Hello all,
I've recently decided to explore the Staples Subdivision again as part of a railfan trip, and one part that seems interesting to me is Dilworth and the huge yard there. I'm curious about how far into the yard you can go, without doing so illegally. The only easy public access spots I know of are 1st Ave, at the beginning of the east end of the yard, and Main St, which seems to be located around 2/3 of the way in. Both are public railroad crossings. There are also 2 overpasses.
However, a recent YouTube video I saw showed video quite far in, and when consulting the creator they said that they drove in a bit and BNSF did not seem to mind, which raises up questions.
Now looking on Google Maps, I've located a road just off Adams Ave (south of the yard) called Marion St, which appears to extend into the yard. Is this a public road, and if it is, how far in can you go? Same goes for the dirt roads extending off 2nd Ave into the yard, and 12th Street which extends into the parking lot next to the yard-is this a public parking lot? There is also a dirt road coming out of the Boulder Tap House parking lot-how far can you go?
Looking for more information on this area in general, besides the road crossings and easy-to-access diamond between the old NP and GN lines in Moorhead, I don't have a whole lot of information on this area. Any help on good places to railfan near the Dilworth yard would be great, especially since railroads have stepped up security since the BN days, where I'm sure getting inside the yard would have been easier.
I would stay out of any yard for safety reasons, if nothing else. I've long ago conceded that some locales are just inaccessible and leave it at that. If you have a clear view from the street, use a long lens, it's safer and legal.
The correct answer would be to go no further than the "No Trespassing" sign.
If there is a yard office, you could probably get away with going there.
As noted in the thread about the shooting in Chicago, sometimes you have to worry about more than silent-but-deadly rolling railcars.
Bindlestiffs aren't the problem they used to be, but...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
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