A Guide to Railfanning
Weeellll weeellll weeellll. I thought I might do some train related things. I am doing this because there aren't a lot of train things here. Without further ado, I present A Guide to Railfanning! For those of you who also love trains, this is especially for you! So enjoy!
Materials
With railfanning comes being prepared. One of the few railroads is different. All these railroads (Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern) are monitorable from the website Trainmon5, a monitoring device used to track trains and signal indications. With these railroads, you will need the following:
- monitor
- camera
- knowledge of knowing what means what on the monitor
- knowing directions (north, south, east, west)
With CSX, CSX is not monitorable. From what I know from ATCS on Groups.io, CSX transferred to satellite. With CSX railroad, you will need:
- focus
- good listening
- camera
- a railfanning spot close to CSX mainline rail signals
You may be thinking "Knexified...what?" Well, since there is no monitor, you have to rely on the signals for indication for when a train is coming. You could also look for headlights on the leading locomotive. Also, with gates that don't have a bell, you have to watch back and forth between an NS monitor and the CSX line gates. So be watchful.
- monitor
- camera
- knowledge of knowing what means what on the monitor
- knowing directions (north, south, east, west)
With CSX, CSX is not monitorable. From what I know from ATCS on Groups.io, CSX transferred to satellite. With CSX railroad, you will need:
- focus
- good listening
- camera
- a railfanning spot close to CSX mainline rail signals
You may be thinking "Knexified...what?" Well, since there is no monitor, you have to rely on the signals for indication for when a train is coming. You could also look for headlights on the leading locomotive. Also, with gates that don't have a bell, you have to watch back and forth between an NS monitor and the CSX line gates. So be watchful.
Planning
Planning. One of the most simplest things to do. If you are going railfanning with a friend or family member, find a date and time that is also good for them.
How Long
Comunicate with your tag along member how long you want to stay for. When I go railfanning, I usualy stay mostly for 1 hour to 1 hour and 1/2. Very rarely, I would stay for 2 hours.
Recording
When recording, stay some feet away from the gates. Be sure to wave to the engineer! You may get lucky to get 2 short blows or even a hand wave back! Or both! Currently from when I posted this, I had a total of 8 hand waves back from the engineer! Also from when I posted this, I had 6 2-short blows from the engineer! All hand waves and short blows were from the most common railroad in Ohio: CSX & Norfolk Southern.
Done Zo!
That is all the things I got for you! Till next time, happy recording and railfanning!