Pure Michigan: Where's Your Favorite Railfanning Spot?

[KenB]

Don't forget, slide show in Durand, MI on Nov 12 @ 1500

[DelayInBlock]

What's going on there then?

[Norm]

Anywhere MOW people are working.

I no longer spend a lot of time at crossings waiting for trains to get pictures, and Durand has become boring in the last few years. I have turned my attention to the MOW folks. They, too deserve recognition. They do backbreaking work. Without them the RR's couldn't run. I've photographed them on the former Wabash and other places.

That said, the latter play a huge part in keeping railroads running, and I have a nice photo collection of them at work. I will not release those photos till I'm sure all the MOW workers are retired. No sense putting the pictures on display till none of them can be disciplined for allowing me on RR property.

Yes, I have trespassed, but with permission, and have taken precautions to stay out of harm's way on inactive tracks. It pays to have inside help.

What I am hoping is that in a few decades my photos will be posted to show what MOW did in the early 2,000's. It's a far cry from the early days of railroading.

[mike nowakowski]

For me its the Youngs Rd. crossing just West of Imlay City MI, on the CN Flint Sub. Its got some steep grades, you can see for a long ways in both directions, old GTW signals, and you can see any other trains in the siding at Imaly City, also its very quiet and you can hear the defect dector at Capac.

[kevinm]

Grand Ledge is easiest for me on a daily basis- saw a consist coming eastbound about 9pm at Benton road last night- it was the BNSF coal train - i got ahead of it at M100 and rode beside it in GL and caught it again at Wacousta road- didnt know till Wacousta road about the pusher engines on the tail- Calumet City later said one of the pushers was broke- i was surprised to see the final engine had its high beam on and ditch lights -

BNSF N956 just cleared MP95

[Jetlink]

I like Woodbury . It's close to home so I can just wait for the scanner to come to life. Sometimes I can hear the DD in Clarksville but usually I hear them in Lake Odessa which gives me enough time to get the kids in the van and drive up to the elevator (I have an in with the owners contrary to popular belief it isn't owned by the Andersen's) and wait for the train. Usually we get there about 2 minutes before the train if it is going track speed. If its coming from the east we hear them calling one or two signals before Sunfield. Never hear the DD in Mulliken. My brother lives a block south of the Grand Ledge yard so he usually gives me a heads up on west bounds too. I don't do pictures so that's not an issue for me we just like to watch the trains.

[Saturnalia]

I like Woodbury . It's close to home so I can just wait for the scanner to come to life. Sometimes I can hear the DD in Clarksville but usually I hear them in Lake Odessa which gives me enough time to get the kids in the van and drive up to the elevator (I have an in with the owners contrary to popular belief it isn't owned by the Andersen's) and wait for the train. Usually we get there about 2 minutes before the train if it is going track speed. If its coming from the east we hear them calling one or two signals before Sunfield. Never hear the DD in Mulliken. My brother lives a block south of the Grand Ledge yard so he usually gives me a heads up on west bounds too. I don't do pictures so that's not an issue for me we just like to watch the trains.

What si track speed in Woodbury?

[SD80MAC]

I like Woodbury . It's close to home so I can just wait for the scanner to come to life. Sometimes I can hear the DD in Clarksville but usually I hear them in Lake Odessa which gives me enough time to get the kids in the van and drive up to the elevator (I have an in with the owners contrary to popular belief it isn't owned by the Andersen's) and wait for the train. Usually we get there about 2 minutes before the train if it is going track speed. If its coming from the east we hear them calling one or two signals before Sunfield. Never hear the DD in Mulliken. My brother lives a block south of the Grand Ledge yard so he usually gives me a heads up on west bounds too. I don't do pictures so that's not an issue for me we just like to watch the trains.

What si track speed in Woodbury?

I believe it's 40.

[Jetlink]

What si track speed in Woodbury?

According to a timetable I reference online, track speed is 50 from about WE Grand ledge to EE Lake Odessa with the following note at the bottom:

ENTIRE SUBDIVISION: Trains in excess of 7,000 tons are restricted to 40 MPH.
Trains in excess of 14,000 tons are restricted to 35 MPH.

[Pie39]

What about this Wayne place? Bing maps shows a set of diamonds by a auto factory. I'm going to Northville to visit my grandparents, I'll go to Plymouth to hope to get lucky anyway.

[SD80MAC]

Aside from the Amtraks, 2 road freights, a local and the occassional steel or rack train, Wayne is pretty quiet on the NS side. The CSX side is a tad busier, but the point is pretty much moot as there's no way to get up to the diamonds at Wayne. You'd see more in Romulus (same CSX stuff that goes through Wayne plus NS and CP on the Wabash) than at Plymouth or Wayne, me thinks.

[bnsfben]

Durand is my favorite railfanning spot. Like I've said before, I know it's not super busy, but in my opinion it's about the best your going to get. It's nice to see the c30-7s and other cool power on hesr. It is also nice to see glc and cn 500 which often runs with GT blue units. Plus the atmosphere is probably the best around.

Lapeer is probably my 2nd favorite spot, and my trip there yesterday explains why. I saw 6 trains in 4 hours and the Lapeer Industrial running ( which is slways fun to watch)

[Pie39]

Thanks, but how many Amtraks in wayne?

[GTW6401]

Six - 3 each way.

[Pie39]

How many trains does Romulus have?

[GTW6401]

like 30 to 35 trains per 24 hours between the NS, CSX, and CP.

[SD80MAC]

How many trains does Romulus have?

I'd say close to 30 a day.

[Jochs]

Actually, I would probably have to say St. Joseph because I live nearby there and I frequently go there.
(Favorite being place most frequented)
St. Joseph also offers a variety of photo angles:
Crossing the Paw Paw River into Benton Harbor:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 903bh1.JPG

The depot:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... p37130.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 94902a.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 7005aa.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 37026b.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 37026a.JPG

Crossing the swing bridge:
from the Margaret S Upton Arboretum:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... etrain.JPG
from the old State St. bridge approach:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... ramtk2.JPG
from the West Basin Marina:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... p37009.JPG

At Hilltop:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 504a~0.JPG
Here's a shot of the short-lived Q196 from the bluff:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... Q196_3.JPG

And from the pedestrian overpass near Lions Park:
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 37027a.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 37027b.JPG
Unfortunately,most trains go through between 11pm and 8am, though sometimes coal trains, loaded or empty, go through during the daylight hours.

I have another photography spot, overlooking the trains just downhill from Hilltop Rd. Actually this is as they round the curve right before the BL 94 overpass.
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 95019a.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 95019b.JPG

[J T]

I have another photography spot, overlooking the trains just downhill from Hilltop Rd. Actually this is as they round the curve right before the BL 94 overpass.
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 95019a.JPG
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/albums/u ... 95019b.JPG

That's MY spot, Jeff.

[DelayInBlock]

I'd have to say that this is my favorite line to fan: http://youtu.be/FBPw4WxEItQ