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How close is your home to the nearest tracks?

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  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Langley BC
  • 133 posts
Posted by Coquihala and Rock Creek on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 10:40 PM

About 8 blocks north is the CN mainline through North Langley, including VIA.  About 25 blocks south east is the CP line to Roberts Bank for container and coal trains.

If you cannot fix it with a hammer;

You have an electrical problem!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 16 posts
Posted by justinid2002 on Thursday, December 3, 2009 12:17 AM

Currently about  2 miles from UP tracks that were old WP line, aproximately 6 miles from the Roseville, CA- UP yard.  I grew up 5 blocks from KCS and about nine blocks from The DeQuincy Depot in Louisiana.

Kansas City Southern, GP30,F3, & F7, all as blonds and redhead. late 60s, mail service is light, ridership down, and the road is dirty, flat, hilly and wooded. Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny!!!
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Posted by TerryJ on Thursday, December 3, 2009 12:21 PM

I'm about 1 1/2 miles from the now defunct Northwest Pacific RR track. About 10 miles down the road is where the  GP7's and 9's are "stored". There hasn't been any rail traffic since 1996/7, and the locomotives are slowly rusting away. 

 

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Petitcodiac NB Canada
  • 216 posts
Posted by Boomer Red on Thursday, December 3, 2009 4:07 PM
CN has a spur that runs about 75 yards in front of my house. The mainline is around a hundred yards down the street but the trees make it difficult to see.Grumpy
Home of the Central Atlantic Railway
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: sharon pa
  • 436 posts
Posted by gondola1988 on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:27 PM

About 200 ft from the CSX main that runs from Ashtabula south to Pittsburgh I can watch trains from the end of my driveway, I can hear them about a mile away here in Brookfield, Ohio.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Southeastern Connecticut
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Posted by Rdrr on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:40 PM

I grew up in the early '60s in a house that loooks down on the Groton wye. From our large kitchen window I could look out and watch seemingly endless freight trains (New Haven, soon to be Penn Central). As a teen my freinds and I would walk north along the tracks toward the sub base and collect items like spikes, glass insulators, caboose lantern chimneys (NYNH&HRR). Wish I still had them.. and taken photos of it all.

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  • From: Utica, OH
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Posted by jecorbett on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:57 PM

Roughly 5 miles from a branch line of the Ohio Central which was bought by another railroad about a year ago. I don't know if they are still running under the OC flag. It was a former B&O branchline that used to run as far as Sandusky I think but now it terminates in Mt. Vernon, OH, about 12 miles from my house. At most, one train a day goes from Newark up to Mt. Vernon and back. I think grain elevators are its only customers.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Glendora, CA
  • 1,423 posts
Posted by zgardner18 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 12:22 AM

I'm about 2 miles from the old Pasadena Line.  I actually don't know the name of the line I just know that it used to go into Pasadena.  BNSF uses the tracks daily for the Local to service the Miller Brewery in Irwindale and a few other industries.  A lot of well cars are stored past that on the tracks.  I guess they are going to rebuild most of the tracks from Pasadena back my way for a light rail service called the Gold Line.  The only thing exciting besides the daily local is the annual City of Hope Passenger Train where BNSF takes the cancer children for a ride on the first Sunday in December.  Sadly, I have never seen that train since I am always at church.

When I am at work in Anaheim, Metrolink, Amtrak Surfliner and the UP Local pass by right behind our back wall.  So I get to see trains all day long.  I just wish I had some more freight to see.

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW

 

  • Member since
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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
  • 2,916 posts
Posted by wm3798 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 6:45 AM

 

This is about a mile from my house, a branch line that comes into to town a couple of times a week to serve the sole surviving rail customer in Cambridge...

The NS Delmarva Sub is about 45 minutes away.

And this...

...is in my attic!

Lee

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 7:07 AM

 My duplex is 2 blocks from the Missouri Northern Arkansas tracks. Smile It's great hearing those Geep horns.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Hershey, Pa.
  • 309 posts
Posted by salt water cowboy on Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:25 AM

 Let's see where to begin!  1/2 mile from switching action at the Hershey Chocolate factory. 3 miles I guess as the crow flies to the Rutherford inter-modal yard. About 10 miles from the Enola yards and 18 or so to the Rockville Bridge (longest stone arch railroad bridge in the world. Crosses the Susquehanna north of Harrisburg) All this is Norfolk Southern territory. I'm also about 30 miles from the Strasburg Railroad and along I-283 paralleling is the old catenary where GG-1s used to travel. Tracks there now used by Amtrak from Harrisburg to Philadelphia.

Matt

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Liverpool New York
  • 245 posts
Posted by fireman216 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 9:31 AM

 I live about a mile from the Syracuse Regional Transportation Station. Tons of trains each day plus passenger service. It's great hearing the diesels get cranked up and hear and feel the rumble as they notch up coming by the station every so often. My wife thinks I am crazy because every time they lay on the horns I say "can you hear the music honey??...doesn't it sound great?"....

A true friend will not bail you out of jail...he will be sitting next to you saying "that was friggin awesome dude!" Tim...Modeling the NYC...is there any other?

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • 384 posts
Posted by Redore on Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:41 AM

My home is about 1/2 mile from a former Missabe branch.  Too many trees to see it, but the sound comes in clear.  Growing up I lived less than a block from a Great Northern iron ore mine branch, had to cross those tracks on the way to school.  The tracks were so close behind a neighbor's alley that you could touch the cars from public property.  In the spring and fall it was fun to watch trains from the school classroom windows.

My wife grew up about 100 feet from a Missabe main line.  Their house shook when a Yellowstone went by.

Good times.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Pottstown PA
  • 1,039 posts
Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 2:53 PM

I live a quarter mile north of the old Reading Co. mainline between Pottstown and Reading PA.

About a block below that is the old R O W of the Pennsylvania Schuykill division.

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

  • Member since
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Posted by drale988 on Thursday, February 25, 2010 3:19 PM

I live about a mile away from the old Rock Island line which is now a metra line, I also see CSX painted in heritage Rock Island freight trains on there some times also

  • Member since
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  • From: Ogden UT
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Posted by PA&ERR on Thursday, February 25, 2010 4:31 PM

 I live about a 1/2 mile from Union Pacific's Riverdale yard (adjoins the old Ogden yard). In about 10 minutes time, I can be on I-84 chasing trains East to Evanston WY up the Wasatch Grade.

-George

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

  • Member since
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  • From: Westcentral Pennsylvania (Johnstown)
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Posted by tgindy on Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:05 PM

I grew up in the city just two blocks...

...from just this side -- of the other side of the tracks!

Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Rhode Island
  • 60 posts
Posted by patrickllaforge on Thursday, February 25, 2010 8:50 PM

I live about 600 yards or so from the Providence & Worcester mainline in Woonsocket RI.  Fall and winter is nice as you can see clear as day...  Summer months you can't see as well.  I'm jealous as there are a few houses even closer, and by that I meandishes fall off the table close! 

  • Member since
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  • From: Glendora, CA
  • 1,423 posts
Posted by zgardner18 on Friday, February 26, 2010 12:44 AM

rdgk1se3019

I live a quarter mile north of the old Reading Co. mainline between Pottstown and Reading PA.

About a block below that is the old R O W of the Pennsylvania Schuykill division.

I've been to Pottstown back when I lived in Hazleton for a short time.  The railroad history in that area is amazing.

In Hazleton I lived right next to the local's tracks.  I could throw a snowball at the Conrail Geeps coming by.  Yep Conrail. This was back when I was 19 years old in '96

--Zak Gardner

My Layout Blog:  http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net

VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW

 

  • Member since
    October 2005
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Posted by betamax on Friday, February 26, 2010 5:58 AM

When I was growing up, the CPR was the backyard. Mainline traffic, the works, everyday. Now, I live about a mile from a yard.

http://www.railways.incanada.net/circle/Wrecks.html#Pembroke1930

in this picture, nothing has really changed, my parents house/property would be about where the big hook is, to the right. At this point in time the land is an orchard.

Sadly, those tracks may be gone in a few years. CP has announced their intentions to abandon the line and rip it up. Maybe the politicians will step in and rail bank the line for future use, as it stands, CN plans to abandon their line soon and CP is planning to follow, meaning no railroads in the area soon.

  • Member since
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  • From: Austria
  • 71 posts
Posted by Kiwigerd on Friday, February 26, 2010 7:37 AM

I live about 2 kilometres away from the major route Vienna to south (Italy, Slovenia). The tracks are elevated but enclosed, so the trains are not viewable and not audible during daytime. There is a light rail line much closer to my home and they are horning at a level crossing. This can also be heard only at night time when everything is calm and quiet.

  • Member since
    December 2002
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Posted by pastorbob on Friday, February 26, 2010 8:30 AM

I live in western Kansas City KS about 3 miles north of the UP main from KC to the west, and 4 miles from the Santa Fe (BNSF WHO?) transcon mainline.  Best of all worlds.  The last church I served as pastor before retiring was about 1/4 mile from the Santa Fe transcon at Pomona KS an hours drive south of KC.  What a treat except on Sunday mornings.

Bob

Bob Miller http://www.atsfmodelrailroads.com/
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Friday, February 26, 2010 8:50 AM

About one mile away from the Grand Trunk Western CN tracks.

If some of the trees and houses were removed from the end of the road, I could clearly see down the road and watch the trains rolling by while standing at the end of the driveway, but they would still look like Z scale trains though,

Andrew

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: eastern Nebraska
  • 219 posts
Posted by binder001 on Friday, February 26, 2010 9:39 AM

About 1/2 mile from the BNSF double track line from Lincoln to Omaha.  We can hear them all the time (bothers my wife more than me!) but with newer buildings added we can hardly see the line anymore.  The BNSF tracks bisect our town.

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    March 2009
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Posted by Philly Bill on Friday, February 26, 2010 2:11 PM

salt water cowboy
Tracks there now used by Amtrak from Harrisburg to Philadelphia.

 

 Familiar with all those locations.  Once a day, Amtrak goes on to Pittsburgh, and there's a proposal to increase that traffic, to maybe three a day each way.  How many travel tickets include a landmark like Horseshoe Curve?

 Anyhow, my son lives in Harrisburg, overlooking the Amtrak station; nice view from his balcony.  And in the Harrisburg station, again for no additional cost to your train ticket, there's a GG-1 parked along one of the platforms.

Hanging around Horseshoe Curve
  • Member since
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  • From: Paris Junction
  • 247 posts
Posted by 1train1 on Friday, February 26, 2010 4:28 PM

Is this close enough ?

 

Paris Junction Mile 30.73 Dundas Sub Paris, Ontario http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/ppuser/3728/cat/500
  • Member since
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  • From: In the State of insanity!
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Posted by pcarrell on Friday, February 26, 2010 4:53 PM

How close is my home to the nearest tracks?

About this far........

Philip
  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: High Desert
  • 42 posts
Posted by projectbluebird on Friday, February 26, 2010 11:42 PM

 About 6 (big) blocks from the UP's North Yard in Salt Lake City. My two main routes into the city are crossed by UP and the new Commuter Rail tracks. Usually I'm in no hurry to get anywhere and just watch the trains pass by. On a good night you can feel the diesels growl as they start pulling out a long train.

 I'm a little sad that my part of town has become the new "it" place to live. People bought homes near the tracks and then got upset when the trains blew their horns at the crossings (almost one a block) Now there's a quiet ordnance and you can't hear the horns anymore... except now and then, someone "forgets"

  • Member since
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  • From: Southeast Kansas
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Posted by wholeman on Saturday, February 27, 2010 12:40 AM

1train1

Is this close enough ?

 

That is about the exact distance from my house.  Although the tracks aren't up against my property.

Will

  • Member since
    July 2005
  • From: Dyer, IN
  • 156 posts
Posted by m sharp on Saturday, February 27, 2010 12:10 PM

The former Monon, now CSX runs about 4/10 mile to my east, and the former EJ&E, now CN runs about 3/4 mile south of my house.  Trains run much more frequently on the CN line, and Amtrak also runs a train on the CSX track. 

I grew up in Hammond, IN, which had 87 grade crossings and at least 10 different railroads running through town.

Mike

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