Newbie Frustration

Status
Not open for further replies.

DenverGuy

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2018
Messages
7
I picked up a Uniden BC125AT and programmed in the BNSF frequencies for Denver, CO. For what it's worth, I live in central Denver, about a mile east of the BNSF Joint Line.

Well, I took the scanner out tonight and biked to the 8th Avenue bridge, which crosses over the tracks. I had my scanner on the whole time. All I heard was occasional static and rare voice traffic , most of it unintelligible.

There was very little going on. Anyway, I'm on the bridge, waiting... I'm up pretty high, over the tracks, near downtown, so I would imagine that I would have a good signal.

After about 10 minutes a loaded coal drag passes under the bridge. There was nothing on the radio that suggested that would be happening.

Obviously I am doing something wrong. Any suggestions? Many thanks.
 

DenverGuy

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2018
Messages
7
Also, it doesn't seem like I'm able to edit this post - I wanted to also mention that the squelch is adjusted as it should be.
 

krokus

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
5,964
Location
Southeastern Michigan
Just because the train is in motion, does not mean there is a radio transmission. They are used moreso around switching yards.

Some trains are now using digital modes, are you sure that you were not hearing that "noise" instead?

Sent using Tapatalk
 

wyShack

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
453
Location
Campbell County, Wyoming
Up here in Wyoming, radio chatter is mostly switching cars,loading, unloading, or track information. As you are close to the tracks,I would suggest just leaving the scanner on when you are home. An outside antenna would ensure reception but a mile from the tracks you should be fine. As already mentioned, it is not constant chatter and a week or so of scanning should let you know if you want to continue.

If radio traffic is light,I suggest you program all the 'channels' used by railroads as they may be using other channels. If you 'find' them submit the data here so the database can be updated. That's what RR is-people reporting frequencies so others can use the information.

Have fun
 
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
208
Location
Arizona
As a conductor we don't always use the radio for things. Usually DS will give us updated info for slow orders, at grade crossing gate malfunctions, weather warnings and such. If you are in an area controlled by CTC, the train crews will operate on signal indication. I can go my entire trip almost 300 miles and never talk on a radio, some days it seems like I am talking and copying all the mentioned above items.
 

cbehr91

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
419
do you guys not call signals out there?

BNSF doesn't. UP only acknowledges less than clear over the radio.

A case-and-point is the UP Overland Route across Wyoming. A constant parade of trains, but outside of Cheyenne Yard and the stop for fuel at Rawlins, there is very little radio chatter. Detectors talk on defect only, and maintainers get track and time over the phone.
 

spdfile1

/\/\ Junkie
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
490
Location
Port St. Lucie,FL
Another thing you could do is figure out the closest defect detector to your location on the line your wanting to listen to. That will allow you to see if your monitoring the right frequency and if your a little ways from it or out of site of it but can still pick it up it'll give you a heads up of what's coming. Also stick in 452.9375 & 457.9375 which are the E.O.T. (End Of Train) device frequencies. They are low powered data transmissions from the head end to the F.R.E.D. & vice versa and are a great way to know a train is coming before you see it. However in a yard setting they are useless cause your picking up multiple signals from multiple trains lol!!!!!!!
 

KC9LQV

Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2009
Messages
141
Location
SW Indiana
You may want to carefully verify your frequencies. I listen to the BNSF Joint Line scanner feed from RailroadRadio.net often, and usually there's so much talk you can't keep it all straight.

RailroadRadio.net - BNSF/UP Colorado Joint Line (Updated)

You might try that feed for a few days to get an idea of what to expect.

Also, if you plan on just using your scanner for railroad monitoring, you may want to consider getting a slightly higher-gain antenna tuned specifically for the railroad band. The ones sold by Smiley Antenna are quite good.
 

csxcp55

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2014
Messages
20
Location
New York area
Have you checked out the frequency database?
Here in northern NJ, I monitor mainly CSX, but have all of the local rr's programmed into my radios.
CSX calls out every signal regardless of display, and they have defect detectors that transmit on the road channel.
I use a Yaesu/Vertex VX-150 (2m transceiver) and a Yaesu FT-60R (2m/70cm transceiver) for monitoring railroads. I have an outdoor antenna (a Cushcraft ARX-2B) about 30ft up, and can receive signals as far as 30 miles away, but that depends on several factors, including train's radio/antenna, location/terrain, weather, and time of year (foliage).

In Denver, you should have no trouble at all hearing signals from the east, but from the west it would be very difficult to hear anything beyond the foothills of the Rockies.
As was already said, class 1's are CTC, so, unless they are required to call out signals, they don't require use of the radio unless there is a train order, change of route/track or an emergency.
You should be able to pick up the defect detectors, although most of them transmit very low power, so are limited distance for your receiver.

CSXCP55
 

sking128

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
199
Location
Colorado Springs, Co
If you have the Freq's correct, you should be hearing a lot of things. The Joint line uses TWC from Littleton all the way to Pueblo. Not to mention, you should be hearing a bunch of Yard traffic. You mentioned you were listening from a bridge. What was your location? BTW, Neither BSNF or UP are using digital transmissions here in Colorado.
 
Last edited:

Mojaveflyer

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2006
Messages
446
Location
Denver, Co
Radio Traffic South Of Denver

Southbound BNSF trains use AAR Channel 36 (160.65 MHz) once they're south of South Denver. Northbound trains use switch from Channel 36 to Channel 66 (161.100 MHz) north of the RTD Mineral Rd Light Rail station. The BNSF Brush dispatcher controls traffic through the 'Corridor' up to 20th Street. At Mineral Rd the Joint Line goes from northbound and southbound to three tracks coming north. UP uses Channel 54 (160.92 MHz) off and on but much of their traffic is on the BNSF Channels since Dispatcher 16 controls most of the track from Denver to Pueblo.

PM if you have any more questions, I use my 125AT all of the time here with no issues.
 

captncarp

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2005
Messages
372
Location
North River, NY. USA
the BC125AT has railroad freq's programmed in search mode. when ur out and about try monitoring in RR Search Mode and see what you hear over a period of time.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top