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Railfanning suggestions -- Syracuse, NY

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  • Member since
    September 2014
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Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Friday, June 29, 2018 10:56 AM

I would suggest an hour drive East to Utica. You will find alot of activitiy and diversity around Amtrak ( formerly, Utica central station ). The station is nicely restored, host all of Amtrak's empire service's trains and the Lake Shore Limited

The station is also the home of the Adirondack Senic railroad. Their is a morning departure  that feature heritagd equipment. The ADS operates two F units, MLW  420  and other heritage units that are some times hanging near the station.

Just east of the station is the Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern yard and shop. They are the short line that operates the remants of the NYC  Adirondack division. They operate  Alco 425,   Rebuilt RS 1 and some MLW units as well.

CSX rumbles thur the station all day long.

So if u have the time, u might want to head thier.

Cheers

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Toronto, Canada
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Posted by 54light15 on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:24 PM

I can't recommend any railfan spots but I highly recommend the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in downtown Syracuse. Also the Blue Tusk in Armory Square- over 300 kinds of beer on tap! 

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    December 2011
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Posted by Uncle_Bob on Sunday, June 24, 2018 10:50 PM

That's where I ended up going.  I already knew the area around the Amtrak isn't good, but was hoping for other, more photogenic spots.  Thanks for your help.

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    March 2016
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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 12:19 PM

The site of the old Amtrak Station in East Syracuse in next to Aldiies grocery and behind Vitos Restaurane is where the railfans hang out. The new Amtrak Station in the Farmers market district is not railfan freindly.

  • Member since
    December 2011
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Railfanning suggestions -- Syracuse, NY
Posted by Uncle_Bob on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:01 PM

When I drive up to Syracuse to watch and shoot CSX once or twice a year, I normally park myself in a parking lot behind the Aldi's that occupies part of the location of the old Amtrak station.  However, I'm interested in going somewhere else in the greater Syracuse area (Rome/Utica to the east, Lyons to the west) where there are better vantage points and backgrounds.  Does anyone have suggestions, including how to get to there and best times to go there?  Thanks for your suggestions.

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