Well, I finally got a hold of a scanner that a freind of mine is letting me borrow. its a Uniden Bear Cat model 2500XLT. Problem is he lost the instructions and starting at ground zero with it. I thinik I got most if figuired out but, time will tell. (But if anyone has any tips for it, lemme know!)
I am starting to search the net for codes but thought I’d start here. What I am looking for I guess are 2 seperate radio frequ’s for the Phoenix/Mesa (east phoenix) area for Union Pacific.
The first I suppose would be the main code so I can tell when the “bigs” are coming in/or out of the yard. There are usually 4-6 trains a day.
The second, would be for the east side local that works nights. The kiddo and I have a decent idea fo schedule but there is still alot of luck cathcing them. Drving all over the east valley can sometimes get hard with a 6 year old.
If anyone knows what these are, or were to look, I would be one greatful father as its the kid that usually gets me out of the house to “trainhunt” and you can only tell a 6 year old “soon” so many times. [:)]
Also, I live with in mile and half of the tracks (also 1.5 miles from the Mesa Yard office for UP). Would the stock antenna be enough to pick up traffic there or should I get something?
I don’t know what your local switching freqs are. You should pick up an Altamont Press timetable (southwest edition covers Arizona, New Mexico). They have all kinds of info on freqs, maps, rosters, timetables for each line, ect. and they are under $20. You can buy them here:
If you have 100 channel capacity on the scanner, you might want to enter the whole AAR frequency set. That way you will have them all and should only have to program it once (unless it looses it’s memory when the batteries die). Just start with 160.215 (AAR 7) and add .015 to each successive freq till you get to 161.565 (AAR 97)
Oh, and there are the EOT frequencies. You will only hear data on these but it lets you know if there is a train in the immediate area.
452.925
452.950
457.9375
If CTC is in use, you might not hear much on the road channel other than the dispatcher talking to the local encouraging him to hurry up. If there are detectors near you should hear every train, but it is a crap shoot figuring out which direction they are going. I would monitor the freqs awhile to get an understanding of what goes on before I went chasing.
Wow, thank you. That should help alot. Will that have detectors on it too?
Yes, the unit is old. LOL way old. But a freind of mine let me borrow it to play with. Lord knows where he got it. The directions… gold man, solid gold. I was in the truck tonight pushing buttons just hopieng the thing didnt melt down in my hand.[:D] I am getting married at the end of April and when the funds settle down abit, a new scanner is on the list.
MIke,
The kiddo and I (6 yr old son who is my usual partner) are pretty lucky in the sense that UP has a small local office 1.5 miles from our house. They also keep a pair of engines there to work all the industries in the east side. In fact, abotu 6 months ago one of the crews gave us a short (6 miles) but very sweet cabride. Between the crews informing me, and watching, I have a real good idea where they go and do and what order. Just sometimes, they run late. The local usually get hung up waitng for the evening main to leave the Pheonix yard. I am hopeing with the scanner, and my house being so close, I can rig up a attenna and listen to when they start, or when the main is leaving. It would make it so much easer for me the kid to know when, rather then just trying “to get lucky”. Also make it easier to catch the “big train” leaving.
Scanners, timetables… etc, etc. Guess I have stepped up to the next level of railfanning
John, Congrats on moving to the next level. [swg]
On the EOT, I don’t listen to that much, but you will hear data bursts, nothing inteligable but it’s air pressure info being transmitted to the Head End Device. it’s a relatively low power signal so if you hear something on that channel it means there is a train near by (like within 2-3 miles).
You should really get an Altamont Press timetable, it’s a valuable referance for deciphering what you hear on the scanner. Also on the road channel you can hear the defect detectors. If your lucky there might be a detector that will let you know when the trains are comming.
Yup, your right on Ed. They operate in two shifts during a 24 hour period. Day and night. The Mesa local works all the business on the east side, being Mesa, Glibert, Chandler area. The night is one i have th emost expeirence with. Usally starts with a 7-8 pm kick off and does some swtiching at a small yard in the east side.
Also, UP has aroudn 4-6 trains a day go through therethat come offf the Sunset Line. Can be good trains to catch, usually big power and lots of freight. Things habe been picking up lately so i am not sure when they go. Hence the desire to learn the scanner.
If you want to know anythign else, lemme know. I can fill you on where the engines are parked to some locations of the yard and industries.[:)]
Thanks Chad on the tips. I understand about the EOT’s. Chacnes are if I hear it, I can see it. The dectors are what I want to pick up cause then I know when the big trains are rolling out of the yard. I am starting to get some of the codes and acutally picked up somethings tonight. In fact, I am pretty sure I heard the tower give authority to the East bound track, which ment the local was booted off the main and the evenng “biggie” was cleared to get out of town. I didnt have time to watch the track to see if it came.
Once a train leaves the yard, it takes about 3o-40 minutes to clear by my house. The plan is to have it up and listening so when I hear it, i have time to get the kid, grab some snacks and head down to the tracks to watch.
I am getting the hang of it. Also, I am figureingout the scanner which helps alot. LOL Hopefully in a few months, i will get my own, a little newer and easier to use. keep ya posted. [;)]
I saw a train come through last night on the West Mesa stretch (the east end of the former “Tempe Block” in the DTC days) that had 5 SD70Ms and two NS GEs, one a B39-8 and the other a C40-8W.
I know it’s possible that they changed the frequencies over the years, but the Phoenix Line used to be 161.550 (AAR 96). The Sunset Route through Casa Grande ran 160.320. The PBX line used out here was 160.890 (SP Pinal, OUT). Back in the SP days, I used to sit at the east end of the Mesa Yard (between Extension Rd. on the west and McDonald Dr. on the east) and wait for the Magma Turn local that ran at night. I remember seeing those trains with at least 5 and usually more short tank cars marked “Sulphuric Acid” from the mines at Magma. Got to know a few of the railroaders during that time, too. The local used to run with the SP/SSW GP40-2 MK rebuilds.
Nowadays I see it run with varying EMD power, from those MK GP40-2s to GP60s and even SD70s.
I have never seen a train on teh UP in Mesa line. I stay downtown at the Marriot next to the library. Our favorite place to eat is the Waffle House by the Interstate next to the minature golf/water park. Sorry, I cant really give better locations, but everything is memory driven.
What I really enjoy doing is going up to Flagstaff and cooling off for a day or so. The amount of trains on the Transcon line is amazing. My favorite place to eat in Flagstaff is the little diner on the east side which has a railroad theme called Crown Railroad Cafe. They have really good food and lots of it. Across the road is the Transcon line with nonstop action.
I would like a couple of suggestions of spots for pictures in teh Flagstaff area, either east or west, particularly if the San Francisco Mountains are in the background.
Ed, I don’t know how far from Flagstaff you wnt to go, but one of my favorite spots is Williams Jct. It’s a nice somewhat secluded spot in the woods yet clear around the tracks and there are signals there to watch. The Grand Canyon Railway runs out of Williams too.
Yea, Up on the BNSF line is the best place. With out a doubt. They run some times every 15 minutes, each direction. And it is just beautiful up there. If we have time on a weekend we will go up. But its too far for a “quick trip” about 2.5 hours from Phoenix.