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cp tracks at sturdevant wisconsin are a great spot. plenty of amtrak action including the east @westbound empire builders plus plenty of freights.
Posts: 175 | From: FENCE WI USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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1. Austell, GA just outside of Atlanta. NS's Alabama division and Georgia Divisions combine for the double track run into Atlanta, CSX WA sub nearby, both busy lines.
2. Dalton, GA about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. NS's Atlanta North District and CSX's WA sub cross at grade, both busy lines, CSX's Etowah sub less than 30 min. away also.
3. Harriman, TN in middle eastern TN, about 40 min. west of Knoxville on I40. NS's Tennessee division from Knoxville joins the double track Kentucky Division mainline at Harriman Juntion, 40-50 trains a day during the peak season.
Posts: 1 | From: Gate City, VA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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A lot of wonderful spots are off-limits these days; used to be no real problem to spend hours at MG, up above Horseshoe, or some other locations on the hill. Brickyard is one of those few remaining "safe" areas aside from the summit and west slope.
Here's a different perspective: routes to travel - i.e., play tag with the old Pennsy Middle Divison from Duncannon out to Newton-Hamilton by following the various backroads which parallel the railroad along much of this stretch; then thru Huntingdon and Spruce Creek Valley toward Tyrone.
Ahhh, Route 30 across Iowa & Nebraska - esp. Nebraska where it's close to the UP tracks most all the way and volume! Keep going thru Wyoming, too! Nebraska Route 2 from Grand Island to Alliance and Crawford along the BNSF with open spaces, coal trains and good eatin' at the Hyannis Hotel or Cattleman's in Lakeside.
Maine, AZ is lovely; indeed playing tag with old AT&SF from New Mexico all the way to Needles and beyond (old 66 - to a large extent) ... the great sag coming thru Seligman where they pour on the power for the grades outta town.
US2 thru northern Montana along the old GN with a backtrip from Whitefish to Libby by way of Flathead Tunnel ... wierd, the sound of those tunnel fans howling in otherwise pure solitude.
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[Margaret (SP fan) here - I have not yet registered here! ]
Martinez, CA, for the 24 Amtrak trains PER DAY (!), as well as a number of freights. The lovely old SP depot is still being used, for a while, until the new depot is opened. A number of places to eat nearby, AND a number of antique stores, also. [I have found some VERY nice things in some of those stores! ] The SP 1258, an 0-6-0, is on display there, and there is a park across the tracks. When you visit "MTZ" (Amtrak code), drive south on Alhambra Blvd. until you pass under the ex-ATSF high trestle, then park in the "park-&-ride" lot just past it. VERY impressive sight, and if you are lucky, you may even see a freight. Remember: trains like to hide from railfans! [ ] Amtrak RARELY re-routes over this trestle, probably less than *5* times in the past 29 years, so BE THERE if that happens! Then turn left out of the parking lot and drive west on Franklin Canyon Road - a PRETTY drive, right by the BNSF main line, all the way to I 80. You can then get onto the freeway, or continue to Pinole, and go watch Amtrak & freights there.
Santa Clara, CA, just N of San Jose: a stop on the 136-year-old ex-SP commute main line, and the site of the OLDEST remaining depot in CA, THe South Bay Historical RR Society (www.sbhrs.org) restored the depot & freight shed, and did such an excellent job that they got an award from Caltrans. The SBHRS has a very nice model RR inside, and is often open on weekends. 66 Caltrains a day, M-F, and some freights. Some of the freights originate here, and running meets are not uncommon between freights & Caltrain. A Safeway is a few blocks away, as are several fast-food places. Parking is available on weekends, but may be difficult on weekdays. The Central Coast Chapter of the NRHS meets in the depot 3rd Fridays (http://www5.pair.com/rattenne/nrhs/nrhs.htm)
Stockton, CA, of course, and Roseville, CA. Roseville is the HUGE ex-SP yard, 13 miles NE of Sacramento. You can see a couple of rotary snowplows resting in the yard just east of the engine house (except when in use, which is RARE - 7 times in 25 years!). When in Roseville, do eat at Railroad Deli, right across the street from the engine house, at the east endof the yard, on Vernon Street. Excellent food, and LOTS of photos of trains on the wall!
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Talk about a topic that's on fire! Geez...it was started a half a year ago. Anyways, too bad no one has mentioned Fullerton! As an employee of TrainWeb, of course I feel obligated to mention this wonderful station from which we operate. Sure, you could see all the freights that pass through Fullerton at Cajon, but at Fullerton you also have the luxury of civilization (i.e. restaraunts). Also, for those who don't see passenger trains as a nuisance, there are 44 Surfliners and Metrolinks daily through Fullerton. Plus, there's this neat local job based in La Mirada which goes through several times daily, often going backwards with the brakeman on the caboose.
------------------ -Matthew J. Melzer matt@trainweb.com
Posts: 31 | From: Fullerton, CA, United States of America | Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:Originally posted by therailnut: I have many places in Galesburg,IL. My favorite spot is the County 10 Railroad Bridge. I have a birds eye veiw of the south end of the diesel pit and the north end of the hump yard. Railfans eat your heart out. Even that the railroad runs though my back yard so I can get picutures just about anywhere in galesburg.
The only problem with Galesburg is that you can't be two places at once and although the old CB&Q and AT&SF mainlines are close enough to hear whistles on both, there is no place to get a clear view of both railroads at the same time. They cross, true, but the sight lines are terrible. The result is that I always feel I'm at the wrong place at the right time to be at the other.
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Belen,NM or ciniga creek az.BNSF in Belen main yard on la to chi.100+ aday trains.UP ciniga creek,az double track where on passes over the other and creek.used to be epsw then sp now up
Posts: 9 | From: tucson,az,usa | Registered: Jan 2001
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My favorite place is to park my boat just east of the Burnside Bridge under the CNOTP on Norfolk Southern, just downstream from the power plant near Somerset, KY. I can swim, fish, eat, relax, catch some rays and get an unobstructed view of a great variety of traffic on one of the NS's busiest lines.
Not a great place to be right now (it's 18 degrees tonight), but man I could live there from May to September!!!!
Posts: 5 | From: berea, KY | Registered: Jan 2001
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Wha??????? Are you guys irnoreing Flagstaff Arizona!!??? The BNSF Line that goes threw there is crowed with trains, you will never be 3 minutes in that city near the tracks without seeing a Frighter! Masses of them!! MASSES!!!!!!! I Got Stoped at the train signal for up to 3 Long Fright Trains!! If your in Arizona and looking for a place to watch non stop action of Fright Trains, Goto Flagstaff AZ! Trust me on this one! You will Love it!!
Posts: 56 | From: Sonoma CA USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I'm surprised no one from "up north" mentioned Bayview/Hamilton Junction...large mainline wye, once saw 7 freights, four VIA's and two GO trains in one hour! Crazy place brother!
Another good place in T.O. that comes to mind...West Toronto a.k.a. the Junction...saw why first SD90MAC there!
Finally, out in the east end, Durham Junction is where CN's freight bypass around Toronto meets the east-west mainline...and, GO Transit's lines cuts underneath it all! Gets super busy during rush hour!
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