I recently bought a scanner, so I can listen to the CSX/CN traffic in Syracuse,NY. What are some of the more common things I will hear on their channels. I am just interested in what I might beable to pick up.
Is there a website for scanner freq’s for CSX/CN?
Thank you for your help.
Matt[D)]
Doing a really quick Google search…found these…for CSX, CN etc…
bunch of online listening here: http://www.railroadradio.net/
They don’t have anything in your area, but you’ll at least be able to hear what goes on on the radio.
well CSX should call out all of their signals, and you will hear orders for going into sidings and such, CN around here doesnt usually say much unless they are giving trains specific orders, I hear a LOT of CSX traffic though
It really depends on what type traffic controll is in effect. If it’s dark territory (TWC) or ABS signaled you will most likly hear trains get there warrants for track authority (or block authority in DTC). In this case if you know the mileposts or block limits you will be able to track movements if you pay attention. In CTC or DT ABS territory you may not hear much talk between the crew and the DS at all if things are going smoothly, as there is not much to talk about with signal indication giving authority.
Then there are talking defect detectors. Some talk only on defect detection and are rarely ever heard from but most make an anouncement on the road channel when a train has passed. Some just give the company name and milepost and the OK, Like “S P detector milepost four five one point three , no defects no defects”. But detectors can rattle off all kinds of info like speed, axle count, ambient temprature depending on how they are set up.
If you listen to the PBX channel you will hear the maintainance of way guys talking and might get lucky and hear a train lineup for the next x hours. You might also hear if a track is taken out of service for maintainance, meaning no trains will pass by that point till the track is released.
Then you might hear the switching crews. You probably will not hear more then a few statements from these guys, like “bring em’ back”, “three to a hook”, “bunch em’ up”, ect, ect. No real conversations but it lets you know there is switching going on. It make sense if you are watching them though.
There is one problem with Scanner Radio’s. When the Railroads do go Digital,Our Scanners will become useless. Allan.
Aahh yes you do realize that having MAINLINE DIGITAL radios (mainline RR Dispatch purposes) would require that ALL RADIOS in NORTH AMERICA would need to be REPLACED.
That is every LOCOMOTIVE, HANDHELD radio and wayside radio BASE station would have to be touched at some point well in advance of any official conversion. This is due to the daily RUN-THROUGH traffic practices of the railroad industry.
It seems to me that this prospect would be a GIANT and MASSIVE logistical nightmare. I mean if for example the UP goes digital then everything else would need to be reconfigured to be compatable.
Would the UP be able to convert without also switching BNSF,CN,CP, CSX, NS, KCS, TFM (Mexico), MRL, Gilford rail system, Amtrak, and ALL commuter authorities??? (a LONG list for sure!!)
I do NOT see how such a MAJOR digital conversion could be confined to only ONE railroad in this era of centralized railroading.
I look forward to further comments on this very interesting issue!
Thank you for bringing it up for discussion!
– Daniel
Mabee if you only use your scanner for railroads alone. There are many other things you can tune into with a scanner.
And going digital is not a all or nothing deal. A railroad could issue engineers hand held radios instead of installing radios in the cabs. I know of a couple places where warrants are issued with cell phones already (shortlines)
I do NOT think that soley relying on hand-held radios would do the job because the locomotive radios have a far-far GREATER transmit and receive range than hand-sets do.
This is not to mention the potential DEAD-BATTERY issue that can easily affect handhelds and not locomotive cab radios.
The railroads would be begging for problems if they only relied on hand-sets for connecting shortlines and other small operators.
— Daniel
If the Railroads eventually do switch to another type of radio technology, I’m sure that right behind it, a scanner will become available to listen to it.
Well many current public service agencies have gone digital over the past few years…such as APCO 25, (Digital encryption) EDACs etc etc…The cost alone for switching to that technology…trunking system antennas etc…equipment, can run into the millions…$$$ So I don’t see it happening for several years…more than likely though…will be an improved GPS type of system…and/or…perhaps using loco pc to dispatcher pc…communicating that way…eliminating most voice traffic…except in emergencies…or getting track authority perhaps through work zones etc… (my two cents!)
The Police band sure is going Digital here real soon. I understand that most of the Police and Emerengcy Frequencys are now going Digital. Even here in my town. Wow,What a change! Allan.
The change to digital is certainly years away and as has been noted every radio has to be replaced.
There are some limited instances now where some yard functions are being handled on digital sets but these are extremely limited and will remain so for some time.
Even so, the scanners are already on the market which receive most of the digital systems and while it requires buying a new unit you get a technology jump in the process.
In Syracuse you’ll hear the CSX ND dispatcher out of Selkirk on 160.8, as well as other traffic (including Amtrak) on the Chicago Line. You may also hear some traffic from the CSX NE dispatcher (also Selkirk) on 161.07. NE handles the Montreal and Fulton secondaries, which leave the Chicago line right across from Carousel Mall.
I believe there are two sets of defect detectors, one on each side of town. The west side set is near the State Fairgrounds. It’s close enough to the Mall that you’ll probably see the head end of a long eastbound before the detector reports.
I don’t have frequencies for the Susquehana (which also runs OnTrak) or Finger Lakes, but they shouldn’t be hard to find, although I just discovered all of my usual CNY frequency sources are down… The links given above will help.
For other freqs - Fire is on 46.14 (Onondaga Co) and the city is on 153.95. I don’t usually listen to the cops…
CSX may be adding a second road channel in April, for dispatchers to issue EC-1 (Form-D) and other directives to train employees, so that they will not interfere with yard/road signal traffic (all that calling-signals stuff is starting to clog the airways - a safety problem).
Syracuse - you will hear the NC dispatcher on channel 64 (Selkirk Sub.), the STRR on channels 94/70 near Rotterdam Junction (an interchange), and yard channels may use 46, 50, or 58. The ND Dispatcher to the west is on 46 (Mohawk Sub). There are detectors in S. Schenectady and Voorheesville and Scotia (Hudson Sub.) and Guy Park (Mohawk Sub.). CP is on channel 66.
Trains Mag had a web article on the channels - here are the freqs (in MHz):
46 160.800
50 160.860
58 160.980
64 161.070
66 161.100
70 161.160
94 161.520