Safe place to watch BNSF?

[Anonymous]

I am new at this train watching thing. I got into it because I have 2 small boy's who like to watch trains. We like to watch from the safty of Metra train station's around Chicago. Can someone tell me if there is a safe place on the BNSF main line near Chicago that is safe for me and my small boy,s to watch trains?
TIM A

[Soo2610]

Try the railroad park in Rochelle, Il. You can watch both UP and BNSF and I can guarantee you that your boys won't have time to get bored. They have a gift shop and hot refreshments except Tuesdays and you can listen in on the crews and dispatchers.

[eolafan]

Tim, I agree with Len on Rochelle but it is a pretty long drive (about 45 min to an hour depending on where you start from) and the view is only good from the gazebo which is fine on a nice weather day but not good if it is cold or rainy/snowy. If you want an alternate suggestion I would go to the area around the Eola yard office (on McClurg Road in Aurora). Many of us hang around the dirt "parking lot" on the opposite side of the main line from the offices. You can park your car safely facing the main and watch all mainline action and switching moves all day long (no Metra in Rochelle). This is not a place I would suggest at night but during the day there is lots of traffic (including railroad folks, police, etc) and it is o.k. in daylight with no problems enocountered by any of us for many years but not suggested at night. Hope this helps. Jim

[Anonymous]

Tim, thank you for your concern about safety. I always liked Hinsdale, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Plenty of Metra, BNSF and Amtrak action. Safe neighborhood, day or night.
Watch your kids closely and enjoy the show. gdc

[Anonymous]

Gentlemen, Thank you very much. I will probaly hit all three of them. We always pack a lunch and watch from the safty of the parking lot. When we go we try to make a day of it. This has two benifits. It allows me to spend some time with the boy's and allows Mommy to clean the house in peace! Hope to see you out there and again Thank you.
TIM A

[mccannt]

If you would like to turn your BNSF railfanning into a nice cross-country trip, travel out to Vancouver, Wash.

The Vancouver Amtrak station is set right in the middle of a huge wye formed by the north-south BNSF Seattle Subdivision, the east-west Fallbridge Subdivision, and the lead off the Fallbridge Sub into Vancouver Yard.

From the safety of its platforms you can watch both BNSF and UP main line trains, BNSF yard work, and 10 Amtrak trains, six of which are Portland-Seattle "Cascades" corridor trains equipped with the unique Talgo train sets. The other two are the L.A.-Seattle "Coast Starlght" and the Chicago-Portland/Seattle "Empire Builder", both with Superliners.

You can, in fact take the "Builder" all the way from Chicago and get off right at the Vancouver depot.

Details about the Vancouver area are included in the Trains railfan guide for Portland, Ore. in the December 2002 issue.

[eolafan]

Hope to see you and the boys as well, look for any of us in a Red Dodge Intrepid (Jim), a red Toyota (Bill), a dark blue Chevy Imala (Pete) or a white Mercedes (Arno). We'll be glad to tell you about the action in Eola area. Jim

[Anonymous]

Moms with peaceful times creates benefits untold. Good luck and please stay safe. gdc