Weiler Ave?Orchard Ave?Tyler St?Chamber of Commerence of of Michigan Ave?
The place to ask these questions is in the "Trackside Guides" section at the bottom; you'll get better long-term visibility and coherent results there.
One never hears much about LaPorte in connection with train-watching, in spite of the fact that the NS main line goes through there. That's pretty much the only show in town any more.I've never hung around LaPorte--too many good spots nearby. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather head south to Wellsboro, where CSX (B&O) and CN (GTW) cross. Also, so much depends on what you want to do with the trains you see. Document them? Shoot them? Enjoy creature comforts while they go by? My suggestion would be to just go...find your own spot--the same trains will go anywhere you choose along the NS, and they probably won't slow down too much.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
The old NYC depot is still standing and provides a good location to watch the parade. There is also the US35 overpass slightly to the west.
On Tues/Thurs the South Shore runs a local down to Kingsbury. It is well worth following, at least for awhile as it is a fairly scenic spot for NW Indiana.
You might wish to change up after awhile in Laporte. Head west and catch action "on the hill". There is about 10 mile grade from roughly MP479 to MP470. While it is only about .5% grade, it slows things down and occassionaly trains stall, usually from Motive Power issues. There are a number of curves and overpasses in the stretch from County Line Rd to LaPorte. The Laporte Siding is from CP466 to CP463 and often has a train held for Elkhart.
That area is rural and fairly scenic (for NW Indiana). Forester Road is a good place to begin in that area as signals are visable. There is a neat stretch on 100South just east of 700 West in which there are curves both to the east and west and the tracks literally hug the road. Neat area.
NS, CP, and Amtrak will run 80-100 trains per day.
An interesting train is the BO-9 a shuttle run of steel coils on open flatbeds. Empty train west around 10am and return with loads (usually 50 flats) around 3pm. BO-8 is a local that runs east around 9-10am and returns west around 3pm. Often BO-8 and BO-9 are back to back in afternoon (west).
The eastbound intermodal parade begins around 1pm with 26N, 26T, 24W, 20K, and 20W all in the afternoon. Sprinkle in the manifest trains, and westbounds including intermodals 205 adn 25N and one has a never ending parade of intermodals.
NS trains are usually pretty tight on daily operations, CP trains not so tight. Tankers run, primarily WB empties. Coal has dropped. Amtraks are early morning and 730pm and 10pm.
Good luck.
ed
One more thing....to get an idea of operations, watch the Chesterton web cam and also listen in on the scanner. I seldom go out to watch trains these days and the web cam/scanner keep me entertained.
Ed
On what street is the old NYC depot?
It is the Chamber of Commerce building....just east of the US 35 overpass downtown.
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