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going to grand canyon and taking train from williams az is the needles subdivision right there in williams and when is the best time to railfan the area i.e. early part of the week, mid week we are going out there in april arriving in vegas on a sunday and then going to canyon need to know the best time to go
Posts: 10 | From: north haven, CT USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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The Needles Sub is actually on the California side of the border, in the Mojave Desert. Once BNSF crosses the Colorado River, the tracks become part of the Seligman Sub. This is BNSF's "transcon" mainline, so traffic is for the most part nonstop all year round. Mondays tend to be a bit slower, but we're talking 60-100 freight trains on any given day. The main line doesn't physically go through Williams (it did long ago) but it's very close by - just a short drive out of town. Williams is also a junction point for BNSF's Peavine line south to Phoenix, which sees three or four freights a day in each direction, and the Grand Canyon Railway which heads north to the South Rim, and they run a couple of trains each day, so there's quite a lot to see and quite a lot to pick and choose from. It's really a very neat area to railfan.
[This message has been edited by atsf3751 (edited 11-12-2002).]
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ATSF3751 has given good info. If you are driving from vegas you can exit I-40 at kingman and drive old Hwy. 66 which parallels the railroad for a significant part of the way as far as Crookton, east of Seligman.
Williams Jct, about 3 miles east of Williams is a grest spot to train watch and photo. Get direction at Williams because it is through the national Forest on a dirt road.
If you have a radio scanner it will help. Let me know if you need frequency. Also, an employee timetable would be of value so you know where you are and the radio messages would mean much more.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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thanks very much I am going to get a map of arizona from triple a so I can map out the route. We will be taking our time to get to williams so I will take the old route 66. Now as far as the dirt road to get to that area is it safe and can a car drive there without any problems. Are there line side signals as well along the route like there are in calif. I have railfanned there when I have gone to vegas but I am concerned as far as the dirt road aspect please if you can tell me more thanks
Posts: 10 | From: north haven, CT USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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JMC80MAC2, Suggest you get the triple-A "Indian Country" map in addition to the Arizona state map. The Indian Country map actually shows rail lines on it; the state one does not. You might also want to get a DeLorme or Landmark atlas of the state...lots of detail including small roads. Either atlas is about $16. MP
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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The dirt road is very good. It is used by those getting off of the Southwest Chief who wish to get into Williams to ride the Grand Canyon train. The ticket agent for the Grand Canyon can give good directions. Yes there are signals. There is a fairly new signal system on the Seligman Sub, which is all double track and so trains will be going in either direction on the same track with the dispatcher crossing them back and forth to expedite the "hot shots". The two tracks are not always parallel and sometimes may not be in sight of each other, but mostly they are side by side. This is a very busy railroad so if you should be near the tracks be very careful. In fact, you should be able to view and photo all you wish without getting near the tracks, and that's what I recommend.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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