Are there charts published for RR crews?

[Chris-M]

I fly for a living and use charts that depict the airways, intersections, VAVAIDS, frequencies, etc provided by Jeppesen. They are updated quite frequently with the most current information. Also there are charts called 'sectionals', as well as others, available at airport FBO's for pilots.

Are there any similar charts for railroad use? I'd love to have a chart that showed the local (within 100 miles at least) frequencies, routes, sidings, and names that I often hear while scanning RR frequencies.

I never was big into 'trainspotting' back when some of my friends were in the early 1980's. They used to have detailed schedules and info that would guide them on when and where to find certain trains.

Nowdays, post-9/11 and in our 'Homeland Security' age, I have a feeling that most of that info is closed to the public. Just a couple years ago I think that there were routes and schedules available on some major railroad websites for public download but now they are closed.

There's quite a bit of railroad activity here and I'm getting into the 'railfan' mode due to being bored and needing a new hobby. 8)

 

[erikTromatowski]

Yes, each railroad publishes a physical diagram. There is often one published for each division or line of the railroad. These are only available to railroad employees (though I've been able to get the NJT "TRO-7" through an engineer friend of mine). They are usually updated once a year. Most of this info has always been closed to the public, but there are some pretty detailed and acurate maps made out there. Also, its easy to get your hands on old diagrams at train shows, etc.

 

[labdog98f]

Here are some web sites that have "aftermarket" atlases:

http://www.steam-powered-video.co.uk/atlases.shtml

http://altamontpress.com/catalog/maps.html



Some railfans also use aftermarket timetables:

http://altamontpress.com/catalog/timetables.html


Hope this helps!

Scott

 

[ECPD279]

The Altamont Press timetables, while expensive, are an excellent resource which include maps, passenger train schedules, and listings of control points and mileposts on each route, with the Road, Yard, Switching, and other frequencies used on each line. If you are in the Bay Area, stop by Scanners Unlimited, Glenn carries several different timetables.

 

[Chris-M]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the info.

 

[BigC801]

Where u at i have time tables for union pacific in pdf format, im a conductor for them so i can send u one for your area

 

[Chris-M]

I'm north of Houston, in Conroe Texas, also near the Spring area. The Palestine Sub from Houston to Conroe/New Waverly which includes the Spring area and Lloyd yard.

I have a nice pdf file showing the main routes on a map of the US with cities displayed when you zoom in but it's dated 1997 and doesn't give much more detail than the cities. Do you have anything similar that is current?

Anything for the north Houston area would be great! Thanks.

 

[PointMan]

Mechanical people can be a great source for info, when they are say working on a Comet 4 cab car checking something, right above their nose is a pink radio tag, which has the Channel # and frequency layout as well as inspection dates hanging off the radio unit... They can just copy the freqs down, or collect tags for that matter. This is easyer than going through time tables because the time tables dont always have the frequencys printed, sometimes its just what channel # to use on what piece of property.

In addition to the radio tags, its a good idea to look up the FCC listings on their web site. For the longest time I didnt know that the bridge maintainers had 154 MHz frequencies for bridge operations, but once programmed I knew. The NJ Transit 800 mhz trunked system is another example of that, although I cant get a signal for the control freq in my area.

As far as the time tables, NORAC books, SlAmtrack books, and conductor hand books..... they usualy distribute them from a pile in a big cardboard box usualy left unattended. So quite a few employees grab 3 or 4 with the intent of selling them to rail buffs, the Company comes up with great ideas, like telling engineers to carry conductor handbooks, which they do for about a week and then discard. Sources like those are great for scanner info.

 

[BigC801]

well all u do is find out what frequencys go with what chs its not hard to find on the net, i have a text doc with it if u what it, and i have time tables of the huston area

 

[BigC801]

and here is the time table for the sub near ya chris

 

[jastx]

wbigcount,

Do you have similar information for my area? Eagle Lake, Columbus, Sealy, and Cat Spring, TX.

Thanks,

 

[Chris-M]

wbigcount, thanks for the frequency table and the Palestine Sub skd. That's the first such shedule I've seen. I'm new to the 'railfan' world. A friend of mine that's been in it for years baffles me with his ability to identify locomotives as they go by. I have yet to reach that level. Heck he can even tell them apart from the sound in the distance of the engines.

Channels 2020 and 9090 (160.41 and 161.46) are ones that I listen to, as well as the east/west route, 161.385 BNSF Conroe Subdivision from Somerville to Dobbin.

 

[wwhitby]

You can also find employee timetables - both old and current - on eBay.

BTW, if anyone has an updated employee timetable for CSX's Atlanta Division - specifically the A&WP-WofA Sub, please email me. Folks on eBay keep runing up the price on the current Atlanta Division ETTs :-(

Warren