Thanks for all of the suggestions. Most of the trains I see throught there are solid coal trains or covered hoppers, or ethanol. I have rarely seen a mixed freight .
The NorthStar schedule is available on-line. It appears most service is morning/evening rush hours.
Odds are BNSF will get freights through there so they don't interfere with the Commuter rail. Given the above schedule considerations, that leaves most of mid-day and all night available for freight.
Figure out if the line is used for through freight, chiefly local service, or both. The types of industries served may key you in on what time they get served.
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beaulieu jeaton: BNSF Give the man an "A+"!
jeaton: BNSF
BNSF
Give the man an "A+"!
It was an open book exam.
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jeaton BNSF
I recommend that the original poster check out the ATCS yahoogroup, the ATCS program and the ATCS Wiki as the Twin Cities is very busy and the ATCS program will show you where the trains are. The Twin Cities are very well covered by ATCS servers.
oarb00 I am trying to find out who owns the tracks that run right next to Target Field in Minneapolis. The same ones that the Northstar uses. I would also like to find out if I could get a schedule of freight trains through their so I can find the best times for photo opportunities. Thanx
I am trying to find out who owns the tracks that run right next to Target Field in Minneapolis. The same ones that the Northstar uses. I would also like to find out if I could get a schedule of freight trains through their so I can find the best times for photo opportunities.
Thanx
Go to the nearest grade crossing on that line and look at the signal box/shed, there should be a railroad name and a 1-800 phone number written on it.
The railroad responsible for the crossing is most likely, (not in every instance) the railroad that owns and operates the tracks.
The 1-800 is NOT for information, but to relay to the dispatcher and railroad that the signal is malfunctioning, it is somewhat of an emergency phone number.
Odds are you will not find or be given a published schedule of trains for security reasons, and because freight trains don't always run on the same time every day.
And if they did or do on that particular line, the railroad would not give out that information to the general public.
Your best bet is to simply go there and observe the traffic, note any significant train you wish to photograph, the time it passes and such.
Come back a different day and see if the same train shows up at around the same time, locals and even long haul trains often run in the same basic time slot daily.
23 17 46 11
Check local maps, deeds, etc. in library or town/city hall. What RR is in the phone book? Call them.
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