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Does anyone know of a good place to train spot in Los Angeles that is safe (neighborhood wise), features lots of rail traffic (freight and or passanger) and near a grade crossing (lots of horn action)?
chrisg Member # 2488
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Fullerton, Ca is the best as you get all the BNSF trains to and from Los Angeles, Metrolink and Surfliners plus the Southwest Chief.
Chris
ScottC4746 Member # 3323
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Where exactly in Fullerton? At the train station?
amtraxmaniac Member # 2251
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Yes-the train station. The overpass at the station is a popular spot.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I agree with chrisg about Fullerton. I've only been there a few times (I live in Northern Cal), but there have always been railfans out on the platform with scanners and cameras. There is A LOT of train action through there---freights, Amtrak (#3 and #4 and Surfliners), and Metrolink. There are also some private cars parked there behind a fence.
You can take a Metrolink or Surfliner to this location, depending on where you are coming from.
ScottC4746 Member # 3323
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I noticed some people just hanging out watching trains. I couldn't take it any longer and grabbed a ticket for #769 to LAX grabbed lunch on Olvera Street and returned on #578 to FUL. Nice trip. I think I had the same crew going both ways. The male who took my ticket going to LAX I found arrogant and rude. I showed him my ticket at the door to the coach and he barked at me "upstairs". Returning back, thank goodness I had a different person, Carmen I think was her name and I felt very welcomed. Grabbed a soda on the way back to FUL. Aparently the south bound tracks are rougher than northbound because we were being tossed around.
amtraxmaniac Member # 2251
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Scott, that also could be because southbound the train is being pushed rather than pulled.
ScottC4746 Member # 3323
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Actually it was the other way around. They were pulling today south and pushing north.
ScottC4746 Member # 3323
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My trip back from San Diego (Santa Fe) #587 I noticed several train spotters, 5 - 6 I counted, in Fullerton...even at night...those die hards:)
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