The best place to watch trains in Michigan

[mike nowakowski]

I know there are several places that you can watch trains but what place would you say has the most trains per day?

[Steel Inferno]

Delray. NS, CP, CN

[nssd70m-2]

Delray. NS, CP, CN

And csx and Shared assets.

[hoborich]

Wyandotte, at Oak Street.

Delray is OK, but all moves are very slow, with many light engine moves. Also sight lines leave a lot to be desired.

[RRTTF]

TOLEDO....... and while it is not in Michigan today, it WAS in Michigan prior to 1837!

In fact, TOLEDO is the second busiest rail terminal in the USA. Chicago is #1.

[mike nowakowski]

In Delray what place is the best to watch trains?

[RRTTF]

Delray... the best place to watch trains is somewhere else, as the neighborhood down there is VERY rough. Stay inside your LOCKED car. Both CSX Police and NS Police patrol the area and are known for arresting trespassers, so you will have to work at finding a PUBLIC (non-railroad) place to park. The watch word is BE VERY VERY VERY CAREFUL down there.

[JANGAJONGA]

In Delray what place is the best to watch trains?

Delray really is not as bad as people say it is. the neighborhood looks rough but i have never had any problems. do lookout were you are parking though. good luck.

[Trainman2223]

The only problem with delray is the smell...and the crap roads....I have never had a problem with PD of any kind and the tower opp is friendly....its not a nice place (no sunday picnic spot) but plenty of trains and an ok place to fan morning and afternoon are best anytime after 7 pm is Norman land.

[Mr. Tops]

I know there are several places that you can watch trains but what place would you say has the most trains per day?

Ummmmm..........

























Nowhere.

[lee45174]

Manistee, Walhalla, Baldwin, Ludington - you can go watch CSX/NS anywhere even on TV, but Marquette is unique. The towns are pleasant, the people friendly and safe, why go anywhere else. And if you want to explore history, the upper West Coast of Michigan is full of it.

[cbehr91]

Come to Ohio.

[nssd70m-2]

Delray... the best place to watch trains is somewhere else, as the neighborhood down there is VERY rough. Stay inside your LOCKED car. Both CSX Police and NS Police patrol the area and are known for arresting trespassers, so you will have to work at finding a PUBLIC (non-railroad) place to park. The watch word is BE VERY VERY VERY CAREFUL down there.

And how many times have u railfanned at delray? I can't stand when people say delray is such a bad place... IT IS FINE. Out of the 3 years I have been railfanning there , I have never had 1 problem. There are no signs of crime or any dangerous things there...

[sd70accsxt700]

There are no signs of crime or any dangerous things there...

Ummm....you better keep a better look out then, there are plenty of signs of crime around there. But it is not as bad as everyone makes it sound, as long as you pay attention to what is going on around you and, you dont stay much after dark.

[redside20]

anywhere along the railroad tracks in Michigan you can watch and chase a train from a reasonably safe distance and without anyone causing me harm or trespassing, for me that is the best way. This disdain and negativity about the lack of trains in michigan is starting to sound like a broken record. You guys have some interesting shortlines up there and some good scenery. with the exception of Owosso last summer, i had a great time in michigan. And i am a closet Wolverines fan

as the saying goes. you don't know what you got till its gone.

[A No.1]

Battle Creek is bussy most days during the week and saturday usually.

THIS IS A MICHIGAN THREAD: But I must say if you really want to see trains.

GO TO PORTER, IND. or GARY, IND. or THE ENTIRE CHIACGO AREA!

CNW 8835 & J.T. just took me that way and all I can say is WOW!

Today I pulled in to Porter and saw 12 Trains in less than an hour.

Did I mention Franklin Park.

[Jochs]

This is a Michigan thread.

However, a good place to go a few miles from the MI stateline is Elkhart.
The depot parking lot is a good spot to look and see what's coming out of the yard. A good scanner will allow you to hear westbounds, and the signals will line up whenever a train is coming from the west, unless they go out the North or South Freight Tracks.

In IL, Dolton, Rochelle come to mind.

Should business pick up... Schoolcraft, MI would become a good spot, as well as Durand, both on CN.
Schoolcraft has CN and Grand Elk.

[nssd70m-2]

There are no signs of crime or any dangerous things there...

Ummm....you better keep a better look out then, there are plenty of signs of crime around there. But it is not as bad as everyone makes it sound, as long as you pay attention to what is going on around you and, you dont stay much after dark.

I'm there after dark sometimes and don't see any bad activity....

[Mackinac Mac]

I guess Delray is not bad if you are a local.

When you live closer I guess you just know the area.

I have worked in Southwest Detroit since 1998 and have spent much time at Delray at day and night, yes all hours of the night. People seem to mind their business and now that the Citgo Gas station is closed, it seems the hub of drug dealing and other activity is no longer as present on Dearborn Ave, or maybe just not as obvious. Ive met and worked with several people that live in that neighborhood. I personally would be willing to spend the night walking around Delray without a car if someone dared me, because I feel just fine there and know that there are still a few good people living there that would help me out, but that is me.

If you aren't from around Detroit, you probably will be more nervous of the surroundings and send off that vibe that seems to invite trouble. Best time for non locals to visit Delray would be certainly during the day when there is plenty of vehicle and pedestrian traffic through the area from Zug and other local industry. At night it does get spooky, but if you are from around here,I guess you know how to deal with that, lol.

[magyver69r]

I would have to second that on Elkhart. Is a nice place to sit and watch a lot of trains. Having a scanner helps too. Also I was in Port Huron last weekend and it was busy. I saw one train that was stuck in the tunnel. It was a new place for me and was not expecting it too be that busy. It was a 200 mile drive for me. Grand Elk just doesnt have enough traffic for me. But nice to see them running.

Shawn
Otsego MI