The one "hot spot" where people seen to congregate is at the foot of Judd Street. This is the eastern end of CSX's Wyoming Yard, and from the dead-end one can see trains bound for Detroit (both CSX and CP), movements at this end of the yard, the diesel shop, and Amtrak's Pere Marquette leaving town for Chicago in the morning. Judd Street can be accessed off Chicago Drive (former M-21) in the southwestern part of town.
If you're coming in from the south, on U.S. 131, you will pass alongside NS' Hughart Yard (originally PRR). They have an engine facility there, too, but I really don't know how bust the place is. Wyomng Yard is also a mere shadow of its former self when it comes to the number of trains to be seen.
If you're coming in from the southwest (Chicago, for example), get off I-96 at Holland, and take Chicago Drive east to Grand Rapids, using the road that runs through Zeeland instead of around it. This parallels the CSX line very closely all the way from Zeeland to Grandville and practically to the western end of Wyoming Yard.
There have been threads over on the "Railroads" forum that deal with Grand Rapids. The "search" function should help out.
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)
Sir, as a resident railfan of Grand Rapids I think you should check out these sites.
www.railroadfan.com
www.midwestrailfan.com
If you'd like, drop me an email and I can point you towards some good spots.
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