Rochelle RR Park

[Dakguy201]

Homewood, Illinois is planning to construct much the same kind of facility.  It will be located along the old IC line.  It should also have a substantial train count, but some of that will be commuters.

[OldBNfan]

I'm pleased to report all is well at Rochelle.  My family and I spent the better part of two days at the park.  Despite wind chills in the teens, the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.  As indicated below, we found everyone there extremely friendly and enjoyed getting information from the local railfans.  We were even treated to see UP 1995 (CNW) come through with the last two CNW units that have yet to be re-painted.  The 'new' gift shop (changed a year or so ago) is quite nice with very friendly keepers, gifts, coffee, hot chocolate and now a computer that displays the local UP and BNSF lines so that you can see what's approaching the diamonds.  We'll be back next year - hopefully it will be warmer!

[lammermeier]

I will add my experiences from Rochelle, although it won't be much of a help for the original post (2006).  I found Rochelle to average about 3.5 trains an hour over a 24 hour period, with 33% or so on the BNSF.  I spent extended periods watching trains there on four different occasions in the past five years. I was never bothered by anyone at night (spent many a night in my car there--in February!!).  On weekends, the lot fills up with as many as 35 cars at a time.  Everyone is friendly and respects others taking pictures.  People bring picnic baskets on nicer days--Rochelle--what a tourist attraction you have!  Food is available on the north side of town.  Take note--Fostoria, Ohio and learn from Rochelle and Folkston, Georgia.

[OldBNfan]

Thanks Brian.

[blhanel]

Things are pretty much the same there, although I can't really make that claim for the shop by the street as I didn't go in there during my recent visit on Sunday.  Check out this thread for pictures from Sunday:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1058861/ShowPost.aspx

As far as traffic patterns go, I think there is none.  It's almost always busy- even when they're working maintenance on the diamonds, train traffic is routed by slowly on the other track.  Over the course of our two-hour visit on Sunday, I think we saw at least 10 trains.

[OldBNfan]

My wife and I will be taking our 4 kids to Rochelle during our annual 'pilgrimage' there during spring break, which this year is the first week in April.  Is there anything new at the RR park we should be aware of?

Also, we've never been there long enough to understand any kind of a pattern to the traffic.  Is there more traffic on some days than others or is it fairly spread across the entire week?  Also, during weekdays, is any period of time busier than others?

Thanks - appreciate any help/suggestions.

[dknelson]

The railroad park is fun and all but there are also sights to be seen by getting in the car and driving around a bit.  

For example, follow the BNSF south and east of town and you'll find an old wood depot, preserved, at Stewart Jct, not far from Rochelle.   That is where the Milwaukee Road left its CB&Q trackage rights and headed due south

Go east or west on the UP and you'll find old concrete coaling towers on the former C&NW line, east at DeKalb, west at Nelson.  Some good photos can be taken with modern engines going under those towers

Head north on the BNSF and you'll soon reach Flagg Center, where the Illinois Railnet heads north to Davis Jct.  They usually park an engine just a mile or two north of Flagg, and the crossings at Flagg offer some good shots of BNSF on grades, with better sun angles than at the RR park.

The frozen food industry on the SE corner of Rochelle is interesting too.

Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I contacted the Rochelle RR Park. They said it is OK to park overnite. I also spoke to a city council member who also said it was OK. Looking forward to seeing something other than NS and CSX! Although it is nice to drive by GE a couple of times a week and see and photograph new locos!

[Poppa_Zit]

While the park is open 24/7, I was under the impression they did not permit overnighting in motor homes at the park. Can't recall where I heard that, though. Better call ahead, as someone suggested.

However, there is a Wal Mart on the north side of town and I believe you can park overnight in the lot there.  

[blhanel]

I don't think much has changed physically, but you might want to call the numbers listed in the link below to see if they've made any rule changes.

http://www.trains.com/trc/objects/pdf/webcam_rochelle_brochure.pdf

 

[Anonymous]

Last year we stayed overnite at the park in a motorhome. We parked at the lower end of the lot so we were not in anyones way. Have there been any changes at the park since last year? We are planning on making the trip from Erie, PA again in 4 weeks and staying two days. Any info would be very helpful.
Thanks!