How do YOU know when a train is coming?

[Anonymous]

Slightly off topic, but speaking of timetables, whatever happened to The Official Guide to the Railways? They would occasionally run schedules of fast freight, TOFC's, etc.

[railfan619]

I can tell when a train is coming by the flashing red lights.

[coborn35]

DEAR GOD,
PLEASE HELP A TRAIN TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!

[TrainFreak409]

I look for any warning lights, or crossing gates. If there are none, I look up and down the tracks, while keeping an ear open for an airhorn or a diesel engine.

Or, you could always place your ear to the rail, and wait to feel something...[:P]

[cherokee woman]

I listen for the horns blowing.

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine has a scanner which picks up radio waves. You can set the scanner to pick up Railroad Radio Signals. When a train is coming, a track warrant will be issued and the train's crew will say where they currently are and where they are heading. I am not for sure if Track Warrants are issued in CTC controlled areas. Through here, the signals automatically change when a train approaches. The train short circuits the electrical signal on the rails and tells the signals to change. If the signal light is red or yellow then you know a train is near. In CTC controlled areas, a red signal probably means no train is around, and yellow and green mean that a train has permission to pass the signal, which means that a train is approaching.

[Anonymous]

That's a great question -- are Track Warrants issued in CTC-controlled areas?

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by smalling_60626

That's a great question -- are Track Warrants issued in CTC-controlled areas?

No. In CTC territory authority to move is governed by signal indication. ABS/APB is an overlay and would require track warrants or block authority.[8D]

[Anonymous]

And, the only time they would issue warrents is if the signals were malfunctioning or giving false readings, which also means they need fixed.

Thats why we have signal mantainers. [:D]

[TimChgo9]

Well, along the BNSF near me, it's 3 tracks, and from my favorite photo spot, you can see a headlight as soon as it clears Clyde yard in Cicero, a couple of miles to the east. From the west, I can see clear to Hinsdale, again, a couple of miles away. On the UP, I just listen to the scanner, they talk alot when they are getting ready to leave Proviso Yard. On the IHB, same thing, scanner because there isn't any signals I can see. I usually listen for the IHB West Dispatcher to tell the train crew to "take it down to LaGrange". On the CN Freeport sub, I listen for horns, since I am a bout 6 blocks away, I can jump in my car, and get over there before the train arrives.....

[Anonymous]

Where i railfan there is a signal right by it . Also my ears and eyes work very well too.

Colin

Metra Rules

[Anonymous]

My ears man!

[icmr]

Well if you are not deaf you can hear the train coming. This is my method; stand in the middle of the tracks until i see the train coming. then i get off and wait until it comes. If you are blind you cant do the latter but you could ask a close frind to hit you when they see it coming.

[Sterling1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

DEAR GOD,
PLEASE HELP A TRAIN TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Usually when I want one I'll pray for one.

Most times I'll use the air horns to determine if the train(s) are coming . . .

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RI4310

I put my head on the rail and listen. Old Indian trick. lol

There was a cartoon in the Walthers catalog several years ago. Some guys were out railfanning. One has his ear to the rails and is saying, "Two SD40-2s, one GP9, and a C30-7."

Cheers,

Ed

[Anonymous]

Well, I look for crossing lights flashing, and if they aren't I look down the tracks both ways. Also, the rumble. And at night, you can see the lights from miles away, above the trees. During the day, you can see a bit of grey smoke above the trees. Never tried using scanners. Not enough money I guess, how much money are those things anyways? Well, yep that's how I do it. Also If I'm out walking I feel the tracks or put my ear up to them. Or If they're hot a train has already gone through.

From, The name might be Fred

P.S. How much are radio scanners?

[SID6FIVE]

I listen for the other crew to call out mile boards or listen for nearby detectors to go off...then watch for headlights so I can be off the power and a safe distance away to do a roll-by...

[alstom]

A scanner and the signals. WHY WON'T THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!![:(!]

[Willy2]

I usually use a scanner, but if I don't have it with me I keep an eye on the signals.

[Hawks05]

Ears is what I use. Live about 3 blocks normally from the tracks, with construction it's more like 5. I used to be able to hear a whistle then hop in the car and go to the baseball field, since they've put up a gate so I can't get up there or anywhere near the tracks.

My ears are all I have here in town. Don't know about next year while at college. Lots of trains go through each day there. Here we get maybe 6-7 a day if we're lucky. Usually 3 in the morning between 6-10AM and then for sure the Triple Crown at night.

[alstom]

Sorry about my previous forum. Anyways, I usually identify the "Mile post" I'm closet to and listen to what "Mile Post" that the trains at. Or I hear em'. But mostly I listen on my scanner and listen for a horn after I see that the next train has a clear signal.

[Anonymous]

I sit by the tracks for days on end... the sunny side of the tracks-of course!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RI4310

I put my head on the rail and listen. Old Indian trick. lol

That must be why I haven't seen very many old indian railfans [:D]

Personally, the use of signals, a scanner, and my ears are what I employ when railfanning.

[Anonymous]

Signals.

[tree68]

I was sitting trackside in Puyallup, WA today and signals were definitely the clue of the day. Gave me a heads up on what turned out to be a Cascades Talgo, as well as a stack train. Also forewarned me on what turned out to be an Amtrak, but I had to leave and caught that at a crossing.

Makes me glad I'm beginning to understand the signals.

[SteelMonsters]

I don't even worry about it when I walking next to a closed gate that goes over rails. [:)]

[CrazyDiamond]

I use the Internet to get schedules of some trains....then (based on judgement and expereince) I go down to spot with a signal and wait. When it turns green or red I know it will be coming soon, and also the direction.....which really I already knew because I looked at a schedule!

Signals are the real 'signal' that a train is coming or going!! [:D]

[Cheviot Hill]

My 2 year old son hears the horn and says Choo choo! Choo choo!
Dear GOD will this thread end!!!!!!!!

[zwspnby9]

i wouldn't put my head on the rail. Too risky, and dangerous!

[CSXrules4eva]

As soon as I get to the rails I look at whats on the signals, then I'll turn up the scanner. Sometimes I might have to wait for a long time until anything comes. After that, if I hear a distant horn I'll begin to set up the camera, then I listen for another horn sounding, then another, then I lesten for the engine sound as it gets closer, then I distinquish what type of engine it is. Then it's time for the train to come trough then I film it, and also have a pen and paper ready just in case I see a car I've never seen before, then I write the reporting mark and car number down. Then........well......thats pretty much it.