Favorite railfan locations and/or railroads

[emdgp92]

I was just wondering if you all had any favorite locations to watch/photograph trains. Let me tell you about mine.

1. Pittsburgh's PRR station. NS still runs many freights through the station, most of which can be easily photographed in the trainshed. I've also caught a few Amtrak trains down there as well.

2. Station Square (just across the river from downtown). The old P&LE station is another great place. Recently, CSX moved the tracks closer to the river, and installed some benches on the old platforms.

3. Grafton, WV. CSX has a large yard, which can be easily photographed from one of the parrallel (sp?) city streets. Lots of big GE and EMD engines show up from time to time, along with many coal trains.

I'm sure there are many others, but these 3 just stick out.

[emdgp92]

I was just wondering if you all had any favorite locations to watch/photograph trains. Let me tell you about mine.

1. Pittsburgh's PRR station. NS still runs many freights through the station, most of which can be easily photographed in the trainshed. I've also caught a few Amtrak trains down there as well.

2. Station Square (just across the river from downtown). The old P&LE station is another great place. Recently, CSX moved the tracks closer to the river, and installed some benches on the old platforms.

3. Grafton, WV. CSX has a large yard, which can be easily photographed from one of the parrallel (sp?) city streets. Lots of big GE and EMD engines show up from time to time, along with many coal trains.

I'm sure there are many others, but these 3 just stick out.

[eolafan]

My favorites are as follows:
1. BNSF Eola yard just east of Aurora and about 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, this is the end of the BNSF triple track "raceway" to and from Chicago. Lots of freight, Metra commuter and Amtrak trains.
2. Rochelle, IL railroad park where the "C&I" line of BNSF from Chicago to Minneapolis crosses the UP line from Chicago to Omaha, etc. This spot has been mentioned and written about several times in TRAINS. A whole lot of trains on both lines (somewhat more on UP than BNSF), freight only unless an Amtrak detour happens, a nice spot with a gazebo, grills for food, bathrooms, soda machines, and a scanner on all of the time with a speaker in the gazebo.
3. UP/Metra station in Geneva, IL on the same line mentioned above. Nice quiet spot to have a burger and enjoy the Metra trains and all UP freights coming and going on this line from Chicago (this is about thirty miles east of Rochelle on the same line).

[eolafan]

My favorites are as follows:
1. BNSF Eola yard just east of Aurora and about 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, this is the end of the BNSF triple track "raceway" to and from Chicago. Lots of freight, Metra commuter and Amtrak trains.
2. Rochelle, IL railroad park where the "C&I" line of BNSF from Chicago to Minneapolis crosses the UP line from Chicago to Omaha, etc. This spot has been mentioned and written about several times in TRAINS. A whole lot of trains on both lines (somewhat more on UP than BNSF), freight only unless an Amtrak detour happens, a nice spot with a gazebo, grills for food, bathrooms, soda machines, and a scanner on all of the time with a speaker in the gazebo.
3. UP/Metra station in Geneva, IL on the same line mentioned above. Nice quiet spot to have a burger and enjoy the Metra trains and all UP freights coming and going on this line from Chicago (this is about thirty miles east of Rochelle on the same line).

[JoeKoh]

Csx action around defiance ohio plenty of good spots and good places to eat.
also i'm within an hours drive of places like deshler hamler fostoria montpelier butler ftwayne toledo lima findlay.yes tim picnic areas with playgrounds are good for me and matt too
stay safe[:)]
joe

[JoeKoh]

Csx action around defiance ohio plenty of good spots and good places to eat.
also i'm within an hours drive of places like deshler hamler fostoria montpelier butler ftwayne toledo lima findlay.yes tim picnic areas with playgrounds are good for me and matt too
stay safe[:)]
joe

[Anonymous]

Any place were there is a play ground, picnic table and safe distance between the two. I have 2 small boy's so I am very limited as to were to go.
TIM A

[Anonymous]

Any place were there is a play ground, picnic table and safe distance between the two. I have 2 small boy's so I am very limited as to were to go.
TIM A

[csxns]

Marion NC CSX and NS Spencer NC all NS.

[csxns]

Marion NC CSX and NS Spencer NC all NS.

[Anonymous]

Dalton, GA, the busiest place in N. Georgia - NS and CSX at grade.

[Anonymous]

Dalton, GA, the busiest place in N. Georgia - NS and CSX at grade.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Havre de Grace or Perryville, MD with either the Amtrak or the CSX bridges spanning the Susquehanna River. In Perryville the place to watch or photograph Amtrak trains is from the grounds of the VA Medical Center in the morning. CSX trains crossing the Susquehanna River may be photographed from the Perryville boat launch ramp downstream from the bridge or from the west bank of the Suquehanna River in Havre de Grace also in the morning. In the afternoon the best location for watching or photographing Amtrak trains is either the Jean S Roberts Park or the Canal Park in Havre de Grace.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Havre de Grace or Perryville, MD with either the Amtrak or the CSX bridges spanning the Susquehanna River. In Perryville the place to watch or photograph Amtrak trains is from the grounds of the VA Medical Center in the morning. CSX trains crossing the Susquehanna River may be photographed from the Perryville boat launch ramp downstream from the bridge or from the west bank of the Suquehanna River in Havre de Grace also in the morning. In the afternoon the best location for watching or photographing Amtrak trains is either the Jean S Roberts Park or the Canal Park in Havre de Grace.

[Anonymous]

i still have to stick with Keddie Y N.Ca.. The old WP

[Anonymous]

i still have to stick with Keddie Y N.Ca.. The old WP

[rf16a]

My favorite spots are along the NS, ex PRR, in Pennsylvania such as:
Enola Yard, Lewistown at the Amtrak/PRR station, Tyrone, Altoona, the Brickyard, Horseshoe Curve (overgrown trees need trimming, curve needs to stay open year round for visitors), Gallitzin, the Station Inn in Cresson, Lilly, Cassandra, South Fork, Johnstown.

[rf16a]

My favorite spots are along the NS, ex PRR, in Pennsylvania such as:
Enola Yard, Lewistown at the Amtrak/PRR station, Tyrone, Altoona, the Brickyard, Horseshoe Curve (overgrown trees need trimming, curve needs to stay open year round for visitors), Gallitzin, the Station Inn in Cresson, Lilly, Cassandra, South Fork, Johnstown.

[sooblue]

My most favorite place to view trains was at a bridge in a golf course in Mpls.
The golf course name was Columbia and the RR was the Soo.
The bridge was located over the double main line out of the Shorham yard.
I don't think you could get a double stack train under the bridge it was that close. Because the trains going east were climbing grade the engines were pumping smoke out like no tomorrow. F-units and Alcos, when the engines went under the bridge the smoke would come up through the gaps in the board bridge deck.
We could feel the blast from the exhaust too. It was great!
And the noise, wow!!
I bet in the years that I and my friends spent on or in the girders under that bridge we inhaled enough smoke it's a wonder after 50 years were still alive!
Sooblue

[sooblue]

My most favorite place to view trains was at a bridge in a golf course in Mpls.
The golf course name was Columbia and the RR was the Soo.
The bridge was located over the double main line out of the Shorham yard.
I don't think you could get a double stack train under the bridge it was that close. Because the trains going east were climbing grade the engines were pumping smoke out like no tomorrow. F-units and Alcos, when the engines went under the bridge the smoke would come up through the gaps in the board bridge deck.
We could feel the blast from the exhaust too. It was great!
And the noise, wow!!
I bet in the years that I and my friends spent on or in the girders under that bridge we inhaled enough smoke it's a wonder after 50 years were still alive!
Sooblue

[CShaveRR]

There are some places--Horseshoe Curve; Russell, Kentucky; Durand, Michigan; Griffith, Indiana--that I consider to be "hallowed ground" because they were the sites of memorable experiences during my formative years as a train-watcher. None of these are probably what they used to be, and it might actually be painful to go back to some. One of the most heartbreaking things to befall me was the loss of Porter, Indiana, as a railfan haunt (it may not be as great in the post-Conrail era, anyway).

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite spot: Elmhurst, Illinois, on the UP. I get the same trains that Eolafan gets in Geneva, but more slowly (great for close observation of the rolling stock, which is important to me), and there are nearby places to grab a meal or a snack, and one of the best hobby shops in all of Chicagoland is just around the corner. I'm lucky enough to be able to put it on my route to work by detouring perhaps a mile off the shorter route. I could watch the same trains by going about six blocks from home, but the six or so miles to Elmhurst makes for a better experience for me.

For a change of scenery, LaGrange is also a great place, not too far from home. I also like Blue Island or Dolton, but don't get across town to see them very often.

Favorite railroad? Whichever one is providing the entertainment at the moment (or the pay, when I'm working!).

[CShaveRR]

There are some places--Horseshoe Curve; Russell, Kentucky; Durand, Michigan; Griffith, Indiana--that I consider to be "hallowed ground" because they were the sites of memorable experiences during my formative years as a train-watcher. None of these are probably what they used to be, and it might actually be painful to go back to some. One of the most heartbreaking things to befall me was the loss of Porter, Indiana, as a railfan haunt (it may not be as great in the post-Conrail era, anyway).

Anyone who knows me knows my favorite spot: Elmhurst, Illinois, on the UP. I get the same trains that Eolafan gets in Geneva, but more slowly (great for close observation of the rolling stock, which is important to me), and there are nearby places to grab a meal or a snack, and one of the best hobby shops in all of Chicagoland is just around the corner. I'm lucky enough to be able to put it on my route to work by detouring perhaps a mile off the shorter route. I could watch the same trains by going about six blocks from home, but the six or so miles to Elmhurst makes for a better experience for me.

For a change of scenery, LaGrange is also a great place, not too far from home. I also like Blue Island or Dolton, but don't get across town to see them very often.

Favorite railroad? Whichever one is providing the entertainment at the moment (or the pay, when I'm working!).

[Anonymous]

Two places (Chicago fans, listen up!):

1) DeVal interlocking in my home town of Des Plaines, Illinois. Three lines (UP Milwaukee Sub ex-C&NW freight cutoff from Proviso to Milwaukee; CN ex-WCL ex-Soo main line to Chicago; and UP/Metra ex-C&NW commuter operation) cross in a "triangle of diamonds", still worked from DeVal interlocking tower. About middling traffic density, and none too good photo angles, but just a nice place to go and railfan.

2) Brighton Park crossing (reachable via CTA's Orange Line.) Two lines - is it CN and NS? - cross here. Traffic density is rather high and the traffic is varied, and the location is clear from all angles for photos. What makes it interesting, though, is the method of operation. There is no interlocking! All trains must stop and receive a clear signal from the "switchtender." But that's not the half of it: the location is signaled by 11 original GRS 1904-patent swmaphores on brackets, worked by mechanical pipeline! Truly worth a visit for anyone who wants to see how it was done at the turn of the century.

Additionally, the BNSF "racetrack" never fails to please!

[Anonymous]

Two places (Chicago fans, listen up!):

1) DeVal interlocking in my home town of Des Plaines, Illinois. Three lines (UP Milwaukee Sub ex-C&NW freight cutoff from Proviso to Milwaukee; CN ex-WCL ex-Soo main line to Chicago; and UP/Metra ex-C&NW commuter operation) cross in a "triangle of diamonds", still worked from DeVal interlocking tower. About middling traffic density, and none too good photo angles, but just a nice place to go and railfan.

2) Brighton Park crossing (reachable via CTA's Orange Line.) Two lines - is it CN and NS? - cross here. Traffic density is rather high and the traffic is varied, and the location is clear from all angles for photos. What makes it interesting, though, is the method of operation. There is no interlocking! All trains must stop and receive a clear signal from the "switchtender." But that's not the half of it: the location is signaled by 11 original GRS 1904-patent swmaphores on brackets, worked by mechanical pipeline! Truly worth a visit for anyone who wants to see how it was done at the turn of the century.

Additionally, the BNSF "racetrack" never fails to please!

[BRAKIE]

These are located in Ohio.
Bellevue-NS /W&LE
Marion-NS /CSX
Frostoria NS /CSX
Willard CSX /Ashland Ry.
Winton Place-CSX NS I&O.
Russell, KY CSX
Huntington WVA CSX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Favorite modern railroad is NS.My Favorite fallen flags C&O/N&W/Chessie
My favorite short lines is Ohio Central/R.J.Corman.Runners up is I&OC and Ashland Ry.

[BRAKIE]

These are located in Ohio.
Bellevue-NS /W&LE
Marion-NS /CSX
Frostoria NS /CSX
Willard CSX /Ashland Ry.
Winton Place-CSX NS I&O.
Russell, KY CSX
Huntington WVA CSX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Favorite modern railroad is NS.My Favorite fallen flags C&O/N&W/Chessie
My favorite short lines is Ohio Central/R.J.Corman.Runners up is I&OC and Ashland Ry.

[eolafan]

All of these responses to this issue reveal only one thing...THERE IS NO "BAD" PLACE TO WATCH TRAINS...ANY SPOT IS A GOOD SPOT AS LONG AS THERE ARE TRAINS THERE!

[eolafan]

All of these responses to this issue reveal only one thing...THERE IS NO "BAD" PLACE TO WATCH TRAINS...ANY SPOT IS A GOOD SPOT AS LONG AS THERE ARE TRAINS THERE!

[Anonymous]

I agree with eolafan, any place is a good place to watch trains... just as long I am the only train-nut at that location... sorry, but Rochelle Illinois has enough crazy train fans that it should be an asylum

[Anonymous]

I agree with eolafan, any place is a good place to watch trains... just as long I am the only train-nut at that location... sorry, but Rochelle Illinois has enough crazy train fans that it should be an asylum