It looks like I may be in the Valparaiso area next Saturday afternoon Oct. 11. My wife gave me the OK to watch trains while she attends a bridal shower (isn’t she very thoughtful:)). So I wanted to get some ideas as to where the most interesting places may be to watch freight activity. Thanks in advance! Dave
Porter isn’t very far at all from Valpo. It is located on the NS Chicago Line and is very busy with NS and Amtrak trains going through, plus a few CSX going onto their mainline into Michigan. Lots of power other than NS goes through. If you want to take a chance to see a EJ&E, you can go to Griffith. It isn’t nearly as busy as Porter but you could be rewarded with a EJ&E train. Early to mid-afternoon is your best bet of seeing a EJ&E, and CN runs about 30 trains a day. The NS at Porter can see upwards of 70 trains a day.
The Calumet Yard at the Calumet City, IL, and Hammond, IN, border has a lot of frieght and switching activity. You can watch from the street while parked safely in your automobile. Lots of IHB, CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, UP, acitivity. This yard stretches from Burnham Avenue (Calumet City) all the way to Calumet Avenue (Hammond) and all viewable from the street; this is where I do most of my train watching. Also nearby: the Burnham Yard at Brainard Street, Burnham, IL. Both Burnham and Calumet City are right on the border with Hammond, IN. Northwest Indiana has got to be one of the Railroad hotspots in the US. By the way, My brother lives in Valpo.
TonyM.
A couple of favorites are the Inland Steel office parking lot at the north end of Cline Avenue off of I80/94. When it turns west along the railroad tracks take the exit straight ahead not the right hand one into the plant. It will lead you straight to the parking lot where the IHB crosses the Ex CR main. If you want continue through the parking lot and to the west about 1/4 mile you will see Hunt Tower at the Calumet river crossing down the ballst covered road. Gret place to use as a backdrop for morning shots. Another place would be Dolton Junction. You can shoot a roll of film in half an hour most days (if you still use the stuff!). Stay on I-94 to 147th street west into Dolton. Turn right on the main north south street about 3/4 of a mile west and when you get to the gates make a left into the parking lot just before them. Continue through the parking lotinto the grassy area. Very safe right next to the police stations and railfans are encouraged. Lots of fast food backon 147th street for restrooms and food. A third area is on US 12 in Portage east of Gary. If you take 49 until it dead ends into US12 go west. It will go by the Burns Harbor ex Bethlehem Steel plant and about three miles on the right side you will go by the old Midwest steel plant into Ogden Dunes. just before th South Shore station is a place on the right where you can park and see trains coming for about one mile in either direction. South SHore, Amtrak and CSX.
ndprr:
As a tower guy, I am little confused by the “Hunt Tower”. Can you elaborate on it a little more. could it be “Hick Tower”? If it is Hick Tower, can you confirm it is accessible by public (I have been trying to get to it for quite some time and dont want to trespass.
To the original poster…
How much time do you have to railfan? Most bridal showers last 2 - 3 hours and driving to Dolton or East Chicago would take about 45 minutes each way. Porter is like skeet shooting, train after train and it is only 20 minutes away.
What railroads do you want to see? Just west of Valpo on 250W (Tower Road) is the crossing of the CN, NS, and CFE. CN and NS both run about 30 trains daily and the CFE usually runs one a day, normally at night. During the middle of the day, this crossing is a little quiet. NS runs quite a bit during the morning, usually about 8-10 trains between 6am and 10am then it slows down, with the 323 steel coil train west around 1pm and returning around 3pm. Not to say there wont be others (possible 110, 177, and coal trains), but it gets a little thin after the morning rush. CN runs trains pretty regularly during the day, with a great mix of manifests, auto racks, and coal trains. There is only one intermodal each way daily…kinda refreshing if you get tired of stacks. You might catch the WB 149 in the afternoon, the Halifax - Chicago intermodal…usually a monster and it often has 5-10 cars of aluminium ingots on the end of the train.
NS calls signals, so you will know when something is coming, if you have a scanner. The signal call outs from east to west are: East Nickle (MP473), West Nickel (MP475)…Nickel is a siding just east of Rt 49…Valparaiso (MP477), East Spriggsboro (MP479) and West Spriggsboro (MP480.7). West Spriggsboro ends at the CN crossing. West of Spriggsboro is Wheeler (MP484) and East Hobart (MP 487). Hobart is a
Yeah it may be Hick tower. IT is on the east side of the river on the north side of the tracks between the old NYC main and the EJ&E line. I have never been asked to leave although I was only in it twice. It is so isolated I think they enjoy the copmpany as long as they aren’t kept from doing their job.
I will go take a look and hopefully get a photo as I am attempting to get shots of all towers in the area.
Thanks for the directions in.
ed
Sounds like Porter will be my best bet for no more time than I have to deal with. Does Porter have “freindy” places for watching? I don’t have any particular road I’m looking for, as the “big boys” are always “trading paint” to get their freight moved so I’ll probably see alot of colors anyway. Thanks everybody for your help!!! Dave 
When I stay in Porter I usually sit at the Chamber of Commerce building. You can pull around to the rear of the building and sit directly next to the tracks. Problem is is that from this location you cant clearly see the Amtrak Michigan trains or the trains that use CSX’s Grand Rapids sub. But there are plenty of trains to see here anyway, atleast 80 on the busy days of the week, including 6-10 CP trains and 4 Amtrak. You can see close to 100 at the junction on the busy days with the extra Amtraks and a few CSX’s and another 1 or 2 CP’s.
You’ll see plenty of color here. BNSF power is VERY common. Most of the run-through coal trains from Chicago come from the BNSF, and I have seen a total of 8 of these on this line in 24 hours. Also, trains such at 32G and 33G, 26N and 23N and many others often have BNSF power. UP power isnt as common but does show up on some coal trains as well as run-throughs from/to Proviso. Conrail paint is still pretty regular through here also.
I usually railfan at a crossing just to the west of the junction. Nearly everything that goes through the junction passes by this location, including the Amtrak Michigan trains and trains off CSX’s line to Michigan. I think the road is Mineral Springs Road. The crossing is practially right under the I-94 bridge. If you don’t mind the noise from the highway it is a good and surprizingly scenic location. You can also check out the neighboring town of Chesterton. You can go sit by the old freight house and passenger depot, both are still there, right next to each other. You don’t get the CSX or Amtrak Michigan trains but the majority of the trains still go through there. On NS you usually can find BNSF and UP run through power and sometimes leasers. CP also runs trains regularly down the NS. Also, Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited uses the NS, not the Michigan line.
We went through the crossing just east of the junction this afternoon (nothing too close); noticed for the first time a hobby shop south of the tracks there. Didn’t want to take the time to check it out, but probably should have. It did say “trains” on the outdoor advertising, along with a lot of other things, so I’d probably be disappointed. It would be nice if there were a railfan-oriented store there, though (one that sold [/i]Trains[/i] and other such magazines).
It looks like all of the signals at the junction are being replaced with single-hood vertical color-light signals in the near future–they’re in position, but covered and turned away from the tracks. Also noticed that some CSX block signals north of New Buffalo are being changed out as well.
(Yes, Robby, that is Mineral Springs Road you were describing.)
Carl:
Is that hobby shop on 15th street? I never noticed it.
A good place to eat in the area is Wagners Bar and Grill. Hearty sandwitches and pretty decent ribs about 5 blocks north of the junction.
Mineral Springs Rd is a decent spot, as mentioned. Also, downtown Chesterton at Broadway offers a city part with a nice environment. One would miss the CSX and Amtrak Michigan trains, but there are plent of trains.
ed
What about going East from Valpo to Wellsboro? It’s a little farther awat than
Porter, but the highways are less crowded, so you make better time. CSX (B&O) & CN (GTW)cross there. CSX runs many run-throughs with UP and some BNSF. I’ve heard CN slows in the afternoon, but I’ve only been there in the evening, when trains are running.
Ed, I don’t really know the names of the streets there. If the one by the junction (the verboten zone) is 17th Street, this one could very well be 15th. The shop (and it looks pretty new) is on the south side of the main line (CSX is also close at hand), on the west side of the road.
Can’t picture Wagner’s, but wouldn’t mind a spot close to the action. Would that be downtown Porter, along the Amtrak line?
Pat and I quite often stop at the fast-food spots along Indian Boundary Road in Chesterton, or the pizza place on the same street (good, but not great, IMHO). Pat doesn’t like The Port, when it’s open (somehow, those places that show their age turn her off). We haven’t tried Peggy Sue’s in downtown Chesterton yet; it was pretty good under a previous management–we had several daughters, nieces, and nephews along for breakfast, and they had chocolate pancakes!
And yes, if it’s ever a nice day to be in a park, that one in Chesterton is the perfect park to be in!
Actually your closest point would be Portage. It is probably fifteen miles closer than Porter junction in Chesterton. Nearly all trains through Porter will go through Portage plus the Suth Shore.
Carl:
Peggy Sue’s had pretty good food, but the smoke was pretty rough. There is another spot just north of there, right by the tracks which isnt bad for breakfast, but again, you must use a machette to cut thru the smoke.
next time you are out here let me know and I will take you to Wagners. Really the best local spot in the area, it is about 1/2 mile from Porter Jct. Their ribs are “best in county”, which doesnt really say much, but the sandwitches and platters are really good. I often get the Buffalo Chix Salad…HUGE plate of salad and a spicy chx breast. Burgers are good, as are other things.
ed