake ponchtrain bridge

minnesota: Duluth, steelton hill

 

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, October 2, 2022 10:25 PM

BEAUSABRE

 

 
IRONROOSTER
I suspect the only picture every railfan could identify would be Horsehoe Curve. 

 

Just shows you how 55 or so years after it left us, the Pennsylvania still dominates railroading

 

 

PRR hasn't dominated railroading since even before the PC bankruptcy.

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Saturday, October 1, 2022 10:17 PM

IRONROOSTER
I suspect the only picture every railfan could identify would be Horsehoe Curve. 

Just shows you how 55 or so years after it left us, the Pennsylvania still dominates railroading

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Saturday, October 1, 2022 3:13 PM

I suspect the only picture every railfan could identify would be Horsehoe Curve. 

I haven't even heard of some of these.  And some others aren't really distinctive enough - too many similar places.

But I'll nominate Union Station, Washington D.C.

Paul

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Posted by wjstix on Thursday, September 22, 2022 3:52 PM

mvlandsw

The James Hill Viaduct looks good with the lighting under the arches. Is it still being used by rail traffic? I remember reading a long time ago that one of the arches was sinking and had to be repaired.

 

 
I think there was some repairs done (fairly) recently, that may be what you are thinking of. Part of the bridge was destroyed in the early 1960s to make way for a lock, with the idea of making the Mississippi above St. Anthony Falls navigable. (Before that, the falls in downtown Minneapolis was as far up river as you could go.) That part was patched with a steel bridge.Traffic was never too great, and the lock closed - but they'll never fix the bridge.
 
 
BTW we generally call it "The Stone Arch Bridge", although it was eventually formally named after James J. Hill.
 
For something still visible today, perhaps the big "1" on top of the 1st National Bank building near St.Paul Union Depot? Many pictures taken around SPUD of trains show the "1" in the picture.
 
 
Stix
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Posted by mh1 on Friday, September 16, 2022 10:15 PM

For Michigan, I would also add the Port Huron/Sarnia, Ont. tunnel.

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Posted by Ulrich on Friday, September 16, 2022 2:40 PM

Starrucca Viaduct,Lanesboro, PA

Genesee Arch Bridge spanning the Genesee River Gorge on Norfolk Southern's southern tier route in NY. 

 

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Posted by FRRYKid on Friday, September 16, 2022 3:32 AM

I don't have pictures handy but two I would put in for eastern Montana are the bridges on the ex-CMStP&P PCE (now Central Montana Rail-CMR) running from Kingston Jct. to Denton, MT (I saw them many years ago and they are impressive.) and the other is the point between Terry and Glendive, MT when the ex-CMStP&P crosses over the ex-NP line. (Now both BNSF) The crossover can be seen from I-94 if you happen to know where to look. (The interstate has a very high section there so the highway can go over the railroad going over the railroad.)

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, September 15, 2022 2:54 PM

I'd go with the Fisher Bridge in Wolcott Vermont on the Saint Johnsbury and Lamoille County

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 10:55 AM

PA - (Horseshoe Curve already mentioned.) Kinzua Viaduct. (Now half remains, so Kinzua Duct. Smile, Wink & Grin)

Ohio - Fostoria's Iron Triangle. (Cleveland Union Terminal already mentioned.)

Ricky W.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 8:42 PM

Vermont's White River Junction station is iconic.

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Posted by VaCentralRwy on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 5:29 PM

Iconic Delaware image would be Joe Biden getting on Amtrak, which everyone would identify as the Wilmington train station.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Sunday, September 11, 2022 8:32 PM

mvlandsw

The James Hill Viaduct looks good with the lighting under the arches. Is it still being used by rail traffic? I remember reading a long time ago that one of the arches was sinking and had to be repaired.

 

No.  The bridge is 129 years old and only open to foot traffic and bicycles now.

I remember reading something about what you're talking about and other things with the bridge as well.

Judy and I and Uncle Butchie were walking across it a couple years ago.  Uncle Butchie was trying to prove he has really good eyes as he looked down the wayside and said do you see that big snapping turtle Johnboy?  That's what Butchie always calls me and I said yes I see him.

We proceeded to go to the end and get off the bridge to go down to visit the snapping turtle like a couple of little KidsLaugh

Those things are prehistoric like alligators.  Every time the human race disappears and goes away those things just keep coming back.  That was one of a biggest snappers I've ever seen.

The Iowa farm boys used to come up to our resort and while everybody else was going out on the lake to bring back fish, these two farm boys would go out on the lake and bring back a big snapping turtle and make turtle soup.  I guess you need a special license to do that.

That was some really Good Soup Dinner 

Snapping turtle meat has different sections of meat that tastes like chicken, fish, beef, pork, lamb, .... You name it, Turtle is the smorgasbord of all meatsIndifferent

 

 

The city planning legislature or whatever it is you could call it has plans to restore the bridge.  The bridge is such a beautiful focal point of the city that I must believe that it is going to happen. 

 

 

I really like that BridgePirate

 

 

 

TF

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