Chicago railfanning?

NSFan14 · 01-21-2009, 04:06 AM

Hello Guys,
Next month im going to Chicago for 2 days to railfan. I think we are staying around La Grange,ILL. Is there any hotspots near by that are good spots? Thanks for all the help in advance!

Alex

Walter S · 01-21-2009, 04:30 AM

Well La Grange seems to be a good hot spot.

NSFan14 · 01-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Is there any scanner frequencies I need to make it easier?

SCAMARGO · 01-28-2009, 05:43 AM

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_rrfreqs_area.html is a good link for radio freq. Some of the spots i would go to, BNSF Chillicothe sub in Hodgkins, IL. Also the BNSF/UPS Willow Springs Yard is right by Hodgkins. 67th St use to be a grade crossing now it's a dead end at the chill sub this is a safe and great spot for am/pm light. Well its kind of out of the way but joliet depot is a great spot its like 30min away and the J yard is right by it. If you got ? reply me back

PRRGreg · 01-28-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCAMARGO

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_rrfreqs_area.html is a good link for radio freq.

Looking at this site, it has a wide range of frequencies for Norfolk Southern, between 72.440 and 24150.0000. It seems many are outside what, to me, is the "normal" railroad band. How can you know what frequencies you need in a scanner given this?

Thanks, sorry for the vague question, I haven't used a scanner before and I'm on the steep side of the learning curve.

Greg

Frederick · 01-29-2009, 12:38 AM

^You should have these freqs programmed into your scanner:
http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_rrfreqs.html

JRMDC · 01-29-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRRGreg

Looking at this site, it has a wide range of frequencies for Norfolk Southern, between 72.440 and 24150.0000. It seems many are outside what, to me, is the "normal" railroad band. How can you know what frequencies you need in a scanner given this?

Thanks, sorry for the vague question, I haven't used a scanner before and I'm on the steep side of the learning curve.

Greg

Fair enough! But try again. Use that site, but instead of going to NS, go to Frequencies Listed By Area / Illinois / Chigago Area. And check out the RRs and locations of interest.

Frederick is correct that you can just program in all 96 AAR frequencies, but if you are in a frequency rich area it really helps to know which is which, and also it helps to be able to block channels that are of no use and are picking up other stuff, usually irritating.

PRRGreg · 01-29-2009, 04:23 PM

Thanks much for both replies. I had initially tried to search by area, but the closest area to me was Atlanta, several hours away from Charlotte. I was trying to learn more about my scanner last night, and it does have a pre programmed mode for the 96 railroad frequencies, but it seemed that I was missing parts of conversations as these were scanned, my end goal is now to see if I can create a scanner "bank" with the local frequencies I want for faster scanning, if that makes sense?

Thanks again,
Greg

Damaged · 02-01-2009, 10:06 PM

Might as well go to Rochelle since you're so close.

NSFan14 · 02-02-2009, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damaged

Might as well go to Rochelle since you're so close.

Well im going up with the trainmaster of Kentucky Railway Museum, So we'll see what he wants to do.

Damaged · 02-03-2009, 02:17 AM

Have fun where ever you decide.