Travel across USA

[Murray NZ]

Good afternoon from New Zealand,

In late September early October we are travelling by rail from New York City to San Francisco with stop overs in Chicago, Omaha and Denver. My interest is freight trains and I hope to see as many as possible on this trip. I would appreciate ideas for good safe viewing spots in and around these cities.

Thanks, Murray NZ

[cnwfan51]

When you get to Omaha the Amtrak station is not only along the BNSF mainline but the Union Pacifics mainline is right next to it. Busy with coal and manifest and intermode traffic you dont need to wait long to see these trains work thier way over the bridge. And if that werent enough the CN/IC runs a daily swithch job to both south Omaha and a transfer to the BNSF Gibson yard.    If you get the time, a visit to either the Union Pacific Museam in Council Bluffs or the Western Heritage Museam is worth the trip. In fact the Amtrak station just across the tracks from the Western Heritage museam If you would like more information then eith send me a private message or email me and I will be glad to help   Thanks Larry

[spikejones52002]

Are your going to make stop over in Chicago?

Now long?

If so are you going to rent a car?

If so where are you planing on staying.

From downtown Chicago within a mile radius, You have access to all 4 metra stations. From there you can travel all major RR yards.

[route_rock]

  Denver at Union Station is pretty cool, Plus going on the overpass above 31st street yard is a good spot. Going down the bike path is a good area as well.If you stay in Denver head up to Golden to the museum. Its well worth it!

  Chicago is like Spike says. You may need a car and what are you looking for? So much to do and see you could spend a week and still mis something!

[william6]

I'll try to add to what cnwfan51 says about train watching in Omaha. You can watch trains from a street overpass when you are near the Omaha Amtrak station. I believe it's South 10th Street and the section of street that's excellent for train watching is between the old Union Pacific station and the Burlington (CB & Q) station. Neither is used as a train station anymore. The UP building is a museum now and I don't know if the Burlington building is used for anything or even open to the public.50 years ago, the area between the two station were full of passenger loading platforms, but most tracks have been removed now and only a few exist now; one or 2 for BNSF (one used by  Amtrak) and one or two for Union Pacific.

[ndbprr]

 

Chicago is still the rail capital of North America.  The state of Illinois just approved $220,000,000 to relieve rail congestion here.  Some persihable trains are finding it faster to unlaod the rail cars on one side of town and truck it the other and reload in different cars to get perishables out of town the same day.  A car will be needed to visit most locations.  If you have a railroad prteference an itinerary can be suggested.  Best all around place for freight may be Rochelle, IL about forty miles west where the city has a park at the junction of the former BNSF and CNW double track lines.  There is a webcam if you want to check it out.   trains are numerous. The town is verty railfan friendly and you have an elevated viewing pavillion less than thirty feet from both sets of tracks.

[dehusman]

If you like coal trains, while in Omaha, an excellent spot would be to rent a car and make a day trip to Grand Island, NE.  Drive out US 30 if you want the scenic tour or Interstate 80 if you want to get there quick.  At Grand Island the UP and BNSF lines cross (BNSF over UP) so you have lots of trains.(50-70 UP and 30-40 BNSF a day).