Several years ago Trains Magazine featured Vaughn, NM as it’s monthly railfan “hotspot”. I’m planning a trip to NM in June. If Vaughn is still as hot as it use to be, I’ll include a stop there. How about it folks, does anyone know???
Yes Vaughn is a “hot spot” it is on the BNSF (ATSF) main line with the UP-SP Tucumcari line crossing under it just west of town. If you are looking for the BNSF just follow US60 from Amarillo Tx to Belen NM, with “hot spots” at Clovis, Fort Sumner, Vaughn, Encino, and Abo Canyon. If UP-SP follow I-40 Tucumcari to Santa Rosa then US54 to El Paso, with “spots” at Tucu., Cuervo, Vaughn, Duran, Corona, Carrizozo, and Alamogordo. All of the semaphores on the UP-SP may be gone, but if any are still there it will be at Duran.
should be even busier. bnsf mainline is busy and i work on the tucumcari line, and we are busier than ever. traffic on this line will be in bursts though, because of a double tie gang that will be working under a “window” between topeka and herington, ks. this should mainly affect westbound trains at vaughn, they’ll be a fleet of westbounds, as they get through the window.