Railfanning in the LA and Long Beach, CA area

[iawestern]

Greetings,

I will be visiting family in the LA and Long Beach, CA area for a few days.  Where are some safe places to watch the rail traffic (either freight or passenger)?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[MikeF90]

IMO the best places for stationary train watching are not the above downtowns.

- Fullerton is the best for volume: BNSF + Amtrak + Metrolink

- Downtown Pomona is good for UP, since the Alhambra and Los Angeles subs are close together. Don't use the pedestrian overpass as the homeless have turned it into a urinal. Stay near your car on weekdays as there is no more 'free' parking.

Being on the move is better for the light rail / subway experience.

- Get a Metro day pass ($6 + $1 for the TAP card) and ride the Expo, Gold, Red, Green and Blue lines to your hearts content.

The LAUS tenants have become real a**holes about just wandering around the platforms. You have to have a valid ticket for the appropriate platform AFAIK or you may receive the much more expensive kind.

Some suburbanites may caution about 'sketchy' areas, but this pale skinned local has never had an issue in 35 years here. Yes, there are some areas I wouldn't visit after dark. Best rule is: don't look like a victim! Casual dress and keep that camera / iDevice in a non-descript shopping bag. Snatch-and-grab at a light rail station does happen.