The opportunity to participate in an operating session on John Hanke’s Burlington Southern RWY brought me back to one of my favorite train watching spots in Indiana – Kimmell. As good as the location is, as challenging it gets with light and weather.  This time I got pretty lucky with some nice shots of westbound in the evening as well as trains going the other way Sunday morning.

Location

This lookout post for trains is located on the old B&O line in Indiana between Kimmell and Albion right at the intersection between CR W330N and CR N350N. The closest address is 3292 N 350 W, Albion, IN 46701. Kendallville, IN is the nearest town with hotels as well as infrastructure to replenish. The Farmer’s cafe in Cromwell is about 15 drive minutes away and a good spot for breakfast.What makes this location on of my favorites is the overpass with a pretty open field of view along both sides. Highway overpasses are numerous in Indiana but most of them provide only a tunnel view down to tracks surrounded by forest. Parking is also a matter of concern as well as traffic. One needs to be safe and I prefer concentrating on the trains rather than the cars rushing by. As there is a nice shoulder on both sides of the road approaching the bridge and drivers can see you from the distance there is little to worry about. Of course it is wise to watch out for vehicles and wave hello to the drivers. I bring my safety west to make myself visible and show that I have nothing to hide.

Hear what’s coming

Radio communication between the train and dispatchers as well as “talking” defect detectors are a huge help when hunting trains in the US. Especially the dedicators help to announce trains some time before they can be actually be heard. In order to listen to train radio, some equipment and research is needed. Common scanners or HAM radios are able to tune in to the frequencies used by US railroads. Operating a scanner without a HAM license is legal in most states- but not Indiana. I have a HAM radio license but never got questioned in those regards when watching trains so far.  There are 96 dedicated AAR channels. The particular timetable of a line indicates the appropoiate channel as well as the location of the dedicators.  In the particular case there are three defect detectors within receiving range of my radio- one to the East at mile post 138.4 (some 8.6 miles away) and two to the West (MP 155.7 and MP 168.8), about 6.7 or 21.8 miles out). According to the CSX timetable N0.1, channel 08 (160.230 MHz) is used for road interaction and on channel 12 (160290 MHz) the dispatcher can be heard. My handy ICOM  ID-51 features dual band reception so I can monitor both channels at the same time. All communication is stored on a SD card which is helpful in case I did not get a message the first time. The following examples give a good idea what to hear and which conclusions can be drawn from the transmissions:

Eastbound Q train with CSX 3002 on the spot

This train hits the detector at MP 168.8. Right away we learn that is currently travels on track 1 which is the one on the North side. It has 406 axles and that all is fine with the consist as the checks have detected no defects. After a while we catch two transmissions form the train crew as they call the signals on their way (e.g. “CSX Engine 3002, track 1, clear at Kimmell, Q- (train #) – out”). Next we hear the message relayed from the DED device at MP155.7- Luckily still no defects, they have not lost any cars (again 406 axles) and still move on track 1. As I know that the train is about 5 miles away right now, I get my camera ready and soon I can her the engineer blowing the horn for grade crossings. Once CSX 3002 and her partners rumbled under the overpass we can follow them on the scanner approaching signals at MP 144.2 as well as Albion, IN. Last but not least a message from the  detector at MP138.4 gives us the insurance that all is good. The train at a length of 9357 feet (1.77 miles) moves with 57 MPH.

Westbound train Q246 led by BNSF 7178

Another nice example, also because the engineer calls out the signal loud and clear without mumbling. Q246, an auto rack train comes from the East and hits the detector at MP 138.4 first.  They run on track 2, to the south side and face no defects. Train length is 7272 feet (about 1.4 miles), going 50 MPH with 314 axles in the consist. As of now we do not know that it is actually Q246 or that it is led by a BNSF engine but the train crew will let us know when calling a signal, e.g. “BNSF 7178, westbound track #2, approach 146.9, Q246 – OUT” (at that location they encounter an “approach” signal indication). MP 146.9 is also right to the East where I already got into position, although the light is not too much in my favor.