Do you have a favorite railfanning location? one that you are drawn to and seems to be your "favorite"? Please share! Harold
Well it used to be the Rochelle Diamond, but thats like shooting fish in a barrel. Galesburg is probably my favorite location, either on the bridge cause I like yards or by the station down town. Up here I like railfaning the old Q from Chana IL to Savanna IL. Lucky for me the wife likes railfaning too, gives us something to do between trains
I would agree with your opinions about Rochelle and Galesburg. Here's some pictures I took with my film camera from those locations: http://community.webshots.com/album/83084672vGHbGP http://community.webshots.com/album/83092334FXcitb I also enjoy Horseshoe Curve and that area. Cresson has a nice B&B. I took some pictures at the Curve recently: http://community.webshots.com/album/546847333RaRviN I will be expanding my range in the future and trying to find more spots.
#1 would be the BNSF Transcon around the Flagstaff Az. area, pretty much nonstop action on the Dbl. Trk. but can only get out there once a year. Closer to home it would Woodland Jct., where the UP and CSX merge into a joint Dbl. Trk. (controlled by the UP) this is the old C&EI mainline into Chicago. Is out in the middle of nowhere, but always someone else there, from who knows where. Last but not least is Tolono Il. just south of Champaign-Urbana. The CN/IC and NS meet there and is always good for plenty of action and variety. Mostly NS trains. These 3 are where I spend 99% of my railfanning time, just because they are convenient to me and can be reached in a reasonable amount of time
Anywhere that steam is running. That is, for me anyway. I just discovered Kingman Canyon in Kingman, AZ. Lots of traffic and great scenery for all of you diseasel fans.
I guess it would have to be the place I watch trains the most. Rosenberg, Texas. The old Santa Fe crossed the Southern Pacific there. Today the KCS, Amtrak, UP and BNSF keep things busy and there is plenty of action. Everything from unit trains of grain, gravel and coal to mixed manifests with anything under the sun. Lately there have been many loads of giant windmill parts headed from the ports of Houston and Galveston to points inland. Of course I don't have my camera every time they go by. I am usually working at the museum there and look up to see something cool go by.
Being from the north I would have to say either Lodgepole nebraska, Rosenburg Texas, or Antelope Creek Wyoming. All 3 give lots of action, good places to shoot all day long. Been to nebraska and wyoming almost every year since 82. My sister just got transfered to Katy Texas and I discovered Rosenburg by accident. All 3 are safe and friendly, especially when you tell them your from Canada.
Absolute Favorite: Tunnel 27 on the old D&RGW. A tough hike and climb to reach, only well-lit on cloudless (read: rare) summer afternoons, and well worth it: Next, Tunnel 5: Then, Tunnel 2: Last, South Draw: Just about anywhere on the Moffat Route is a winner with me!!!! Honorable mention; Sherman Hill, on #3 track:
Over the years, I had several great spots to watch trains: </font> The UP depot in Topeka, KS in the 1980s- lots of UP and SSW action</font> State Line Junction, Kansas City, MO/KS, mid-1980s. Santa Fe, Cotton Belt, and UP.</font> 19th St. Expressway bridge over east side of Argentine Yard diesel shops, KC, KS, 1980s. Beaucoup Santa Fe diesel power.</font> Tower 55 (before it was blocked off), Ft. Worth. BN, Katy, SP, UP back in the late 1980s, now UP, BNSF, FWWR, and Trinity Rail Express trains are seen from the east end of the parking lot at the T&P station.</font> Saginaw, TX. UP trains on the ex-KAty and ex-Rock Island lines, BNSF action on the ex-Santa Fe. South of there, Rescar CF7s can be seen switching out covered hoppers.</font> The whole dang UP line from Cheyenne to Laramie, WY. At Cheyenne, the possibility of getting BNSF freights crossing over UP freights. Sitting outside at the Snake River Brewery, enjoying a cold one and watching freight after freight after freight stop right in front of me and change crews before ehading on to either Rawlins or North Platte. Sherman Hill? 'Nuff said. Prime spots for me there are at Borie, Harriman, Perkins, Dale Jct. and Hermosa/Tie Siding.</font> Not much here in train-deficient Maine, except for Lewiston Jct. and the St. Lawrence & Atlantic engine house, and the Goofy-er, Guilford- Rail facilities at Waterville, ME.
FriscoBob, if you had only been there 30 years earlier! The Maine Central Geeps in the Harvest Gold and green were great! Then Guilford thought locomotives looked better in stealth gray and Osco Drug Orange While your stuck in that area, be sure to go to the Conway Scenic RR in Conway NH to see how North East railroading was done before the G.
Two places come to mind. However the best time was in the mid to late 70's. Terminal Jct - Dallas - MoP, Katy, Frisco, ATSF, BN, Amtrak. Tower 55 - Ft Worth - Same as above only more coal trains
I forgot one other hotspot for me, one that I've enjoyed from 1979 'til today: Kansas City Southern from Poteau south to Heavener, OK, then south of Heavener over Rich Mountain. Well south of there is Texarkana USA, a city that straddles the AR/TX state line. Back in "the day", MP, SSW and KCS action- now it's UP (running bidirectional freights on the ex-Mop and Cotton Belt), KCS, and Texas Northeastern. The depot on the Texas side is a county jail, and armed prison guards stationed there are great deterrents
