Homewood Illinois has plans for one on the IC just south of the station. Best one in CHicago is Dolton Junction. Dolton is going downhill fast but the tracks and crossings are right nest to the police station and railfans are encouraged. there are times you can shoot a roll of film in 15 minutes. UP, CSX, IHB, NS, GTW all go through the junction.
I think Railfan parks are great. There sould be more.
Just a question would you be willing to contrtibute $$$$$$ to help build one? [:p]
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Originally posted by waltersrails
Personally I don’t like the idea of RailFan Parks at Rochelle some people are nortorius for standing on the tracks. I am the type of a Hit and Run Railfan not someone who sits allday at the same spot.
JESUP has a little round platform not like Folkston and sits across from a caboose and next to a city building (can’t remember what it was) and a burned,delapitated overall messed up amtrak station.food is in driving distance unlike Folkston which you can walk to also has less train traffic.
kevin
Talking about these Railroad parks, Altoona has been well known to railfans for the Juniata Locomotive shops and Horseshoe Curve…What many did not know was that there was and is more to this line on the West side of the Summit. The West Slope between the summit and Johnstown is comprised of small towns, many old mining towns…my family originated in one of them…South Fork, Pa. that the old Pennsy Mainline passes through. Many of these towns were made aware of, or noticed railfans starting to spend time in their towns watching trains…These railfans also needed gas for their cars, film for their cameras, and food for snacks, or full blown meals. Tom Davis opened The Station Inn in Cresson in 1993 and geared it toward the railfan…Now he has a clientele numbering into the thousands…The Tunnel Inn opened shortly thereafter. Towns such as Cresson built trackside parks and observation decks for trainwatchers to congregate. These people lodge in the area and spend money. I stay quite frequently at The Station Inn and have met many interesting people there over the years with a common interest. These towns see the value in tourism by providing these spots for railfans, knowing that many will spend money in these locations too…
Around these parts(far western New York) the official paranoia [V] about so-called “security”, sadly rules out such developments.(Railfan Parks for those of you in Rio Linda) Now,[banghead] please do not get me going about property taxes, since I could afford to buy a chunk of land along the old New York Central main, but the [censored]taxes even for a tiny sliver of land in these parts would bankrupt me in no time!
I dont really like them. For me, the one in Rochelle is hard to get good shots in, with the pavillion and all, and plus, the people that visit there have an uncannid ability to walk right into my shots[:(!] and then Sometimes I will have my camera set up away from the pavillion for hours and these older dudes pull up and want to sit next to there car and watch trains, so they yell at me to move!!! I myself like more remot locatoins, but you just cant beat the action of Rochelle, and that is what keeps me coming back…
Just some thoughts, but I did need to blow off a bit of steam! [;)]
I can relate on the NY tax situation…My property and school taxes combined have bbeen going up $600 a year…up by $2400 in the past 4 years alone! That’s why I am looking to get out of NY and move out to Western Pennsylvania…
Ithought UP had a viewing platform over the yards at North Platte NE
It’s still there although it has not been maintained for years. There are plenty of better locations in N. Platte on public property.
It’s on the main drag in the old town section, across the street (and down a bit toward the east) from the Amtrak station. It’s on the corner; there’s a gas station on two of other corners, and a historic hotel across the street (can’t recall the name of the place.)
Just ask anybody in town that looks like a local…they’ll know the place.
I just got to spend a really nice afternoon in Flatonia, Texas at their pavilion. I bought my gasoline there, I bought lunch there, and I spent some time looking at some great UP action. The local spearhead, Tommy Shults, came out to say howdy. He and another local fan spent a bit of time explaining the operations scheme for the two lines. I appreciated their time and efforts to make me feel welcome. Tommy and his counterparts in other areas need to show the economics of building these parks- that’s why I brought up my lunch and gasoline purchases. The fact that I can travel somewhere on business and enjoy a place to watch trains in a comfortable environment is a credit to the folks that worked hard to accompli***he construction of these parks. I frequently go to Rochelle and find it to be a great place to see trains- some of the photo angles are admittedly imperfect, but they don’t put the right of way where it will facilitate photography. I am a firm believer in supporting the things we want to enjoy financially. Spend your money in the area and let the merchants know what you are there to see- it will help to get some new ones built when folks can point to the financial benefit to the community. Enough soapbox- just enjoy the hooby.
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully the weather holds so we can reach it as we will be coming from south of SF. If things go correctly we should reach there 25 or 26 of Jan. [:o)]
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Originally posted by mloik
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Originally posted by chad thomas
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Originally posted by mloik
[
Hiya I am schedule to be in Austin TX in late Feb or early March. Mapquest says not so far from Austin to Flatonia so I plan on visiting this place during my trip. I also spotted a crossing between the UPRR & BNSF in Temple TX. Have you ever been there also? If you ever get to the LAX area try the double diamond @ Colton frequented by both UPRR & BNSF/Metra/Atrak on the Cajon pass line & UPRR/A/Trak on the Sunset route route.
In case you missed it here is a link to a train chase my bro & I did east of Daggett CA
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4360162034832389620
It runs 8.17 minutes
[:o)]
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Originally posted by dwblackw
Yea, it’s not real hard to find anyplace in Trukee. Thanks I just might drop in next time I go through.
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
Just a question would you be willing to contrtibute $$$$$$ to help build one? [:p]
I would be happy to buy you a chair and a bicycle if you would go away.
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully the weather holds so we can reach it as we will be coming from south of SF. If things go correctly we should reach there 25 or 26 of Jan. [:o)]
[quote]
Originally posted by mloik
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Originally posted by chad thomas
[:0]Thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure to not be there.
Just recently made a visit to an interesting Chicago city park that also doubles as a nice trainwatching location, Ping Tom Park, on the north edge of Chinatown. It sits about 4 blocks south of Roosevelt Rd. and just across the river from Amtrak’s Chicago shops and the tracks into Union Station. Nice for viewing passenger trains, especially as they cross over the south branch of the river, unfortunately though it doesn’t offer spectacular photography. Just thought I’d share.
Mike
Why would you even think I would expect you to meet me? [:)]
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QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas
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QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
Thank you for your reply. Hopefully the weather holds so we can reach it as we will be coming from south of SF. If things go correctly we should reach there 25 or 26 of Jan. [:o)]
[quote]
Originally posted by mloik