where to railfan w/o trouble

[ironhorseman]

Where can you go nowadays to railfan with out being told by the police to get lost or be reported by the train crews?

A good place to go is KANSAS CITY'S UNION STATION. Standing down by the tracks you can see a wide variety of freigt trains pass an avgerage of every 10-15 minutes and Amtrak 6 times a day including 2 superliners. Visit the museum for FREE inside the 1999 renovated station. Hungry? Eat at one of the several fast food or sit down style restaurants inside. Don't like the choices? Take the sky walk to the mall across the street. Want to see a movie? Several shows a day play inside Union Station. Want a better view of the trains? Visit the newly renovated LIBERTY MEMORIAL TOWER across the street. $2 takes you to the top and you can see the freight train roll in from miles around. I don't know the current security status for viewing at the two major rail yards. Consult the Trains Magazine archives for details on Argentine yard location.

Do I sound like an advertisment? Maybe, but I'm not. (note I didn't name any businesses) I'm just trying to spread the word. This is a safe and busy place to view trains with ample parking and MANY CONVIENCES that many people don't realize exist.

Are there similar places in this country, that you'd like share, where you can go without being hasseled?

[Anonymous]

I guess go to any of the railroad parks that some cities have set up. They are public property and if they hassle you, leave and don't give that place any business. Hit them in their wallet.

[Anonymous]

Come to Defiance Ohio.Veterans Memorial Park(Latty's Grove).Your kids can play on the playground while you watch the CSX action.Go underneath the clinton street viaduct to have pizza or ice cream. Nice neighboorhood to grow up in.
hope to see you soon
Joe and Matthew

[louisnash]

Norfolk Southern has a policy on their website about photographing their trains. Go to www.nscorp.com and click on "journalist Page". They allow it as long as you don't trespass. KY has splendid beauty to photo as well.

[Anonymous]

Visit Ft. Madison, Iowa for non-stop BNSF Transcon traffic, as well as UP and NS trackage right movements. The Transportation Museum and Riverview Park have plenty of parking, with fenced rail fan areas, a pedestrian bridge over the double-track mainline, the old fort and river barge traffic. Down at the end of the park at the marina pub (stop in and say hi to Mike and Kathy!) is a great place to photograph/video westbounds coming off the double-deck bridge over the Mississippi.

[BearClaw18]

The Chicago has several places we you can railfan safely from the public property. My recomendations are: LaGrange Crossing,Dolton Junction, Blue Island Crossing, Brighton Park Crossing, Elmhurst Metra station, and Joliet Union Station. Blue Island and Dolton do NOT have facilities or food & drink nearby. The other spots do.

Try this website for more details: www.dhke.com/CRJ

[GerFust]

The children's garden (http://4hgarden.msu.edu/), and other gardens on the campus of Michigan State University is adjecent to the Canadian National line through Michigan, provides a fun place for kids to play, with wonderful scenery, and is with walking distance of several campus restaurants and the famous Dairy Store (http://www.msu.edu/user/dairysto/) where MSU makes its own ice cream.

[DTomajko]

Rochelle, Il. is a public place and a great train-watching spot.Another place near Pittsburgh is across from Smitty's Deli in the town of Wall,PA.,(east of Pittsburgh),along the NS main.You can park next to the guardrail at the west end of Pitcairn Yard and I haven't heard of anybody getting bothered.

[Anonymous]

I've heard Manchester, Ga is good on the CSX Atlanta - Jax main. Has anybody had any experience with it. I also understand they may have a gazebo and yearly Rail Fan Days.

[Anonymous]

This topic should be a permanent part of the Trains.Com website. And organized as a "Living List" of safe places to go.

RmC

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Ashland, VA, 16 miles north of Richmond, is a good place for watching or photographing trains, and getting street running which is rare these days. Amtrak and CSX freight trains run on a center reservation private right-of-way down the middle of one of its streets.

[Anonymous]

i know of another place in kansas city it is at the american royal complex and kemper arena however you can do railfanning during the royal i get down there from minnesota for my other hoby showing horses that is usualy for one week i whanna say rughly 40-45 trains a day i have seen KCS BNSF UP CSX NS AMTRAK all in that one week i am there hope that helps farmall kid

[louisnash]

For anyone that likes street running, Lagrange KY is a darn good spot to photo. They get a train about once an hour. CSX runs through there on what they call the shortline (former L&N). I know it's not got the traffic as some others have described here but it's quite a sight to see and photo. And if anyone has the Pentrex video "Street Running" it is highlighted in that video. Very good video as well if that's what you like.
Brian (KY)