So, I'm going on a last minute business trip next week. Since this is disrupting my Christmas plans, my employer has graciously offered to rebook and pay for my Christmas flights. The upshot of this is that I now will be in Atlanta all of Thursday with absolutely nothing to do. Specifically, I'll be in Decatur. So, Where do I go to see trains? The car has unlimited milage and the gas is paid for, but I don't want to spend all day on the road. I do want to see something picturesque and I do want to see traffic. Don't want to get skunked. Yards would be OK, but I'd prefer something more mainlinish.
Juliette, GA, about 70 miles south of Decatur on I-75 offers the Norfolk Southern north-south main and boasts about 40 trains per day. It is also home to the Whistle Stop Cafe of Fried Green Tomatoes fame, which sits adjacent to the right of way. Across the tracks in the former Juliette Mill is the Harley Davidson museum (visible in the background in the attached photo).
if you are into hobby shops there is a good one in Dulth called Trainmaster,across the steet from the NS line. Kennesaw Hobby in Kennesaw right next the the CSX to Chattanooga and Etowah. Also close to the airport in Riverdale is Riverdale Station. All 3 are the best in the area. For real trains I would recomend you go to either Austell where the NS line splits to Chattanooga and Birmingham. Or goto Cartersville where the line splits and goes to Chattanooga and Etowah. Both locations are safe and have ample required facillities near by. ((food and restrooms)) Hope that this helps you out some in your decision making. I will be working or I would offer to show you around all day.
