Forums

[drums1427]

I live in Northern VA near some Norfolk Southern tracks where trains run pretty frequently everyday. I'm curious if there is a way to get a schedule of the train times & info on them. I'm interested in getting some good pictures.

I also one day saw a very, very long coal train running through here about 2 months ago (probably coming from Lambert's Point in Norfolk), that was being pulled by 3 NS engines & 1 UP engine. Does anybody now why there would be an Union Pacific here on the east coast?

Lee

[Ham549]

Freights don't ushely in my expearence run on schedules or if they do it is a very lose one. get a Railroad radio to listen for when the trains are near and log the time/date you hear/see the trains and try to see if the are running on any kind of time table.

[Anonymous]

Like he said above, for the most part there is no set schedules for freights. At best, the same trains should always run about the same time a day, give or take 2 or 3 hours in either direction. Again, just like above the best course of action is to get a scanner and start tracking the trains you hear comming through.
Also, 'run-through' power is a very common sight today all over the nation. The primary reason is because since modern day engines all very much alike, they can be maintained anywhere without any special skills needed. Second, to save time and money on long distance trains, alot of railroads won't change engines when the train changes hands (ex. UP to NS0. My best geuss is that that coal drag comes from out west, or, that UP engine was what they had at the yard, so they used it.

[ndbprr]

AH but there is a way. What you need to do is acquire a scanner (if it is legal in your area) and tune in to the railroad frequencies near you. That way you will know pretty well where every train in your area is and be able to extrapolate when it will be coming by where you are. Not exactly what you asked but definitely a workable solution.

[DrummingTrainfan]

They basically covered all of the bases, I think a scanner would be your best choice.

By the way, I take it your a drummer[tup]

[coborn35]

You can get shedules accurate within 5 hours usually.... Depends tho.

[drums1427]

Why yes I am a drummer. Thanks for the responses I've been pretty successfull the last few days in recording the times I hear them & they seem to be pretty consistant. So, I may just find a spot one day and wait and see what happens. Is there any way to get aerial pictures of the track layout in a area. I'm just curious as to what the line looks like in my area. I'd also like to see what the large train yard in Richmond, VA looks like. I think it's CSX.......not sure though. I've Googled this with no luck.

Lee

[Anonymous]

This is my very first doing anything on any forum or chat site so if I sound rediculious that why. I'm very new getting back into model roading since my childhood days and I made a discover a couple days ago. I'm building my first layout, a deviation from the WGH layout using coal instead of rocks as the main business. I found the structure that I'm looking for only to find that maybe half the country is looking for the same piece. I should hang it up right now, because I just let one slip thru my fingers this weekend. But, does anyone know where I could get my hands on a Walthers 3051 Coal Flood Loader?[?]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drums1427

Why yes I am a drummer. Thanks for the responses I've been pretty successfull the last few days in recording the times I hear them & they seem to be pretty consistant. So, I may just find a spot one day and wait and see what happens. Is there any way to get aerial pictures of the track layout in a area. I'm just curious as to what the line looks like in my area. I'd also like to see what the large train yard in Richmond, VA looks like. I think it's CSX.......not sure though. I've Googled this with no luck.

Lee

If your on a windows computer, I would download the free program Google Earth. It gives you great control with no loading time. You can see aeria views and in some cases and even have the raillines label so you can find them easier. However, in the less populated areas the quailty of the image is pretty low. As long as you railfanning in a decently populated area, you should be fine.
If Google Earth doesn't work, there are a bunch of websites with photo and topgraphical information for locations all over the country. Hope that helps.

[drums1427]

I thought about Google Earth. But, I run Mac & not windows. Right now Google Earth isn't available for Mac.

[locomutt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drums1427

Why yes I am a drummer. Thanks for the responses I've been pretty successfull the last few days in recording the times I hear them & they seem to be pretty consistant. So, I may just find a spot one day and wait and see what happens. Is there any way to get aerial pictures of the track layout in a area. I'm just curious as to what the line looks like in my area. I'd also like to see what the large train yard in Richmond, VA looks like. I think it's CSX.......not sure though. I've Googled this with no luck.

Lee

That should be a CSX yard there in Richmond,old C & O.
Especially around the James River area.

[JoeKoh]

drums 1427
nice to have another drummer in here! was one in high school myself. anyhow also in richmond you have the former seaboard and southern lines which form the famous triple crossing in richmond as well.happy hunting.
stay safe
Joe

[drums1427]

From what I've found so far, I believe the yard in Richmond is the Fulton Yard. Not a whole lot of pictures on the net for it. I would just love to find some good aerial phots of some big train yards (Lamberts Point, Fulton Yard, ect...).