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Folkston closes street along train-viewing platform
Great to see a city being proactive towards the rail fan. Been trying to tell the local chamber of commerce about the great train watching spot. You are above the 2 main U.P. lines and is located at the west end of the yard. Jefferson City, Mo. Is the town I live in. Trains mag did a story in the fanfare section a couple yrs ago.
Let me get this straight. We can park on a closed street in Folkston. How far from the viewing platform are the parking spaces?
Score 1 for the railfan community!!!
Flatonia, TX, is another location with a great viewing platform. It is located just off I-10 between San Antonio and Houston at a junction where a former north-south SP line crosses SP’s Sunset Line. Both are active UP lines now, and I believe BNSF has trackage rights, too.
Folkston closed the street creating two dead ends. The viewing platform iz between the two ends. The town’s main street is one block away you canwalk to lunch. Folkston is a great rail friendly town.
I have been to Folkston and Flatonia many times. Similar setups. You park right next to the platforms. Both areas are nice. But Folkston has many more trains. Sorry Texas.
CSX;NS;UP;CN;BNSF SPENDS HUGE SUMS ON TV AND PRINT ADS. iN THERE best intrest, for host at importent JCT. would give them meny hours of free you tub exposure every day. Just a thought.
Was just there on oct. 8th. Very nice set up, with easy parking and close to main drag. Only could stay about an hour and a half, can’t wait to go back for a longer visit.
I love Folkston. Had my 1st visit in summer 2007. can’t wait to go back again.
I have had a passion for both trucks and trains since I was young. I was able to park my 18-wheeler close to the viewing platform, but out of respect for train watchers, parked over on the next block so as not to obstruct the view from the platform. I found the police in the community to be very friendly. There are plenty of eateries close by, including a couple of convenience stores open 24/7, and a there is also a Mc Donald’s in one of them with plenty of train photos on the walls to enjoy. Now if they can just get Amtrak to call there.
It’s a great place to visit but I have only been there once.
I have visited several times the Rochelle, IL, train viewing platform where the double track UP and double track BNSF cross. Rochelle has set up a small store, viewing platform, restrooms, picnic tables and shelter, and a speaker system that broadcasts the activity on the train frequencies. It is a great place to take the kids and bucket of chicken and watch trains every few minutes pound across the quadruple diamonds just a few yards from the viewing area.
I stopped in to Folkston last feb on my way to Florida, very nice friendly town. Great restraunts nearby. Selma,NC is another nice place to visit as well. Looking forward to making it an annual visit.
Have not been down since fence put up in front of viewing platform. Hope it doesn’t cut into photographs. good place to visit and I usually stop by on my way to and from Jax.