drove back home from Toronto on highway 401 when I noticed a CP freight running on the main line south of the highway. This scenario always invokes a detour to a location at the top of a steep incline further down the main line. It always puts a smile on the face hearing the two GE AC4400’s going in notch 8 while traveling at about 20 mph. [:P] The same happens while driving through another city about a half city block north and parallel to the main line of the GEXR. When the lights are flashing it is time to get to the nearest crossing to enjoy the sights and sounds.[:)] Yes more then just one girlfriend has called me crazy[:-^], guess that is why they are ex’s. [sigh]
So the question to the great forum membership is do you do the same[8D], ie make a detour to see a train roll by when you know that there is one coming within a very short period of time?
I always do. I took my wife to find a job about a week ago (at a headstart), and the place was along some Norfolk Southern tracks. Of course we took a different route to see some hoppers sitting on a siding. She didn’t mind.
Of course Although I was paying homage to a fallen flag. I was traveling west on I-90 in Montana, slipped off in Deer Lodge to visit the last Little Joe, then again at Gold Creek, to visit one of the few remaining Milwaukee Road substations there. Then at Missoula turned north on 93 to check out Evaro Hill, ( Montana Rail Link/ NP) take the loop around and back to St.Regis.
The scenery is always spectactular in Montana, so my wife, daughter, mom and Dad didn’t mind a bit. Luckily my folks still live in Polson, so I have an excuse to go home every year. Even made it to Essex for an afternoon. [tup]
Last weekend, while in Texas, my wife & I walked about a half mile to see a Mikado being spruced up after seeing an article about it in the local newspaper. (Ok, so it isn’t exactly taking a detour). [:)]
In July 2007 the family took a trip from Atlanta, GA to Roanoke, VA to visit family, usually about a 6 1/2 hour drive via I-85, I-77 and I-81. However, I took this opportunity to swing through east Tennessee and western Virginia to do some railfanning. We saw some coal mines and loadouts in Middlesboro, KY, saw Cumberland Gap, then headed east and saw Natural Tunnel, VA and the famous Copper Creek Viaduct on the old Clinchfield (now CSX). Bottom line: 19 1/2 hours after leaving home, we arrived at the relative’s house. I can’t wait for the next family vacation! [:)] Jamie
Yes I do. Even if it’s going to take me several miles out of my way. I’ve been known to break speed limits to get several crossings ahead of a fast freight so that I can have a good view of the train coming through and then chase it for 30 or 40 miles.
I had a neat trip in July, but only saw one train! On my way down I-5 from Seattle to Sonoma, CA, I saw a CORP train working the mill just south of Eugene, OR. I took my planned detour off at Oakland, Or over to Hwy 99 where the old Siskiyou Line goes south parallel to the hwy., I saw the yard at Roseburg, continued on south to just past Dillard to check out the big mill there. Went back up to dillard and got back on I-5 to Grant’s Pass to my destination. After my visit with family I had planned to go back north via Bieber, CA, for some research for my modules, and Klamath Falls, Or, for a run up the Deschutes highway back to Eugene.But it was so hot, up to 113 deg. and the air was so full of smoke from many forest fires, that I decided to go back up the coast. Although i had read some of the articles about CORP’s dilemmas, I was unprepared for the shock of seeing the Coos Bay, OR yard completely empty! Not one car anywhere in Coos Bay or North Bend! So much for railfanning!LOL jc5729 John Colley, Port Townsend, WA
Yup. Everytime I head north to Susanville, CA from Carmichael, I take Hwy 65 north which parallels the old SP–now UP East Valley line. Lotsa traffic there. Then at Marysville, I cut to hwy 70 through the Feather River Canyon to Keddie–LOTSA traffic there, then hit Hwy 89 through Greenville on the BNSF “High Line”. Then I go around Lake Almanor to Westwood, which parallels the BNSF tracks, and then over Fredonyer Pass to Susanville, which is railroadless. But other than that, I certainly get a fill of ‘mountain’ railroading.
When I head to Reno, I take Interstate 80 which roughly (and I use that word advisedly) parallels the old SP Donner Pass line, but since UP is dead-set on clogging the Feather River Canyon and not using Donner Pass so much (something about tunnels and double-stackers), I’m lucky if I see maybe one or two trains on the 120 mile drive. UP has been talking about re-doing the tunnels ever since they took over SP, but so far, nothing. Maybe before I pass on–[:-^]
Although I was paying homage to a fallen flag. I was traveling west on I-90 in Montana, slipped off in Deer Lodge to visit the last Little Joe, then again at Gold Creek, to visit one of the few remaining Milwaukee Road substations there. Then at Missoula turned north on 93 to check out Evaro Hill, ( Montana Rail Link/ NP) take the loop around and back to St.Regis.
