My dad and I are going to go on a railfanning trip to the Powder River Basin next week and I was wondering what suggestions my fine fellow forum members might have. We will not have much time so we will probably shoot straight out to eastern Wyoming in one shot and spend a day around the southern end of the joint line. Then probably spend another day railfanning our way west along the Overland route through Wyoming. Because of plans for the last 4 days of my vacation we will probably head back to California after that. So does anybody have any suggestions for MUST SEE locations? I’m not really into the tourist type stuff, just heavy mainline action. It’s been decades sience I have been east of Evanston so I really have no particular spots in mind. I would like to see the Hermosa (?) tunnels at the summit if I can, both legally and road conditions allowing (I hear it’s a dirt road but we will be in a 4WD).
Oh, and RJ tells me in his neck of the woods (Rock Springs) Motel rooms are scarce (at least vacant ones), How is it around the south end of the joint line? Or should we stay in Rawlins or Casper? Should I make reservations somewhere?
One more question, is the historic equiptment in Cheyenne accessable to the public ?(3985,844,6936,ect)
Wyoming is a big state but you are from CA so you know about big states. The UP PRB activities begin on the south end at South Morril on the NE/WY border. There may be some reasonable lodging there. Cheyenne is quite a ways from there. With your limited time I would suggest bagging Cheyenne this trip. If someone is around the historical equipment you may be invited in but nothing is guaranteed. Some lodging is available in Douglas, WY but with hunting season for birds and perhaps antelopes about to start all towns in the area may be full. Google around and see what comes up. The area between Douglas and Gillette is the main PRB. There are some nice mines north of Gillette but the triple track and highest densities are south of there. Sunlight road follows the tracks closer than the highway does. Do not travel between towns without a bit of food and plenty of water since little is available between.
Have fun, it is an interesting place and railroad. .
Chad: The road to the Hermosa tunnels on Sherman Hill are railroad roads and are inaccessible. Gates block the roads and they are padlocked. You can get to Dale - take the road off I-80 marked to Ames Monument, and this will take you to Dale. Go back north from Dale and there is a road leading west - this will take you to Tie Siding, which is just off US 285, 17 miles south of I-80 at Laramie. Both Dale and Tie Siding are good places to see trains. I think you can find these roads on a Wyoming map. There are other good places, but you seem to be pressed for time and the others are not quite as accessible. Have fun- hope you don’t run into bad weather - it could happen though not likely.
Chad, I covered Sherman Hill and the PRB for a week back in 2003, so my info may be a bit outdated, but I’ll try to help here. I’m also out for business right now without my DeLorme map of Wyoming so that doesn’t help either. I encourage you to get one of these. They are a wonderful help.
First off, Dale is just east of the tunnels where track 3 comes back together with tracks 1 & 2. As for getting to the tunnels, after a couple hours of getting close but not right to them, we did get to them from the north side across ranch property. The ranchers in the area I talked to said they did not mind if you drove across there land as long as you CLOSED THE GATES BEHIND YOURSELF!! Leaving the area we found you could get to them from Highway 287, on the south side, by taking Hermosa Road and Dale Creek Road. Google maps shows these roads. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=41.073787,-105.457764&spn=0.060175,0.1157&om=1 . There is a road over the hill which the tunnel actually goes through and is on the south side of the tracks outside the tunnel but I am quite sure that it is railroad property. While we were up there, 5 hours or so, seen by many crews and several trackworkers, we were never bothered, but thats not saying they won’t.
As for the PRB, stopping by Bill is a must. There is a road on a bridge that goes over the line just below the summit of Logan Hill that google identifies as NF-942, but I don’t think that is the actual name. Its a nice spot to stand for a little bit. You can see trains climbing the hill about 6-7 miles to the north and maybe 5 miles to the south and watch them coming up the whole time. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=13&ll=43.414525,-105.365067&spn=0.057983,0.1157 . The next ro
Chad, I sent you with an email of things that should be helpful. I forgot to add that if you want to go see the steam shop they like you to call ahead. I will send you another email with the number.
If anyone else wants it just drop me a line!
Our hotels are at about 98% occupancy. To put that in a bit of perspective, Vegas motel occupancy is usually at 98%. Its just that there is no place to live and its cheaper for the oil companies to put thier guys up in hotels for extended periods.
Chad: It looks as if you received your answers. Information given was right on target. Just one thing-ranchers are getting more particular and so is the rairoad, so do get permision before going through gates. I was up there this last spring, and things are getting a little tighter. Good luck.
Chad: You may want to stay away from Gillette like you would Rock Springs. Going up there next week to do a topo survey before the snow flies for one of those things that FM thinks the railroad does not do enough of (capacity exp.)…Rooms scarce and expensive; $100 for a rat hole.
Yea MC, I found out about the room situation. Got everything covered but sunday night. It seems there is not anything available in all of SE Wy. that night. Oh well, we can rough it for one night if worse comes to worse. We will be in a 4WD and have all the emergency survival supplies as always.
And are you trying to tell me that FM isn’t all seeing and all knowing?[:O] Who would have guessed.
Should be, That is the one the people on the 3985 crew gave me last summer. If that doesnt work. Then i tihnk you can just stop by the depot there in Cheyenne, and they will call over there and see if its a good time.
That I do, THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN CHRIS!!! Eh, It gives me a reason to go out in the field this weekend. Not that I need a reason though.
Looking forward to seeing you! Hopefully it will quit being nasty weather and be nice for your trip. Doubt it though. I think I even saw a few flakes today…
