Train Spotting help

[mikeisbeast]

i dont have any pics... yet.... but i want to get into train spotting but i have no clue how..im into plane and ship spotting but want to get in trains also. ive found some websites like railafan or train spotting... but i want to know how i can find out where to get what and were. by the way im in los angeles..i see theres a good share of train spotters in here so any help would be appreciated

[ACDCROCKS]

Originally Posted by mikeisbeast

i dont have any pics... yet.... but i want to get into train spotting but i have no clue how..im into plane and ship spotting but want to get in trains also. ive found some websites like railafan or train spotting... but i want to know how i can find out where to get what and were. by the way im in los angeles..i see theres a good share of train spotters in here so any help would be appreciated

if your inCalf., Fullerton is good place to watch trains. Stay in one spot When your watching them.
www.trainweb.com is a good resource

Having a scanner is nice, knowing when a train is coming. Since it's in CALF. it will be mainly UP-BNSF railroads. Patience is the best thing you can while watching trains, depending where you are

[Belmondo]

If you're willing to get out of town a little, Colton and Cajon Pass are great locations. There's almost always something moving there.

The scanner is a good suggestion, but you'll have to learn the language to understand what they're actually saying.

[mikeisbeast]

i have a scanner that i use for plan spotting... how many diff frequencies do u usally need to monitor..and where abouts in fullerton thats only about a 25 min drive from me

[ACDCROCKS]

Originally Posted by belmondo

If you're willing to get out of town a little, Colton and Cajon Pass are great locations. There's almost always something moving there.

The scanner is a good suggestion, but you'll have to learn the language to understand what they're actually saying.

"q140 West 1 clear Liberty 140 out..meaning he's clearing liberty street, better get the camera ready. You also need to know the mile posts and be familiar with the area, be sure to have the local police frequecy programmed in. I advise to get a Radio Shack scanner better than the PRO 76, that way you can join the ATCS or what ever that group is, and you track where the train is on your laptop...pretty neat, just like being a dispatcher.

You also need to know train ID Symbols, Such as on the CSX Q-Standard intermodal freight. P: passenger train "Amtrak" etc.

[ACDCROCKS]

Fullerton, I have no clue, I'm about 2,000 miles away, I'm not sure, I'm sure a couple railfans in Calf. know, if not train web does,. The last time I was at Trainweb they had a chat, i'm not sure if they still have. Fullerton seems interesting though, you have Amtrak, BNSF, metro etc.

[ACDCROCKS]

http://images.google.com/images?svnu...erton+trains++
http://www.railcams.com/

[Belmondo]

Out here in the desert, everything is Union Pacific. They're still using the old Southern Pacific frequencies, mainly 160.890 and 161.550. All their train orders will give a milepost, so if you know where you are, you can tell if something is moving in your direction or not.

[Tom W]

Trains are frequent enough here that I haven't needed to use a scanner. I just get to the tracks and wait.

[mikeisbeast]

so it looks that you can spot from in the train station or is that aquward carrying around a 100-400mm for a while.. should u go dow n farther from the station.. also spotting planes u have the chances of having run in with the cops is train spotting the same.

[Tom W]

Originally Posted by mikeisbeast

so it looks that you can spot from in the train station or is that aquward carrying around a 100-400mm for a while.. should u go dow n farther from the station.. also spotting planes u have the chances of having run in with the cops is train spotting the same.

Depends on the area, but yes, you can have run-ins with the police. Around here, they welcome a guy with a camera in most places. Other places, especially railroad yards and such have a bit tighter security. And some localities and railroads are stricter than others.

[Jon Foster]

Start with the suggestions already posted and talk to other people when you are railfanning. They will be able to give you the exact details you need for any given area, like what freq to use at which spot and which day/time to be at different places to catch the best traffic etc. Having a scanner is a huge plus too. But, make sure you don't need a license to carry it. Like here in Michigan I have a license to carry a scanner in a motor vehicle. Without it I'd be in jail the first time I got stopped by the local LEO.

Jon.

[Tom W]

Originally Posted by Jon Foster

Start with the suggestions already posted and talk to other people when you are railfanning. They will be able to give you the exact details you need for any given area, like what freq to use at which spot and which day/time to be at different places to catch the best traffic etc. Having a scanner is a huge plus too. But, make sure you don't need a license to carry it. Like here in Michigan I have a license to carry a scanner in a motor vehicle. Without it I'd be in jail the first time I got stopped by the local LEO.

Jon.

Good grief - a license to own a scanner? I thought the FCC held jurisdiction of such issues. Oh well, I guess if Virginia can outlaw radar detectors, Michigan can license scanners.

[ACDCROCKS]

Originally Posted by Jon Foster

Start with the suggestions already posted and talk to other people when you are railfanning. They will be able to give you the exact details you need for any given area, like what freq to use at which spot and which day/time to be at different places to catch the best traffic etc. Having a scanner is a huge plus too. But, make sure you don't need a license to carry it. Like here in Michigan I have a license to carry a scanner in a motor vehicle. Without it I'd be in jail the first time I got stopped by the local LEO.

Jon.

I thought that was in-car scanner-but radios like the cops have...uh oh.....

[Jon Foster]

It's a bummer but that's how it is in Michigan. You can not have a scanner in your vehicle. It doesn't matter if it's mounted in the vehicle or a portable unit. If it has the ability to recieve Police "calls" it's a bust... But if you have a license to carry your pretty much safe but lots of LEO's will still give you a very hard time if they catch you with one.

Jon.