Favorite railfan locations and/or railroads

[Dad Howe]

Alexandria, Virginia depot. Before Amtrak, two station tracks for passenger, two "outside" tracks for friehgt. Usually a train of some sort throught here nearly every fifteen minutes. Used to sit on the platform and watch. Loads of fun. Been years since I've been there. Rememebr sitting there as an R,F&P freight heading south came through on the southbound station track and began accelerating. Tail must have been doing 45-50 by the time it cleared the station. Talk about LOUD!!!

Dad Howe

[JoeKoh]

please also remember take pictures leave footprints.I've seen "fans"be litterbugs.
stay safe
joe and matt

[JoeKoh]

please also remember take pictures leave footprints.I've seen "fans"be litterbugs.
stay safe
joe and matt

[emdgp92]

I *totally* forgot about some of the other places I've been! I sometimes railfan the old MGA (formerly narrow gauge W&W, now NS) lines south of Pittsburgh. In the 10 years I've been heading down there, I've only seen one or two other fans along the line. There are quite a few places along the line to watch trains.

[emdgp92]

I *totally* forgot about some of the other places I've been! I sometimes railfan the old MGA (formerly narrow gauge W&W, now NS) lines south of Pittsburgh. In the 10 years I've been heading down there, I've only seen one or two other fans along the line. There are quite a few places along the line to watch trains.

[eolafan]

zardoz make a very valid point about the fanatics who endanger themselves and others with stupid moves to get a picture, etc. I always try and take the middle ground in such situations and ALWAYS try and stay very safe, no matter what.

[eolafan]

zardoz make a very valid point about the fanatics who endanger themselves and others with stupid moves to get a picture, etc. I always try and take the middle ground in such situations and ALWAYS try and stay very safe, no matter what.

[zardoz]

crschu0:
I know what you mean. Even though the term "fan" used in this context is a contraction of 'fanatic', I use the two terms to mean different things. Some people I meet at spots are real nice, regular sort of folks; those are the fans. Others are practically drooling on themselves when they see a train, dart into traffic to get across the street to get a picture, they drive crazily to get to another spot to take more pictures; these are the 'fanatics'. There is a BIG difference in the two.

[zardoz]

crschu0:
I know what you mean. Even though the term "fan" used in this context is a contraction of 'fanatic', I use the two terms to mean different things. Some people I meet at spots are real nice, regular sort of folks; those are the fans. Others are practically drooling on themselves when they see a train, dart into traffic to get across the street to get a picture, they drive crazily to get to another spot to take more pictures; these are the 'fanatics'. There is a BIG difference in the two.

[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

[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!

[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
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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.

[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!

[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!).

[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

[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.

[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

[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]

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.

[csxns]

Marion NC CSX and NS Spencer NC all NS.