Where are some good railfan lococations in WI? I am trying to go someplace new…I have been to Fond Du Lac, and Green Bay…(thats it)…I what to get to Byron Hill…but some people say the lack of traffic isn’t worth it…is it true?
Thanks for all your help
Go west. Along the Mississippi. Follow the BNSF south from La Crosse.
I always liked Stevens Point when I used to live in Wausau in the 1970’s, and even today you can see lots of action around the CN (nee WC, nee SOO) roundhouse and yards and along the main (especailly west of S.P. towards Marshfield).
Yeah, LaCrosse is good. Another area that is great is Superior,WI. Recently, the BNSF diverted alot of their Chicago traffic there and it is one of the end destination of the Powder River trains. You can also see CP,CN,BNSF,NS, and UP power there quite commonly.
Sorry I have yet not rail fanned in WI. [:(]
You mention a “lack of traffic” as a reason to pass on Byron Hill. Like most spots, there are times of traffic, and times of quiet; Byron sees about 25 trains per day. Experiencing trains struggling up the hill with all of the curves is usually a study of power vs gravity. Byron is just south on hwy 175, about three miles south of Fond du Lac.
Byron Hill can be busy but ya gotta be patient.
Duplainville, west of Milwaukee where the CP (ex Soo ex Milwaukee Road) east/west main crosses the CN (ex WC, ex Soo Line) north south main. Some of the Bergie/Yuhas photos are taken there.
There are frequently railfans at Waterford Avenue on the south side on the CP (this is between 6th and 13th streets, just south of Howard Avenue and north of Layton Avenue. Even if there are no trains there are at least usually railfans to chat with. Including, from time to time, yours truly.
The Amtrak depot in Sturtevant is another gathering spot for railfans. It is on the CP.
The BNSF on the western edge of Wisconsin has some excellent scenic vistas, including Wyalusing State Park in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, and Grandad Bluff near LaCrosse, where the BNSF main below you looks like a Z scale train.
Pleasant Prarie in Racine County south of Milwaukee has both UP and CP as well as a large electric power plant that has its own railroad.
Don’t forget the railroad museums in East Troy (trolleys) Fennimore (the old C&NW narrow gauge) and Green Bay, as well as North Freedom. Some close in the winter. Just over the border in the wonderful museum in Duluth MN.
Dave Nelson
Byron Hill is well worth heading to see. I tend to try and go there once a month to railfan. There is an excellent overpass towards the top of the hill that offers a great view of trains heading both ways!
Photos:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=61829
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=95065
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=61832
Neenah is good to watch trains. There isn’t that many trains but its well worth heading there. There is always something working around the yard. If you go to Neenah…STAY OUT OF THE YARD! They have a RR Cop there and he likes to yell!..even if you go on the road that leads to the yard. By now, he knows me and just waves me good-bye[:D]!
Places To Check Out:
Thanks that helps.
Wausau can still be fun but not as much as in the 1970’s when it was served by Milwaukee Road and C&NW and Milwaukee had a roundhouse and a pretty fair sized yard with about five or six tracks accross the streets nearbye, but now no yard, no roundhouse and not much of a yard, just a turnaround point for the trains from the southern part of WI