pennsylvania railfanning?

[JANGAJONGA]

I am going on a trip to gettysberg in the next couple of days and was wondering good places to railfan, does anyone know of any? how far is the horseshoe curve from there? and info on raifanning this area is greatly appreciated.

[cr6707]

Horseshoe Curve is about 2 1/2 hours away. I'd say the Harrisburg area is a much better bet. It's under an hour from Gettysburg, and there are probably more trains in this area than in Altoona. I'd recommend anywhere around Rockville/Marysville. The area around the Amtrak station is good in terms of traffic, but it isn't in the best part of town to say the least. Closer to Gettysburg, CSX has a yard at Hanover. IIRC, the power is usually SD50s, SD40-2s, and GP40-2 slug sets. D795 is ordered there in the morning. They are supposedly in Gettysburg in the late morning. They return from Hagerstown as D797, and are through Gettsyburg in the late afternoon. There is a shortline there as well, but I'm not sure when they operate. If you need any more info (and scanner frequencies), let me know!

Mark

[trainjunkie47]

I forget which issue it was this year, but the one Trains Magazine focused on Pennsylvania shortlines. There were lots of photos and a map. Might want to check that out.

Someone help me out here with the month?

[JANGAJONGA]

Thanks! what are the CSX freqs around gettysberg? it said on RRPA that the line gets 4-6 trains a day is this true? and are there any busy NS lines that i would go near if on the pennsylvania turnpike?

[cr6707]

Thanks! what are the CSX freqs around gettysberg? it said on RRPA that the line gets 4-6 trains a day is this true? and are there any busy NS lines that i would go near if on the pennsylvania turnpike?

160.230 and 161.400. The closet NS line to the turnpike is the Lurgan Branch at Carlisle. There are about 15-20 trains on the Lurgan, so it's not extremely busy. FWIW, that's only about 8 miles from the Enola/Marysville/Rockville/Harrisburg area.

[CSX_CO]

If you don't get to PA much, I'd recommend Horseshoe Curve just to say you've been there. Pretty cool place, and a lot of history around there. I visited in 1998 while doing a college visit to Penn State. Neat place.

Practice Safe CSX

[GTWFRED]

I forget which issue it was this year, but the one Trains Magazine focused on Pennsylvania shortlines. There were lots of photos and a map. Might want to check that out.

Someone help me out here with the month?

Think your talking about the June issue. Had a good map of Eastern Pennsylvania and a story about anthracite roads today, including the Gettysburg & Northern,..., among others. Also a good article about CSX & it's shortline partners.
Other CSX freqs besides what CR6707 gave are: 160.320 ROAD CH 2, 161.520 ROAD CH 3 & 160.845 ROAD CH 4.