Going back though my photos from my rail-fanning trip last spring, I found this:
No, he is not homeless. I was in Rochelle, Ill. during their “Railroad Days” festival. This man, not wanting to miss any trains passing in the night, slept under his truck (with his dog) inside the park. How smart. [8-|] I’d say he’s a die-hard rail fan.
Would you be doing this? [;)]
Acela
Proximity to the trains is no assurance whatsoever that I wouldn’t sleep through them. My wife will tell you the same thing.
This guy isn’t in the actual park, else he’s being extremely disrespectful to the park property.
I reserve the right to reassess my statement about staying asleep if I’m close to the diamonds…
But we would probably prefer one of the strategically placed hotels on the west side of DeKalb. A few friends of mine on the Forum know whereof I speak.
I’ve camped at Deshler, several times. It ain’t good sleeping, I want to tell you. Nothing like a nice, long train of empty hoppers banging over the diamond at 3 in the morning…
Not that I’d fit under my truck, but I can’t say I’d want to sleep there if I could.
Not me. Hotel vs sleeping under a truck, hmmmmm…
Especially of the empty hopper train was made up of B&LE hopper with the double clasp brake beams…aka Rattlers!
I love trains as much as any others, but my “camping out” days ended when I left the Explorer Scouts when I turned 18 back in 1968. Now a Super 8 motel is about as rough as I care to experience…thanks very much.
Pretty much, what Jim said, without the Explorer Scouts. Twenty years OTR, Sleeping on, working under, and sleeping in a hammock waiting to load Unload. I definitely prefer a Motel. Not to mention going ‘critterless"… MUCH MO’ Better!!
I have a friend (who shall remain nameless) who would sleep near the window of the motel facing the tracks with his scanner on all night so as not to miss a single train. This same guy would get mad at us for wanting to eat (!) at a fast food place and not near the tracks.
Here, here! I agree that a motel is a much better situation than camping under your truck adjacent to the ROW. I recall camping along the C&O Canal near Point of Rocks MD and listening to the incessant traffic on the adjacent CSX Metropolitan Branch ALL NIGHT as it passed over the frogs of the wye to Frederick and Baltimore. The following night, up river at Brunswick MD, was another sleepless night: switching in the yards. I finally made it home at Harpers Ferry WV the following day where a comfortable bed and a white-noise machine beckoned.
I lucked into an apartment where I can do all the train watching I want right from my desk.
Some northbound Amtrak just went past with AMTK #2 in the lead. Well not just. It was like 15 minutes ago.
Don’y know about this guy. but I stopped sleeping out in the boonies when the Marines stopped paying me to do so! We had a saying in the Corps as well: “You don’t have to practice to be miserable!”