Train watching in Phoenix

[wblock]

   Any tips on train watching in the Phoenix, AZ area? I will be there for a few days after Christmas, on a very hit or miss schedule.

[silicon212]

There are no mainlines into Phoenix itself - the city (area) is served by branch lines from both BNSF and UP.  Mobest Yard (BNSF) is on 19th avenue just south of Interstate 10 (but there's no direct access into it).  The UP yard is between 7th street and 16th street, south of Jackson st.  Again, no direct access.

The UP Sunset Route mainline runs south of Phoenix, through Maricopa and action in that area is pretty intense.

[diningcar]

BNSF action is best seen about 10 miles from downtown by using Grand Ave which parallels the track. There is a large new, auto unloading and storage yard just west from Sun City.

Grand Ave is also US Highway 60 and as you take it toward Wickenburg you may see BNSF trains going to and from Phoenix. This road also offers views of the desert and desert mountains; and if you go as far as Wickenburg, about 60 miles, you may enjoy that smaller town which is home to several 'dude ranches'. This is Dark Railroading so 49 MPH will be max speed of the trains.

[Doublestack]

The BNSF Intermodal terminal is in Glendale.   Fair amount of activity around there.

You could follow the UP local branch SE down to Picacho where the branch joins the Sunset Rte Mainline.

[SFbrkmn]

I don't know much about the UP down there, other than a yard at Mesa in the east valley. Every two yrs I take a week of  vac to watch about four days of Kansas City Royals spring training baseball during March. I was there last in '07 and will be back again next March. I have family who live at Peoria in the west valley. Their house is about 1/2 mile east of the BNSF mainline on Grand Ave. Seems that I always hear a semi heavy amount of trains going through. Phoenix is by no means on  a brachline even though trk is dark TWC @ 49 mph. Just as a above post said, there is a auto terminal on Grand Ave. This is switched by one  the many rdswtchrs based at PHX and I've seen it work w/ a BN caboose/shove car. The rr has stated plans on building a new yd near Surprise nw of PHX that would be scheduled to be open by 2015. Perhaps this might have been put off due to the economy, I do not know. Through trains are worked by crews both from Phoenix and Winslow. Currently there are 7 PHX pool crews, 5 WIN crews. Mobest yd is worked by crews around the clock and there are 7 rd switcher jobs spread out on all 3 shifts which work a number of industries in the area. Hope this helps. PHX is one of my favorite cities in the country and I hope to make it a winter retirement home in about 16 yrs.