Railroader shooters

Do you use a scanner when you are trackside, and if so which model do you use?

I'm in the market to purchase one, and would like to see what others are using.

Thanks

I use a Radio Shack Pro 135. If I remember correctly, it cost about $65.00. It has ten banks with 20 channels per bank. With the correct cable and software it is possible to program the frequencies with your computer. The unit has other features, but I don't remember what they are as I don't use them.

Scanners are a must when out railfanning. Another tool which might interest you is ATCS if the railroad your following employs it on the division/subdivision you're photographing. Certain scanners can be modified to pick up the frequency that ATCS uses which can be fed into the ATCS software on a laptop to show you were the trains are. For more info on ATCS, go here: http://www.atcsmon.com​/

Screen shot of ATCS on the CSX Garrett and Willard Subdivisions (Garrett, IN - Willard, OH)

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

First Post:

When out railfanning, I carry a Uniden BCD396T. It's a bit much for strictly railfanning, but I use it for general public safety communications monitoring as well.

@Mike30D: When you say "certain scanners can be modified" are you referring to tapping the discriminator (please disregard - the FAQ is your friend - it is a discriminator tap) or some other modification? I live along the BNSF main through Oklahoma and a display like that would be almost as useful for railfanning as my 50D!

Thanks for the heads up.

Yep, the discriminator tap. ATCS is a wonderful thing to have in the field.

I don't think its available here in Canada from what I can see........unless I am not looking in the correct area of the website.

Oh yeah, CP and CN use it up there. You have to join the yahoo group in order to download the software and the files for the area that you want. Remember, not all divisions/subdivisions on any given railroad have been converted over to ATCS.

ATCS Yahoo Group - http://finance.groups.​yahoo.com …S_Monitor/?ygui​d=74230148

Thanks.

I joined the group and we'll see what happens.

I am close to the Windsor to Quebec City mainline, and through numerous outings am getting somewhat of a handle on it, but need to be better informed for when I venture out onto other subdivisions.

How do you know where to set your scanner too. Where do you get the freq. Thanks

Bolter303 wrote in post #11379327
How do you know where to set your scanner too. Where do you get the freq. Thanks

You might try HERE, but I can't guarantee your location will have railroad frequencies listed... Look in the Database section.

You might try here also: http://www.whrc-wi.org/railfreqs.htm

The Uniden 396 supports the new narrow band channel plan with a free user installable ROM reflash similar to upgrading your camera's firmware. Their 296T also supports it. Get on E-Bay and look for a copy of your local railroads timetable and operating rules for your subdivision. These are bound pocket size books the trainmen are required to carry. They are updated at least yearly, some more often, and out of date copies end up on Ebay. Having that book will help you relate what you hear on the scanner to physical mile posts, sidings, and junctions on the actual railroad.

You're better off looking for timetables at a model railroad show or find a collector online as the railroads along with their lawyers have made it harder to buy them. I know for a fact ebay has made it impossible to buy current (within a year or two) timetables and the ones that do slip through are horribly overpriced.

Technically it's against the law for anyone but a RR employee to be in possession of one as it is property of said RR but we know us railfans will still keep buying them when we can.

To answer your questions I use the VX 150 ham radio for monitoring radio traffic for different railroads i have all AAR freq added along with local PD's. It a durable and cheap radio it has been replaced by the VX 170 but many shops still carry them for under $100 US.
As to timetables i have been fortunate to have been given curren RR timetables for most of the regions I shoot in, but search the internet, you can get a reasonably current timetable for most regions for free just by searching different railfan sites. Granted they may not have all the information you might like but mile post, station names and siding lengths are included.

I use an 200 channel Uniden Bearcat, A BIG + for ATCS.

Terry