Two Questions.
How many Railfan parks are there across this country?
And why there enough? If the Railroads don’t like Railfans on their property,then why not build more parks. Allan.
Are you going to be the benefactor for ALL those parks you visualize?
[quote]
Originally posted by BNSFrailfan.
One thing is for sure, If UP were to build railfan parks they would probably charge admission.[#dots]
Railfan parks are alright but that’s not my style. I like to move around not sit in one spot all day. That’s not to say I don’t think they are a good thing though.
Does your definition of “railfan park” include viewing platforms? If so, there’s one somewhere in the Midwest. There’s also one in Folkston, GA (NW of Jacksonville, FL) of which I’ve seen pictures; looks like a comfy spot. Have seen ads for one in Jesup, GA (SW of Savannah), but no pictures. Haven’t been to any of them, so can’t comment on amenities, convenience, etc.
deshler has a great spot for trains. last I heard Fostoria is trying to clean up the industrial area between the depot and columbus ave for a railfan park and museum.there are also alot of commuinties here in nw ohio that have a park or playground area and the trains arent too far away.
stay safe
joe
Rochelle, IL, where the Trains.com webcam is has a nice covered shelter and an elevated spot for watching the diamonds. There are also the usual fast food places nearby and some decent hotels.
Mike
Anything.
If our local model RR club can get the money, we want to get a caboose and put it in an open area that we have next to the tracks, the we have an enclosed cupola to watch trains from.
Folkston, GA (about 40 miles north of JAX) has a platform. It’s on the wrong side of the tracks for afternoon pictures, but there is a street right next to the tracks on the other side that sets you up well. The old train station is right up the street and is in use as a community center, IIRC.
While you might get RR assistance for such a park, I don’t know that you’ll find a RR actually building one. That’s pretty much up to the fans and the municipalities.
A park in Plymouth, MI, has a maintenance shop right next to the diamond there. Great spot for such a platform, but somebody there has to get the ball rolling… That’s the case in most places.
Municipalities can be quite receptive when it’s pointed out to them how many railfans already visit their fair city. Such was the case in Rochelle, and I believe in Folkston…
One of my favorite “Railfan Parks” is “Bar of America” in Truckee, CA. Good view of the tracks, depending on what part of the bar at which you park yer butt.
And for Chad, you could move to a table if you need to move around>…
There are several Railfan ‘Parks’ on the old Pennsy between Altoona and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Many know about Horseshoe Curve and the Tunnelspark at the top of the hill, but how many know about the Caboose, and observation area in Cresson, Pa, just a few miles West on the other side of the hill…Or Cassandra, a few miles West of Cresson, where the former Mayor cleared out trees and brush and installed park benches near an old Iron Footbridge that overlooks the NS Mainline…The West Slope has many other spots to sit and relax and watch the 60-70 trains a day run over the former Pennsy Broadway.
Dave, a nice spot to get an “aerial” view of the main line of NS…{old Pennsylvania}, as it swings through Johnstown of course is up at the Incline observation deck…Can watch Amtrak make it’s stop, etc…and an awesome view of the great Johnstown valley…and learn where the flood came roaring down and smashing against the Incline hill and then on to the famous arched stone RR bridge…
If the park could be profitable for the railroad then it should be built, if not then it should not be built.
Yes, I’ve been up on that observation deck at the Inclined Plane several times…I’ve eaten at the restaurant a couple of times too, if you sit by the large windows,you can look down at the city…The restaurant has changed hands and has ben closed from time to time…last that I heard, it is open again…
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
I generaly don’t hang out in bars and when I do it’s after the railfanning is done…
BUT if it qualifies as a railfan hotspot I can make an exception…[;)]
Seriously though, where in town is it? I may be passing by there the weekend after next depending on the weather.
10-4 Dave on the restaurant…Understand all you describe. The infra red photo on the wall in the lobby is great too…and the window to look at the machinery running to move the Incline cars…It is a great location. One can note where the S&C begins and head off to the right and on to Somerset, Co…We visit there occasionally and enjoy it each time. Have stayed at the Holiday Inn Hotel in downtown Johnstown many times and walked over to the “old” Pennsylvania station and up on the platforms to observe the rail operations…
Also, a nice viewing platform in a spot with fast food and other facilities nearby can be quite a draw for people who otherwise wouldn’t visit the city. There was an Associated Press article about the Folkston platform a few months ago; IIRC, visitors had come from 40+ states and 15-20 other countries (don’t know over what time interval). That is absolutely amazing considering that Folkston is NOT a big town and has nothing but the platform to draw tourists AFAIK.
The Inclined Plane at Johnstown was built only a few years after the Great Johnstown Flood of 1889, as a means for escape from the valley in event of another flood…It served that purpose during the next major flood in 1936. The latest major flood was in 1977. For those unfamiliar, the Funicular can also carry vehicles…There is a town at the top called Westmont, which can be accessed via normal roads too. A smaller scale version of this concept can be found at the Horseshoe Curve in Altoona. Instead of using 2 tracks for the entire distance as the Johnstown funicular does, the Horseshoe Curve version uses a single track with crossovers midway up the grade, where the two cars cross past each other as they run at the same time in each direction, which acts as a counterweight mechanism.
Exactly where is as I will be in Truckee later this month? [:)]
I would not call them “rail” parks but the overhead bridges in Green River WY & SW tacoma gave you awesome views of the trains below you