OK, so you are out on a railfan journey and spend a day exploring and photographing somewhere far from home. When evening falls and you are in need of a place to stay but don’t want to miss any of the action wouldn’t it be cool to check in to a hotel that had a view of the tracks and catered to railfans?
In my extensive railfanning excoursions throughout the west I have come across many hotels that would be perfect for this. Unfortunatly they don’t realise the potential market and instead downplay the close proximity of the tracks.
A few simple and relativly cheap modifications would make these 2nd rate motels into a railfans delight. Instead of blocking views of the tracks they should exploit the views. Throw in scanner plug ins and CCTV cameras in there in house ant/cable systems and I think they would be a hit. And a real kicker would be to offer train lineups with the morning donuts and coffee.
If only I had the money to do this myself. I know of a few hotels in prime locations just waiting to be exploited. Places like the george in Washington, the funnel in Idaho, the overland route in Nevada and Wyoming, Tehachappi, the Sunset in Arizona, the BNSF transcon in Needles, Donner pass, the coast and many more.
Last year while staying at a motel somewhere between Milwaukee
and S.S.Marie (Forget the town & motel) While watching TV
there was a lot of static & snow on the channels. I was going to
check with the front desk, but about ten minutes later a long
Wisconsin Central train passed by, about 200 feet from the
window with an unobstructed view.
About four hours later the same thing occured.
Isn’t it great to have FRED and the highway crossing signals
announcing the arrivals of the trains…
We were on the ground floor with a patio door & unfortuately
I didn’t have my camera with me.
Chad, I was trying to convince my husband of buying what was at one point years ago, a RR crew house in Decatur, AR and turning it into a bed and breakfast with a railfan emphasis. I don’t even know if the place is still for sale. It lacked air conditioning, but was so close to the KCS mainline that I am sure the trains vibrate the walls. It was going for around $60,000.
Chad, we could do this and still have room for Jay and his wife. Jay could get the direct- view-of-trains room, and his wife could get the luxury jacuzzi room with fresh flowers and a bottle of champagne.
Then she and I could go shopping while you and Jay sat on the outside porch swing and watched the trains go by.
No, wait, I like to watch the trains go by. Okay, she and I will sit outside with the two of you and shop online via a wireless laptop.
Deal? I can hear it all now. The scanner…“KCS 2002 North, upon stopping…” and other conversation. “No, let’s see if it comes in blue.”
Hey, that would probably work. I am sure I would be very happy until the credit card bill came in. At least the shopping on line part would solve the “where is all this stuff going to fit in the car” question.
Sounds like an interesting idea. Tina, could I possibly join you and
Jay’s wife? Maybe we could get Mookie, Nance69 and Joe’s wife
Stacey to join us! Of course, Mutt would be with Chad & Jay. And
if Stacey is with us, you know Joe and Matt will be there.
…Have been right to the sight of the Tunnel Inn in Gallitzin and it looks right to the area of the tunnel on the ex Pennsylvania RR…Now NS. A new bridge crosses the tracks at that location and one can look right into the tunnel…Pretty neat.
Maybe, but there sure isn’t going to be anything left for shopping. But on the other hand, if our neighbors to the back can get 100 to 125 a night for rooms in a century old place on our town’s main drag-who know?
(Go to http://www.allynmansion.com/ Click on the history button and go to the bottom of the page. In the third picture from the left to the back of the mansion is our house. It was formerly the barn and coach storage facility of the mansion.
This sounds like or no I should say that this is an excellent idea. I’ll tell you what if something like that were to come about I’d be one loyal customer. I would enjoy staying in a hotel that overlooks the tracks rather than the interstate.
OH you know I do know of a couple of hotels like this that are owned by privet owners who rent their place out. I found it at http://www.trainweb.com
I think they had some good hotel referals.
Whoa Ladies, you aren’t dragging me away from the train watching to go - of all things - shopping.
I hate to shop, but will keep an eye on all the men to make sure they remain gentlemen and an eye on the trains! Boy, what an awful job! But be sure you bring me something from the shopping trip…maybe a new fur…?
There is another hotel in Trempealeau (I think that’s the right spelling), WI called the Inn on the River. It sits up on a bluff overlooking the CP, BNSF, and ICE mains on the Mississippi.
A bed and breakfast, what an excelent idea. I like that even better than a hotel. I think it would have been quite successfull provided it was marketed right. And I can’t think of a better couple to be the hosts.
I’ll tell you what if something like that were to come about I’d be one loyal customer. I would enjoy staying in a hotel that overlooks the tracks rather than the interstate.