Definitely Vaughn, New Mexico for me. After going out there in early September to meet up with Wig Wag and do a little charity work; I found that there is never a dull moment with the BNSF crossing the UP, crew changes and spectacular scenery. Quite a lot of history for that small little town and I met some really great people on top of it. Brian
Jim, Naw, I'm living and working in Germany. That was a collection of about 5 years worth of railfanning. I only scratched the surface of the Moffat, though. I already spammed this thread enough with my material, let's see more of everyone's work! I can post more if folks want particular shots. chances are, I might have them...
Charlie, I don't know of the restaurant you are referring to, but I'm sure there is at least one like it in Oregon. :happy:
Hmm, I never went to it. Where was it in relation to the station? I always stopped at Jay's drive in or when in the area and wanted a good steak, Blackhawk Steak Pit. The old Piano factory has a bakery that has good donuts.
All I remember is that it was in a small strip mall pretty much in the business district of Oregon. Charlie
I live blocks from Roseville Yard, but it's just not that interesting to "actively" railfan. It's great to go out for a coffee or a nice walk and casually railfan though. I'm not going to spam pictures, but: Tehachapi Cajon (specifically the section of old US66 and Mormon Rocks right around Sullivan's curve.) Fullterton Ca (BNSF Transcon, Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner and Southwest Chief. And a beautiful station, good food close by, Disneyland close by. Soda Springs Ca (On Donner, I've only been here once, but it's easy access and perfect scenery) United Railways district PNWR (This is the line from Linnton up Cornelius pass and on to Banks.) Only 1 train a day, but it's a beautiful train to shoot. Vancouver Yard Vancouver Washington. Columbia River Gorge.
A few more come to mind: Saginaw, Texas. Once a crossing of ATSF, FW&D and Rock Island, now BNSF and UP. Plenty of freight action, plus Amtrak's Heartland Flyer . Massive grain elevators abound, and all have their own motive power as well. Hosts an annual railfan event, several eateries across the street (US287, a busy thoroughfare). Cordele, GA. Norfolk Southern's G&FS District crosses CSX's Fitzgerald Sub and the Heart of Georgia mainline. Both Class 1s provide plenty of action, and the HOG runs about once or twice daily. Also home to the SAM Shortline excursion train that runs on the HOG (former SCL) Cordele to Plains. I second Hemi's choice of Cheyenne, WY, especially since I've been there. Best place to relax, eat, & watch trains is at the Snake River Pub, located in the UP depot. When the weather is good, you can sit outdoors (literally trackside) and have a Big Boy Stout or two while watching UP freights change crews in front of you. Roundhouse & steam shops located across the main line. One area he didn't mention is Archer (east of Cheyenne), where eastbounds have to climb a short grade and pass under an old wooden bridge en route to North Platte. I also second his choices on Sherman Hill, especially the twin tunnels at Hermosa and the road crossing a mile from Tie Siding over on US287. Harriman is a nice place to catch westbounds slog it up the third main- still a water tower and several old row houses at this location, literally a stone's throw from the Colorado state line.
I have a couple railfanning spots. 1-Monroe, Wa in the parking lot of Grocery Outlet (former sight of a sawmill) right nest to the BNSF mainline. 2-Napavine, Wa sitting in Frostys tavern having a mug of suds. This one has MANY fond memories for me as a young child. I would hear the trains whistling for the crossings as they were climbing the hill. I would hop on my Schwinn bike and ride down to the tracks with my 110 instamatic camera in hand. I took AMNY MANY photos as a young child in Frostys Tavern parking lot. But my all time favorite because of scenery. Sunset Falls on BNSFs Stevens Pass. Here is a pic of the exec train crossing the falls.
Rosenberg, Texas. The BNSF crosses the UP there. KCS Victoria Sub joins the Sunset Route there while Amtrak is hosted on the Sunset between Houston and San Antonio. Lots of traffic on a good day.
http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2622311 Old B&O West End, an eastbound loaded coal train with CSXT #626, a de-rated CW60AC, departing Newburg, WV up Newburg Grade after picking up CSX 748 & 907 as helpers. 748-907 will cut off at Rowlesburg, WV and run light back to Hardman unless there is a Westbound needing assistance. 7/7/2011. http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2622920 CSX 748-907 shoving uphill on the rear of a loaded eastbound coal train. http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2622317 CSXT 919, 350, 353 & 360 drifting off the service track in Grafton, WV to be moved across the main to the hill track awaiting an A&O crew called for a midnight run of empties down the old B&O Cowen Sub. http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2707181 At one time Grafton was almost purely EMD country with SD50's and SD60's dominating the landscape on the West End until the arrival of GE AC locomotives shortly after this photo was taken around August of 1998. Non EMD products CSXT 7024, a GE C30-7 being the only non-EMD locomotive in Grafton that day. http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1202822 Alliance, OH 9/2007. Lots of action here with trains coming off the Ft Wayne Line and re-routes funneling down the Bayard line due to a derailment around Pittsburgh, PA http://pmiller1.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1202809 A re-routed train bouncing over the diamond crossing the Ft. Wayne down down the Bayard line.
The depot in Vancouver Wn. and in Kalama Wn. There is a great spot for photos or video. The line is the mainline between Portland & Seattle. There are several places on the BNSF line from Vancouver to Pasco too.
Another good spot to watch trains on the Portland-Seattle mainline is Rocky Point, Wa. You not only get BNSF, UP, and Amtrak. You can also get the Columbia & Cowlitz as well.
Athens, OH. Home of a whopping 2 trains per day. (Sometimes 3!) The NS Ex-Conrail West Virginia Secondary snakes around and has beautiful scenery, making up for the huge lack of trains. Sorry for hijacking the western spots :teeth:
Sorrento valley for san diego CA, I get to see surfliners go by at 90mph and coasters screech to a stop
