That's exactly what my wife said when we watched the show a few days ago. I agree; Ben or someone on the crew must love trains. They get some nice footage, and it seems like there's at least one train in each episode.
My wife and I also watch Home Town and I've often thought that someone associated with that show must be a railfan because there are a lot of shots in each episode that are directly or indirectly railroad related.
NS traffic down 20%, got that from the "horses mouth". Pun intended.
It is too late, I went to Laurel and Hattisburg last weekend. My train count was terrible, only four trains total on Saturday between the two towns. However that didn't bother me because I was able to get in some good urbex in other areas which more than made up for it. I plan on going back and I saved all your info. Thank you very much! : )
Jay
I'm probably too late, but if you come to Laurel, plan on an additional 90 minute trip to Gulfport, Ms. There is a model train museum: https://www.mcmrcm.org/.
My understanding is that there was a $250,000 layout donated from some one in Florida. It took two 18-wheelers to move. I have only been once on a very hurried trip.
Hattiesburg, Ms is only 30 minutes away from Laurel (and on the way to Gulfport). Three lines meet there: KCS, CN, and NS. No idea how many trains - there are two yards. Gulfport has CSX and a KCS yard. If you are into casinos, the gulf coast has them.
Before you come, verify openings because of the virus.
that picture on the upper left corner is the old Gary, IN train station.
Chuck
Jay, If you are on Facebook pull up Mississippi Rails. If will give you much better information on Laurel that this forum.
BaltACDThe 'picture' does not carry over to page 2 of this thread.
Gary, Indiana and urban exploration...what could go wrong...
The 'picture' does not carry over to page 2 of this thread.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I have added Temple to my notes along with the rest of your info. Thanks Overmod!
A "tree tunnel" would make for some cool shots if you could catch a train coming out of it at some point? I am a huge fan of Home Town and have some ideas for shots pertaining to the show... IF everything were to come together?
I have been to Austell before and always had good luck there. I have been seeing some nice night shots from there and that's what made me want to stop by there again. I hope to do a day trip just for Dalton in the summer, I have been wanting to visit there for a long time. Thanks for your help Curt, I really appreciate it!
Miningman Chinese spy camera
Chinese spy camera
Johnny
Whoa. Like, far out, man.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
From the tilt, I wonder if there is a pair of feet in silver slippers sticking out from one side.
It's an image from Bing. A dereferenced image, so we have no idea where it came from or what wacky Kalmbach-related thing it is supposed to be supporting. At least none of you have to stick your hand in the cobra's mouth and click through to see what it might link to...
BaltACD Is anyone else getting a 'picture' at the top of this thread, overwriting the normal Trains Forum data in the upper left?
Is anyone else getting a 'picture' at the top of this thread, overwriting the normal Trains Forum data in the upper left?
adkrr64 BaltACD Is anyone else getting a 'picture' at the top of this thread, overwriting the normal Trains Forum data in the upper left? Yes, a picture of what looks like an large abandoned house, made of beige brick.
Yes, a picture of what looks like an large abandoned house, made of beige brick.
Glad I am not the only one seeing it and it therefore leads to the question. Why?
Austell is relatively close to Birmingham without having to go through (or, really, around) Atlanta, so you have a reasonably straight shot west from there. Note that there is much more traffic in Austell than along the rail line that goes west through Cobb County (but there are some interesting photo opportunities from place to place, including with Amtrak trains, particularly in Temple where the railroad right-of-way briefly becomes the visual equivalent of anything on PRR.... you can then get back on 20 at somewhere like Villa Rica and it's a straight shot likely with little traffic to Birmingham).
Jay:
I have ridden the Crescent through southern Mississippi (including Laurel) a number of times and, unless NS has cut back foliage in the past year or so, running through the countryside in that area pretty much takes place in what could best be described as a "tree tunnel". Additionally, in terms of scenery it's basically flat with not a lot to distinguish one location from another outside of the towns.
Having said that; we lived in the northern part of Mississippi for five years and I'd get down to Laurel several times each year. If you're a fan of Home Town, make the drive to Laurel and soak in the ambiance, catching whatever trains you can.
Now; if you really want to catch a higher number of trains the railfan viewing platforms in Dalton and Austell, GA and Irondale, AL would be the places to spend some time. If photographing trains in varying locations is your goal, NS' Atlanta North district between Austell and Chattanooga offers a variety of locations that far exceed anything available in southern Mississippi.
Curt
It seems I've had a change of heart about this coming weekend (May 9-10) and hope to go to Laurel, MS instead of Pine Junction. I realize there are not a lot of trains like Pine Junction. What changed my mind is I got word they are supposed to be tearing down a place in Birmingham, AL I've been wanting to hit (urban exploration). I figure I better hit it before it's too late if it's not already?
I plan on leaving Thursday after work from North Carolina and stopping in Austell, GA for the night. Friday will likely be spent in Birmingham all day, at least I hope I can get it done in a day? Saturday will be Laurel and Hattiesburg, MS. Sunday and Monday will be the return trip home and I'll be freestyling with no special places in mind, just whatever I stumble accross? I don't know if I'll come home via Tennessee or follow the NS Crescent route back home?
I have the following NS scanner frequencies if anyone can verify them for me please? 160.245 and 160.950 for Austell, GA. 160.950 and 161.535 for Laurel and Hattiesburg, MS? The trip down will basically be following the NS Crescent route to Mississippi. If anyone has any info on shortlines along that route I would love to know about them? It will be roster shots for them since I doubt they work on the weekends.
I'm open to any and all suggestions for photo ops in the Laurel and Hattiesburg areas as far as trains? Lastly, catching a Ferromex locomotive has been at the top of my railfanning bucket list for years. I realize the odds are slim to none to catch one on my trip, but if you had to pick a spot that had the best chance to see one I would love to know? I had planned to hit the Meridian speedway but someone told me there are less than five trains in the daylight hours now on that route so I scratched that... unless there is a chance for a Ferromex?
Thanks to all who took the time to read this and any help is welcome and greatly appreciated! :)
BaltACD mudchicken Lithonia Operator Mudchicken, I'm curious. What was your project in Gary? Line changes for one of the railroads pushed out of the way by the Gary Airport runway extension. Somebody has to do the steering for the throttle/brake jockeys. Hasn't that project been underway for about 10 years so far?
mudchicken Lithonia Operator Mudchicken, I'm curious. What was your project in Gary? Line changes for one of the railroads pushed out of the way by the Gary Airport runway extension. Somebody has to do the steering for the throttle/brake jockeys.
Lithonia Operator Mudchicken, I'm curious. What was your project in Gary?
Mudchicken, I'm curious. What was your project in Gary?
Line changes for one of the railroads pushed out of the way by the Gary Airport runway extension.
Somebody has to do the steering for the throttle/brake jockeys.
Hasn't that project been underway for about 10 years so far?
Thanks, mc.
That must be very interesting work. I would think that in that area, any re-routing of tracks would be extremely complicated.
I have enjoyed reading all this, thanks for the help! The down side to Pine Junction is that it's not a good place for quality photography. Also it gets more Amtrak traffic than I like. However for sheer numbers it's hard to beat. Another positive for me is Gary, IN is right down the street and for people who love urban exploration like I do, it's a little slice of heaven! I was lucky enough to photograph the station someone mentioned above as well as the City Methodist Church before the roof caved in and some other abandoned places. Chicago isn't that far away which is always fun. I think Blue Island, Ill isn't that far away I don't think? I still haven't gotten there yet so that would be a bonus. I'm trying not to get my hopes up about going because there is no telling what might happen between now and then?
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