I will be in CA’s capital soon and will have at least a short time to railfan there. Where would you all suggest I go to maximize the amount of trains seen (Amtrak, BNSF, UP, whatever)? What kind of traffic can I expect on weekday afternoons?
As appropriate as it would seem to be to start this thread here, you might want to start another one on the Railroads forum. I suspect alot of the members don’t browse this side that often. Sorry, I can’t help you with your questions, but I know at least a couple of members will provide feedback if they see them (especially Chad Thomas- he knows the whole state quite well).
Oh, and [#welcome] to the forums!
The tracks that run near the CA state railroad museum (just to the north) are pretty busy. On a weekday there are about 14 Amtrak commuter trains (Capitol Corridor), about 8 UP stack trains total, and about 6 others manifest local. The really cool one lately is at about 2 pm or so there is a eastbound BNSF stack train that alternates having either DPUs (2 on the rear), or 5 units up front (most of the UP stacks run 2 or 3). There are other spots with some traiffic but the track towards the bay area are pretty busy. You didn’t say what part of Sac, or if you had a car, but its pretty easy to get to the CSRM by mass transit so that probably the best place to go.
Dave
Be sure to check out the yard at Roseville. You can get a pretty good view of the engine terminal from Atkinson Street (or is it Church Street?), north of Foothill Boulevard.
Here is an overhead photograph of it.
Didn’t see this till now. Above spots are good. Roseville is excellent but a few miles east of Sac. In Sac the best place is the former Elvas tower. Virtually all traffic from Roseville to/from San Joaquin Valley and points south or Bay Area and points south pass this spot. Last I was there it was still completely accessable but it’s been a few years and that may have changed.
Here is the Elvas tower junction
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Sacramento,Ca.&ll=38.583667,-121.449351&spn=0.013385,0.041327&om=1
And here is another good spot. This is where the former WP crosses the SP.
I was there in January. Click on the below link then the Central California gallery to see my pix. I was at the point where the former SPRR goes under the former WPRR tracks. I found it by using Mapquest [:o)]
http://vgalleries.com/members/railfan1/The+Trainfan.vrg
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Originally posted by matt_mealer
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