Railfanning trip to States, this time next year

Callufrax · 10-03-2006, 11:58 PM

Well, didn't know where to put this post, exactly. I can't put it as a trip report, as it hasn't happened yet.

So, this forum seemed to be the safest place.

I'm planning a five week trip to the States, this time next year. Not sure how much distance I'm going to be able to cover, as I'll be travelling via train and bus. But I will definitely be visiting the don't-miss places, such as Tehachapi, Pittsburgh, and the other usual suspects. I know it's a year away, but anyone up for a bit of a railfan get together?

SD70MACMAN · 10-04-2006, 12:13 AM

If you take the Empire Builder or Coast Starlight to Seattle, Id be more than happy to give you a tour of the Pacific Northwest! Hit up Stevens Pass, photograph the Amtrak Cascades, meander around Interbay and Seattle. See my RP.net pics for those locations

Let me know via this or PM, when you establish your plans.

Callufrax · 10-04-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD70MACMAN

If you take the Empire Builder or Coast Starlight to Seattle, Id be more than happy to give you a tour of the Pacific Northwest! Hit up Stevens Pass, photograph the Amtrak Cascades, meander around Interbay and Seattle. See my RP.net pics for those locations

Let me know via this or PM, when you establish your plans.

Nice locations. I might have to take you up on that. I know Pullman quite well. Spent about two months there, back in 2001. Still didn't manage to catch the once weekly freight that goes through!

TonytheTiger · 10-04-2006, 01:14 AM

If you would like to experience eastern mountain railroading then I'd be glad to show you either Central Pennsylvania or Southern West Virginia and Southeastern Kentucky. I know that I there are probably a dozen other railfans that would enjoy tagging along.

TonytheTiger · 10-04-2006, 01:20 AM

Something to note:

If your trip is going to be in October then you might want to consider the New River Train:

http://www.newrivertrain.com/nrt.shtml

It runs every year for two weekends in the middle of October. In past years it was pulled by steam:

PhotoID: 157010
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

PhotoID: 134424
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

PhotoID: 131416
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

fuente1 · 10-04-2006, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonytheTiger

Something to note:

If your trip is going to be in October then you might want to consider the New River Train:

http://www.newrivertrain.com/nrt.shtml

It runs every year for two weekends in the middle of October. In past years it was pulled by steam:

PhotoID: 157010
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

PhotoID: 134424
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

PhotoID: 131416
Photograph © Rob Kitchen

Man Id love to go on that thing. I wish they could get NKP 765 back on the head end!

SD70MACMAN · 10-04-2006, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callufrax

Nice locations. I might have to take you up on that. I know Pullman quite well. Spent about two months there, back in 2001. Still didn't manage to catch the once weekly freight that goes through!

The only reason I could ever imagine someone coming to Pullman is the college... Depending on when you come, Id either be in Seattle or Pullman.

jdirelan87 · 10-04-2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callufrax

But I will definitely be visiting the don't-miss places, such as Tehachapi, Pittsburgh , and the other usual suspects. I know it's a year away, but anyone up for a bit of a railfan get together?

I can you help you around Pittsburgh, there is a fairly sizeable network out this way of photographer so finding somebody in the know about any of the many lines should be easy.

I'm glad somebody is finally giving Pittsburgh the respects it deserves, its truely the hidden gem of East. I would go as far as to say its the best homebase for railroad photography in the Eastern United States, if not the entire nation.

Callufrax · 10-04-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD70MACMAN

The only reason I could ever imagine someone coming to Pullman is the college... Depending on when you come, Id either be in Seattle or Pullman.

It'd probably be around this time next year, after the summer's cooled off a bit, as well as the colours of fall coming out.

Callufrax · 10-04-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdirelan87

I can you help you around Pittsburgh, there is a fairly sizeable network out this way of photographer so finding somebody in the know about any of the many lines should be easy.

I'm glad somebody is finally giving Pittsburgh the respects it deserves, its truely the hidden gem of East. I would go as far as to say its the best homebase for railroad photography in the Eastern United States, if not the entire nation.

Pittsburgh's intrigued me, ever since I picked up a copy of Pentrex's 'Pittsburgh Mainlines' about a year ago.

Callufrax · 10-04-2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonytheTiger

Something to note:

If your trip is going to be in October then you might want to consider the New River Train:

http://www.newrivertrain.com/nrt.shtml

It runs every year for two weekends in the middle of October. In past years it was pulled by steam:

I love the look of that. Just paid a visit to their website. Even though the price tag is big (premium & private car service, that is), it appears to be worth it.

fuente1 · 10-07-2006, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callufrax

I love the look of that. Just paid a visit to their website. Even though the price tag is big (premium & private car service, that is), it appears to be worth it.

Callufrax,
Its a wonderful excursion, I wish you could have seen it back when NKP 765 pulled it........the Amtrak garbage that pulls it now is ok though, the scenery speaks for itself.

Callufrax · 11-26-2006, 02:37 PM

I've pretty much decided on flying in and out of ORD, arriving on 15/10 and leaving on 16/11. To make use of time in Chicago, I'm pretty much deciding to be in the Chicago area for the rest of the day and night, and then next day take the CSS out to Michigan City, to take some street running shots there, before making my way to South Bend to pick up Amtrak for the overnight trip to Pittsburgh. Probably a couple of days in that area, before heading on to who knows where next.

Callufrax · 06-04-2007, 10:07 AM

After a few changes to my travel plans (due to having moved back to Australia, and getting a job that won't allow me to take holidays in advance of having accrued them - unlike my previous job), I'll now be visiting the States in August 2008, for about two and a half weeks. I plan to now arrive in mid-August, and will be flying in to YVR, before crossing the border. I'll be renting a motor, and will be sticking to the western part of the States (WA, OR, CA, NV, UT, ID, before crossing back in to AB, then BC).

Callufrax · 06-19-2007, 01:26 PM

One of the areas I plan to visit is Feather River Canyon. Could anyone tell me what the density of traffic is there?

JRMDC · 06-19-2007, 04:07 PM

As you become more specific on your plans, I suggest you track down the area-specific Yahoo groups for where you are going. I found the ones covering Seattle and Kansas City quite helpful in the past.

It's a way to get more "eyeballs" looking over your questions than this forum will.

TonytheTiger · 06-19-2007, 07:43 PM

I see that Nevada and Utah are on your itenerary. You should make it a point to visit the Nevada Northern . . . .

http://www.nevadanorthernrailway.net/

. . . . and the Golden Spike National Historic Site.

http://www.nps.gov/gosp/

I'm sure if you spend any time around Salt Lake City you will see lots of mainline and terminal action. About 30 miles south of the Golden Spike park is the UP mainline across the Great Salt Lake at Promontory Point.

http://tinyurl.com/29ecmf

Search the database here for Nevada Northern and Salt Lake City to get an idea of what you will see.

Callufrax · 06-19-2007, 11:49 PM

I've decided to focus on CA and NV (maybe part of AZ as well), due to limited time.

Callufrax · 09-09-2007, 05:35 AM

As the end of the year approaches, by which time I'll be buying my plane tickets, I've been refining my travel plans for October next year.

I'll still be flying in to SFO, probably the last weekend of September. From there, I'll pick up a rental car. The first night, I think I've decided upon staying at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in Oakland. From there, I'll make my way through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah or New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and finally ending up in Chicago, staying at the Ambassador East Hotel. I'll then be catching the California Zephyr back to Emeryville, spending another couple of days in the San Francisco area, before flying back to SYD around the middle of the last week of October. I don't know what kind of mileage this will be, but it depends on the way I travel through California. I don't think it'll be as much as 6000 miles. But, even if it were, then that'd be around 215 miles a day, over a period of 28 days.

Between now and the beginning of January, it is still subject to change. But it's now generally set in stone.