I use a scanner (check your state laws, it is illeagle to have a scanner in a vehical in some states) to listen dispatcher and detectors, I also watch signals when the availble. Sometimes you can hear crews calling signals on the radio and if you know the mile posts on the railroad you know where the trains are.
I also use a lot of luck, somtimes its just being in the right spot at the right time.
I use a scanner to listen to the dispatcher telling crews of a meet to get an idea of what’s going to happen, crews calling signals and e.o.t. transmissions,(they’re supposed to chirp every 30 seconds, but don’t count on it). I look at absolute signals at interlockings or see if the approach-lit intermediate signals are on, and when all that fails, look, listen and live.
Now if you were to ask, “how do I know when a train ISN"T coming,” that’s easy, when I get my camera out.
I use many ways. I listen for the “hiss”, the locomotive it self, the scanner, and I look at the signal/signals. [:D]
LOL! I ain’t a coyote…
Here’s how I know.
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Stop, look and listen. (Stop at the terminal. Look for the train crews, ask them what is moving and Listen to what they say.
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Enter a tunnel. The light at the end is bound to be the headlight of an oncoming train with luck like mine.
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Listen to the radio on my control stand or the Dispatcher.
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Answer the phone. The crew dispatcher will be more than happy to tell me where to go to find a train, and then run it.
LC
I usually use the signals and I listen for horns in the distance.
Willy
Scanners, signals, and horns.
I don’t use my scanner like I used too, because traffic is always happening at the SF Junction KCMO. I use my train repellant (camera) on good sunny days.
Take care,
Russell
somedays you would like to tell the dispatcher where to go right?[}:)]
stay safe
Joe
I dont know if this happens alot, but here in Pittsburgh, PA the rails (cement ties at least) actually ‘hiss’ (or vibrate) where a train is exactly 2000ft away (most helpful around curves) It actually is the most reliable way I have found. But if you railfan on wooden tie tracks the sound is muffled by the wood).
On wooden ties there is a “hissing” also. It is about a 60 ft warning with wooden ties.
I tune my scanner to the local frequencies including MOW , then if they have a TOP for the section of track I’m near I can go elsewhere . listening to the train defect recorder helps you plan where the train is and is going . In Canada trains have to report the next signal block , so if you hear " CP 9651 clear to medium at Sumas Mtn " - you know where it is ! - Then you jump in the car to get your next photo.
It all depends…at some locations with continuously lit signals and a lot of activity, just watch the signals (Fullerton-Placentia, CA). At other locations where signals are not visible, maybe 1/4 mile from a grade crossing. Enough to hear the bells/chimes but not deafening.
In quiet areas (UP/SP coast line early in the morning) you can hear the rumble of the approaching engines for a few minutes before they pass by…
Local branches with less-than-daily service…drive by on “train day” and hope for the best
When I was a kid trainwatching on the KCS mainline south of Texarkana, I used to hear the trains coming many, many miles away. For one thing, KCS used a lot of motive power on their long trains. Also, the woods had a “funnel” effect on the sound. Best trainwatching I ever did!
Listening for the distant sound of air horns and the roar of approcching locomotivie or sometimes I look at the signals. At night I have a great trainspotting area, you can watch the light of the locomotive snake its away at the top of the trees.
I tried that once,and got a splitting headache,caused by an SD40-2.[B)]
LOL
Good answers one and all LC amen to all.Hissing works yes even on wood ties plus if you know of a grade near you you can hear the units pull for miles.I lived on a grade(1.10) and BN would send their ore trains by on it.Hear them coming from about 10 miles off and they would shake my house on the other side of town when they got to within 5 miles.
Him no dummy, him Flathead (Indian, that is). Found many train just when put head on rail.
OUCH
Ugh.
Obviously, when I get anywhere near train tracks and don’t have my camera. Trains also show up when I have no time to stop.
Jay
The phone rings at 3:00 am.
I ALWAYS USE MY SCANNER! SOMETIMES LOOK AT THE TRACK SIDE SIGNALS OR JUST SIT AND WAIT…AND WAIT!
[bow]BNSF[bow]
I had a fellow do that in front of my train once. Trouble was he never took his head off the rail. Messy.