Need Suggestions for Railfanning

[Anonymous]

Hello all,
I will be going to Tennessee and North Carolina soon, and I need reccomendations for railroad locations to visit in eastern Tennessee, southeastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina and West Virginia. I already plan to visit the Three Rivers Rambler and the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. Any other museums or tourist lines you could suggest would be most appreciated. Also, perhaps even more importantly, if you could name some good places to go railfanning (such as for Class-1's), I would deeply appreciate it. Any modern shortlines you find interesting? I'd love to hear them.

Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions you could provide.

Most gratefully yours,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

Hello all,
I will be going to Tennessee and North Carolina soon, and I need reccomendations for railroad locations to visit in eastern Tennessee, southeastern Kentucky, and western North Carolina and West Virginia. I already plan to visit the Three Rivers Rambler and the Great Smoky Mountains Railway. Any other museums or tourist lines you could suggest would be most appreciated. Also, perhaps even more importantly, if you could name some good places to go railfanning (such as for Class-1's), I would deeply appreciate it. Any modern shortlines you find interesting? I'd love to hear them.

Thank you very much in advance for any suggestions you could provide.

Most gratefully yours,
Daniel

It's been 15 years since I've seen it, so it may have changed, but the NS(former "Southern") Yard in NW Atlanta off Marietta Blvd, used to really rock. They'd bring in DP trains so big, they'd have to break them down just to get them in the yard

[AlcoRS11Nut]

I just got back from Kentucky, and there is a spot in Kentucky that we stopped, and saw 2 trains in 15 minutes, (we couldn't stay that long). It is the "Burnside Bridge", part of the NS Rathole, there are three good lookouts from the cliff along side the river, and the shots of the trains crosssing the bridge was awesome (for someone from Wisconsin). I would look at the North American Hotspots Book from Kalmbach for more info on how to get there, but Beware of two things....

1. Heat & Humidity
2. TICKS!!!!!!! (I had four ticks on me alone, luckly they were on clothing, one other person in my group had five, and the other person had one, but this one was implanted into her scalp, and we needed to go to a doctor to get it removed. By the way all of the WERE deer ticks!)

If you choose to go. Becareful!!!

I would also go to the Kentucky Railroad Museum, the ride there is fantasitc. You can ride (in the cab) of a ex L&N steam locomotive, the last operating CF7, or a BL2. Depending on what day you go on. The ride is along the only part that really remains of the L&N Lebonon Branch, and goes through some scenic territory and is about 1 hour.

[Anonymous]

Dear TheAntiGates and AlcoRS11Nut
Thank you both very much for your help. It is most appreciated.

Most gratefully yours,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

Daniel [:)]

Is your trip by car or other mode of transporation?

If you go by car you should stop here in Arkansas. North Little Rock is the Arkansas hub of the UP. Also in Pine Bluff is the Arkansas Railroad Museum.

If you email me I can give you more info and even send you some pics.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

Good Luck and Best Wishes.

[CShaveRR]

Not exactly southeastern Kentucky, but anywhere from Russell, Kentucky, to Huntington, West Virginia, along the Ohio River, ysed to be the heart of C&O country, and it still should be good Class I action. At Kenova, NS (former N&W) crosses the Ohio River and CSX (former C&O).

[Anonymous]

Dear jhhtrainsplanes,
I would like to go through Arkansas, but sadly I am flying (yes, I know, I'm a traitor to the Amtrak cause). And by the way, I hope I enjoy my trip too: AlcoRS11Nut's posting about tics is somewhat disconcerting [:)].

Most sincerely yours,
Daniel

Dear CShaveRR,
Thank you very much for the tip, I'll see if I can't see it.

Most sincerely yours,
(You guessed it)
Daniel