Trackside Guides

I'm looking for any info anyone might have such as maps, schedules, any good places to watch / photo trains in the southern illinois area. I don't know of any yards in the area, maybe someone knows differently. I know I can look at google maps and such to find locations of tracks but I thought someone might be familiar with good spots to watch from and some type of schedule would be great. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Went to Centralia a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Saw about 2 to 3 trains an hour. Also heard that Mt. Vernon is also a pretty good place.

Southern Illinois can be considered anywhere south of Chicago, by some folks.

Specifically, what area are you thinking about?

Centralia is good, as is Effingham. There are yards in Decatur (NS) and Champaign (CN). The Decatur yard has a nice view from an overhead street at the west end. Quite a bit of action there too.

I like Lennox Tower in Mitchell. It is northeast of St. Louis about 25 miles. Not many towers left in that part of the state.

The CSX line from Vincennes to St. Louis features the color position light signals, which are interesting. The CN crosses that line at Odin. Just north of there is Kinmundy where the CN tracks cross the UP and several trains cross from one line to another. Also seen there are the CSX trains which come off of the line at St. Elmo. UP has a yard and crew change in Salem, Il.

At Tuscola, Il, the CN line crosses the UP and the CSX branch which goes to Decatur. I believe the old tower stands somewhere in the town. North of Tuscola is Tolono where the NS and CN cross.

I would suggest you contact the Illinois Dept of Transportation and have them forward a couple of state maps, which have roads and railroads. Quite handy.

good luck and keep us posted of your travels.

ask more questions if needed.

ed

Mt Vernon ,Centralia, Salem are some that comes to mind Centralia has 3 railroads and 2 big yards there BSNF and the CN-IC yards Mount Venon has 3 railroads also UP , NS, CSX(spur line) Effingham has a lot of trains also.

Dioes not the BNSF transcon route travel thru "Southern" Illinois?[:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by revilot I'm looking for any info anyone might have such as maps, schedules, any good places to watch / photo trains in the southern illinois area. I don't know of any yards in the area, maybe someone knows differently. I know I can look at google maps and such to find locations of tracks but I thought someone might be familiar with good spots to watch from and some type of schedule would be great. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I'm from the Chicago area and generally people consider "Southern Illinois" anything south of I-70, and Northern Illinois anything north of I-80. The 'tween, of course, is Central Illinois. And anything outside the seven counties surrounding Chicago is considered "Downstate." Go figure.

I've only been as far south as Centralia to watch trains, and on a high sky/rainy day spent an enjoyable four hours there on a side trip coming home from St. Louis. Saw 15 trains in those four hours, wish I had more time. Interesting city.

I'd like to add to this topic that I heard there are (were) at least three tunnels on the CN (former IC) line between Edgewood and Metropolis. They're shown on one of my DeLorme maps. Is this true, and if so how accessible are they to a photog?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit I'd like to add to this topic that I heard there are (were) at least three tunnels on the CN (former IC) line between Edgewood and Metropolis. They're shown on one of my DeLorme maps. Is this true, and if so how accessible are they to a photog?

Tunnel 1 is 803', tunnel 2 is 6994' and tunnel 3 is 2623' long. You can drive over top of tunnels 2 and 3.

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=16&X=437&Y=5198&W=1

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=13&Z=16&X=218&Y=2596&W=1

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=16&X=435&Y=5178&W=1

QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Dioes not the BNSF transcon route travel thru "Southern" Illinois?[:)]what is transcon?...this is what I know that BNSF run a lot of coal down to Metropolis there are 2 power plants in that area and they run some light frieght to a Honeywell plant there also...note Up runs a lot of coal trains to the same area not sure which power plant they are serving but its like aleast 2 UP trains a day. QUOTE: Originally posted by revilot I'm looking for any info anyone might have such as maps, schedules, any good places to watch / photo trains in the southern illinois area. I don't know of any yards in the area, maybe someone knows differently. I know I can look at google maps and such to find locations of tracks but I thought someone might be familiar with good spots to watch from and some type of schedule would be great. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The former Cotton Belt/Mopac joint line from St. Louis south to Thebes on the east side of the Mississippi River still has good traffic, IIRC. I haven't lived there for 10 years but it's always been pretty active.

At Gorham, there's a Chicago line that diverges from the main that I believe still sees decent traffic as well. One warning for Gorham--that's where Richard Resendiz murdered two people back in '99 so the people there will look at you a little suspiciously.

Some great scenery down there too.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73 QUOTE: Originally posted by Poppa_Zit I'd like to add to this topic that I heard there are (were) at least three tunnels on the CN (former IC) line between Edgewood and Metropolis. They're shown on one of my DeLorme maps. Is this true, and if so how accessible are they to a photog? Tunnel 1 is 803', tunnel 2 is 6994' and tunnel 3 is 2623' long. You can drive over top of tunnels 2 and 3. http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=16&X=437&Y=5198&W=1 http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=13&Z=16&X=218&Y=2596&W=1 http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=16&X=435&Y=5178&W=1

Thanks muchly! [:D]