Hi every one, The question I have is this. In a couple of weeks, I’m having me legs operated on. I have two weeks to rest and stay off my legs. I looking for a place to watch trains in the mid-west of the U.S. I looking for the most trains in one day, as I set in my chair and recovering.
Thanks for any help or ideas.[bow]
I’d reccomend the Rochelle Railroad park in Illinois…[2c]
[#ditto] No question about it, here in the Midwest Rochelle will give you the biggest bang for your buck…you can preview the action on the webcam accessible from this web page. Good luck with your operation…and get better really soon.
hope you get better soon too! yeah we hear rochelle is the place to check out as well.If you come here to nw ohio Deshler ohio is a friendly little town.
stay safe
joe
If you’re coming from the Carolinas to the Midwest, you are evidently able to travel. Is somebody accompanying you?
Keep in mind that this will be April, when rain is encouraged. You’ll need a place where you can take cover, and perhaps be out of the wind.
Rochelle is as good as any place for a high train count. Fostoria, Ohio, might have a higher count, but you might find it frustrating because not all trains hit the same location (three lines form a rather large triangle).
If you want more variety than just freight trains, camp out along one of the commuter lines in Chicago’s western suburbs. My favorite place is Elmhurst, along the UP West line, with Metra and UP providing the action. However, that’s more because of location. You’ll get more variety along the BNSF line anywhere between LaGrange and Eola, since BNSF, Metra, and Amtrak go through there, as well as a couple of UP runs and some foreign-line transfers or run-throughs to Eola. In places such as LaGrange, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove, you can be out of the way, you might be able to get under a canopy if it rains, and there are amenities nearby.
Check out the recent thread on Galesburg, Illinois, another place where lots of trains can be seen–again including Amtrak.
I’ve seen people set up chairs at Blue Island and Dolton Junction, but not recently–you’d have to be careful where you did this, and a little more mobility might be in order.
Let the Forum know when and where you decide to land–misery might love company!
Santa Fe Junction-Kansas City Union Station. There is an observation room in Science City where you can sit and watch non-stop trains running through Kansas City terminal railway, including 4-5 Amtrak a day.
Santa Fe Junction .8 miles west is a place where you can see 4-5 trains intersecting and crossing over highlines, and the three level flyover. It’s like watching a kids model railroad, all compressed with action, but real.
Wife is coming along… Thanks for the Ideas!
I reocomend Tuscola or Gilman. Both are not in a big city, so you only have friendly locals to deal with. Plus, both locations give you three railroads: Gilman (NS Decatur-Chicago, CN/IC St. Louis Chicago, CN/IC New Orleans Chicago, TPW Peoria Logansport); Tuscola (UP St. Louis-Chicago, CSX Decatur-Indianapolis, CN/IC New Orleans Chicago).
Both locations have good traffic levels (as does Tolona), but the variety and ability to not be harassed by the locals is what really makes them special.
Gabe
I live between the bnsf double track that runs between kcmo and stlmo and one block away is kcs line between same. there are many large yards in kcks and kcmo like argentine for one. ride the chief or ann rutlegde between chi town and kcmo and you will get your fill of trains if thats possible. there is an observation park over the up and kcs yard off front strreet. kc of both mo & ks if only time for one!!! kc rules. Stay Happy RMR
I agree with the above two gentlemen. KC does rule. Unfortunately, 30 years ago I would have suggested you come here.
All the best to you for a speedy & complete healing/recovery.
Here’s a half-crazy idea: I’d get a room in Chicago in the Holiday Inn next to the Merchandise Mart. It’s not too expensive and a room facing west overlooks the northern approaches to both Union Station & Northwestern Station. Just a few years ago I had such a room, and while there were no freights, the number of passenger trains really delighted me. There were also lots of short moves of equipment, too.
If your wife is with you,you can imagine how much she’d enjoy time in downtown Chicago while you watch trains from your hotel room. Did I mention the room service?
Othertions to use your lawn chair and see freights: 1. Berea, Ohio outside of Cleveland where thereis a major junction; and 2. Ravenna Ohio where the mainlines of CSX and NS cross; 3. Marion, Ohio: look at any good RR map to see why.
Once again, all best wishes to be up and around real soon.
You may want to try Hannibal, MO. The BNSF’s Hannibal Sub and Norfolk Southern’s Springfield/Hannibal district routes parallel each other on the edge of the river, and there’s a park right in the center of both lines. One of the three downtown grade crossings, the Hill St. crossing, is pedestrian-only, and it’s a great place to watch the trains go through, but there are countless other vantage points in this same location - up on the levee, on Cardiff Hill, etc. If you want “zing-zang” action, e.g. trains going through every few minutes, Hannibal probably isn’t the right place to go, but with the NS and BNSF combined, you do see a lot of trains, and it’s very scenic and peaceful. The four times I’ve been there over the years, I’ve learned the best time to watch trains is in the morning until 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and then things usually (but not always) get quiet. Then after 5 PM you’ll usually see three or four trains go through, some in close proximity of each other. There may also be times when a BNSF and NS train meet at Hannibal. The BNSF train usually stops short of downtown and waits for the NS train to cross the river and go through. Hannibal is quite different, but it’s nice. If you ever get bored, pratically all of the historic Mark Twain attractions are a short walk from the tracks, along with many shops (even a train store with a BIG Lionel layout). There’s a motel right there too, so you won’t ever have to be very far from the tracks at any time.