Railfanner's

[cacole]

I can't say much about train action around Phoenix, because I'm down in Sierra Vista, near the border with Mexico. The old SP Sunset Route, now Union Pacific, is 30 miles north of me. I just go to a location along Interstate 10 and wait. I got really lucky a couple of weeks ago when I stopped at a location called Cienega Creek, approximately 20 miles east of Tucson, where the west-bound track crosses over the east-bound line on a high bridge. Within a span of 45 minutes there were three two-train meets at this location. And I didn't have a camera with me!

Another favorite location, also on the Sunset Route, is 10 miles east of Benson, Arizona, where you can see trains coming over the crest of the hill at Bowie, 12 miles east, and down into Benson from the west, also 12 miles away.

[Anonymous]

Expect the unexpected, yesterday I ran out of film after taking shots of some not uncommon Dash 8s, a GP38-2 and a SW1001 and a local with a GP38AC (those were the one's I DID get shots of) and guess what went through after I ran out of film? A solid set of UP (2 SD70Ms, and a SD40T-2), UP SD70Ms come through all the time on runthroughs but the tunnel motor was very rare, a coal train with 2 SD50 of half a dozen SD50s left on NS with a Dash 9, another freight with an SD60M or I and a Dash 8 and last but worst the NS track geometry train with the only colorful NS unit on the roster (maroon with yellow lettering) [soapbox]


But today... I saw a (and got shots of) BNSF Dash 9, CR unit, and a UP SD70M plus some rare NS power including a B32-8 in the yard at Allentown

[Mikeygaw]

i would suggest investing in a scanner if you can... that's better than any schedule, mostly because the only schedule that seems to be kept by railroads are mass transit schedules

[Anonymous]

Noah, 3 - I yam what I yam... [:D]

[Noah Hofrichter]

Snake,

[pmsteamman]

Well even trains need rest. When I hired out ( 6 yrs ago ) CSX paid 2 million to do a study on their train schedules, and came to the conclusion that they run most of them at night. Now they could have givin me that money and I could have told them that. The real reason is because most companies load the cars during the day.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! I thought about the 9/11 issue and was wondering if I'd get hauled off to jail. I'm a crafty looking suspicious type you know... 54 y/o, clean cut, farm boy, fair skin, brown hair and use a quad-cane to get around. I'd probably be the first one they question!! [:D]

Looks like a trip to my local store to buy one of those folding, backpack, type chairs.

I haven't gotten to the local railroad yard yet but figured I'd try some day soon. As some of ya know, they don't let me drive any more so rely on my better half to get me around on the weekends.

pmsteamman , As an Engineer for CSX you probably have the answer to your statement "FYI the most active times on the rr are early morning and late afternoon towards evening." but I've gotta ask... Is this becuse trains sleep during mid-day? [(-D]

[Anonymous]

Howdy Snake, If you are in the Hayden Az. area, There is a minning railroad there, Back in Oct. of 1997 my friends from Globe Az. & I were traveling along hwy 177 & noticed the rail line with trains working on the line, I don't know what the status is on this rail line to date. & farther to the north on hwy 177 we stopped to see one of the mines in opperation. All that I can say about the mines is that everything is "HUGE"...................So I just thought I'd mention it to you, You sure have a beutiful state down there. PS; Also I remember that Trains did an article on this railroad prior to my visit, & thats what kind of inspired me to go see this railroad since I was in the area. Hope this can help you a little. "HAPPY RAILS"

[Anonymous]

I think it is just a matter of sitting and waiting. my grandpa used to take me "train chasing" (as we called it ) around Hutchinson, Kansas. We never sayed in one place, we just roamed around town looking for trains ( and there are planty of trains in Hutch ) one we caught Amtrak's Southwest cheif comming out of the old Santa Fe station. It had been delayed, usually it came through very early in the morning. There are not alot of trains in my area of Oklahoma City, but I have seen some good action in the down town area. does any one have any good railfanning sites in the OKC area?

[Anonymous]

I was wondering that too, Snake. That's what I have been doing, just sitting by the tracks, waiting......... never see anything on the shortline by my house but there's a CSX/CP main 10 miles away (within biking range). And now that I've got a digital camera, I'll railfan even more. I can start my own trackside with Jonathon series![:D]

[AntonioFP45]

Pmsteamman makes a good point; however, you can visit a railroad yard's office and "courteously" explain that you are a railfan and ask if it would be o.k to photograph trains. There are times when friendly personnel will give a nod, as long as your not going to step on tracks and stay on the access areas. Yards offer good photo opportunities.

If the answer is no, go ahead and THANK the person anyway and return to the public road area. Even today, I can still drive up into the CSX business unit area of Tampa and watch locomotives being shuffled. Many CSX personnel are still friendly but alert. Attitude makes the difference (unfortunately so does appearance).

Have fun! Been Railfanning since 1976,[;)]

[pmsteamman]

Snake, your best bet is to sit and wait. In this post 9/11 days a railroad is not just going to give out a train schedule to any ol' railfan. I would say stay on PUBLIC property and then they cant say a darn thing. FYI the most active times on the rr are early morning and late afternoon towards evening. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Now that I have a new camera I would like to do some railfanning and shoot some photo's. How do I find out what the train schedules are? -OR- Do I just go set and wait, hoping for one to come by?

BNSF has a small yard in Phoenix but I don't know if they have a good vantage spot for taking photos. I live west of Phx 15 miles and was hoping to get some action photos here close.

I know there has been trains in the area, they left tracks just south of me 3-4 miles and some north about 10 miles. [:D] Sorry, I just couldn't help myself, I had to say it!