Are there any good train watching spots near Las Cruces or Alamogordo in New Mexico?
I was in Alamogordo two years ago.Seemed to be about forty trains a day,mostly intermodal and coal.It is not hard to find a spot to see the tracks.There is a model train museum north of downtown and the zoo.
Las Cruces is on BNSF’s Belen-El Paso secondary line and averages less than 2 trains per 24-hour period.
Alamogordo is on the UP Golden State Route and is averaging 24 trains per 24-hour period, mostly double-stacks and autos. There is one regular manifest train each way daily, and occasionally coal and grain moves to Mexico.
The area with the most curvature on the Golden State is between Carrizozo and Corona. From El Paso to Carrizozo the line is straight and flat, but I like it very much.
Another good area you may wish to consider is east of El Paso between Fort Hancock and Sierra Blanca. The Sunset Route climbs a stiff and scenic hill there.
West of El Paso the Sunset Route is near to the border until it reaches Deming.
Expect to get many cordial visits from Border Patrol officers if you park near to the tracks in this area, especially east and west of El Paso.
RWM
If you are in Alamagordo, might I recomend a side trip. Take US 82 to Cloudcroft. Remnents of the old Alamagordo & Sacramento Mountains RR is visible in places. Almost at the top of the hill, you can see the last remaining wooden bridge (trestle). There is a small parking area across the trestle off US82. Park car, cross highway (carefully) and take pictures.
Thanks to all who responded. I’ll working in the area for about a month so I’ll check out as many as I can.
there are several places in southern NM that have good views of the UP mailine. Deming Lordsburg and las Cruces alll have the double mainline track and east of lordsburg you will see the HTT wirk train so take a camera and take pics
If you are interested in historic stuff too, in Demming, off the east side exit-#? is the old union depot, moved to a safer spot off the mainline, this was the site of the second transcontinental meet, in 1881, which got no press then or now. Near the police station on the same main road, is a Southern Pacific 0-6-0 and crummy, in good shape too. While you are there, turn onto the road to Columbus, rt.11south, and at the crossroads before the border is the El Paso &Southwestern station- with loads of RR antiques, N scale model diorama of the raid, Poncho Villa items, well worth the trip. Another raid museum is across the street- a state park. I don’t know who to ask, if they are restored yet? and on display again?- but the college in El Paso has the 1850’s 4-4-0 and 1900 2-8-0 used on the EP&SW, where and when only the locals know… unless something comes up on a search engine. Yeah, the Rio Grande line doesn’t have many runs, and it is so darn long , and hard to lineside, you might catch something with a scanner, good luck and have a great time.