NS/CSX in Lynchburg Va

[KHMIKE]

I hope this is not too far off topic.
I have lived in the Lynchburg environs for a year and now IN Lynchburg for a few weeks. I can hear NS and now CSX pretty well even on the rubber ducky.
First, I am hearing the train crews calling the dispatcher more an more through the PBX channels. They do not seem to be using the road frequencies as much, though they are still pretty busy.
Second, are there any forum members in the Lynchburg area? I am handicapped and I cannot drive so getting out to train watch is a bit difficult. I would like to meet others with railfanning and radio interests.
I just haven't found anyone here, it is like railfanning just does not exist. I suspect that for some reason the railfanning community is just not being openly active considering the state of the world these days
Finally, does anyone have or know where I can get track charts/maps or timetables showing the locations referred to by the dispatchers and train crews?
Thanks for any help,
Mike KA2SPH

 

[n4voxgill]

I hope that someone in Lynchburg will respond toyou and helpyou out.

In my case I use the mapping program Street Atlas USA and pick a scale that shows the railroad tracks and township names. As the train dispatchers refer to these more than mileposts. In fact, after a short time I had a pretty good idea from looking at the map and listening to the talk what the mile posts are at the major places that there is train activity.

If you don't have the street atlas program, maybe someone has an old one that has bought the latest update. Any old one will have the township names. Also you may check on line and see if the county and/or city has a website that has maps and look for the same information.

Good luck,

Gill

 

[FredOverstreet]

I was born and raised in Lynchburg area and had two family members that worked for the railroads (old N&W, C&O) but they have been dead for some time. I still get up that way often ( my 98 year old mother is in a nursing home in Bedford). I will ask around and see if I can find someone who is with the RR or who monitors RR freq. Do you monitor any of the local 2 meter repeaters?
And, Welcome to Lynchburg.
Fred WB4QXG

 

[KHMIKE]

n4voxgill
Location: New Braunfels, TX

HI Gill, first, let me say that I am jealous. We lived in Houston for 5 years
and miss it terribly.
Thanks for the idea of Street Atlas USA. I will see if I can find it and
afford it. The money situation here is always tight.
I hope I hear from someone in Lynchburg too. In Houston I was part of a large group of railfans.
I do have a map of Lynchburg and it does show the tracks but it is such
a hodepodge of tracks, lines, etc. that it is hard to figure anything out. The dispatchers refer to South Yard, North Yard, Straight Track, Fallwell, and a lot of other places, and for the life of me, I stare at the map and follow the tracks but none of it makes any sense. There is only one yard called RiverMont yard (I think).
There is a line a few blocks from where I live, I hear the trains blow for a crossing I found where that line is on the map but darned if I can figure out when they are referring to it on the radio.
Also, when it comes to identifying trains, NS refers to trains by 3 numbers or 2 numbers and a letter.
I am used to the way UP, BNSF, and CONRAIL identified trains by type, starting point and destination. It makes more sense than 29R or 211.
In any case, thank you for getting back to me. I will try it again based on your suggestions.
thanks
73
Mike KA2SPH
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I hope that someone in Lynchburg will respond toyou and helpyou out.

In my case I use the mapping program Street Atlas USA and pick a scale that shows the railroad tracks and township names. As the train dispatchers refer to these more than mileposts. In fact, after a short time I had a pretty good idea from looking at the map and listening to the talk what the mile posts are at the major places that there is train activity.

If you don't have the street atlas program, maybe someone has an old one that has bought the latest update. Any old one will have the township names. Also you may check on line and see if the county and/or city has a website that has maps and look for the same information.

Good luck,

Gill

 

[KHMIKE]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Fred,
Thanks for the welcome. I am still not sure how I feel about Lynchburg. It sure is not Houston Tx. or the NYC area where I grew up.
I am sure your family members had a lot of great stories to tell about their time on the RRs
I wish I could drive and had a car so we could meet but oh well...
Thanks in advance for asking around. I will email you my info. I am not YET good in the callbook or with the FCC. Since I only just moved from Campbell County into the city I am slowly working my way down the list of who needs to be notified of the move and how.
I just joined the Lynchburg ARC. While I do have an IC02AT HT it does not have any batteries. I just cannot afford NiCads or NIMHs(and the charger for them) right now. It takes Alkalines, and drains them like water down a drain (slurp).
Between the move and other expenses getting by on SSI takes a lot. Not that I am complaining. At least I have a roof over my head, someone in my life who loves me, and we eat decently. I used to cook professionally and I have a B.S. in Computer Science (fat lotta good it did me).
Anyway, again thanks for the welcome to Lynchburg. I like those LONG iron<?>bridges and trestles the RRs have around here. I have also noticed that the N and W had their original logo cut into the cement or rock supports for some of their trestle abutments.
73 and good listening
Mike KA2SPH
Lynchburg Va
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[BoxAlarm187]

Hey all...

While I have shot a train or two in my life, most of the buffing is in the fire service. However, I have a friend in the fire apparatus industry who is a major railfan based in the Richmond area, but travels all over.

Check his website out: Rails in Virginia.

Hope this helps, in case anyone has not seen his site.

 

[KHMIKE]

HI BoxAlarm187,
Thanks for the info on your friend and his site. I am there now. It looks like a very impressive site
Please mention me to him and if he wants to be in touch I will send him or you my info. This way if you ever make it up here to Lynchburg perhaps we can meet.
As for fire depts, I am not very big on them but I do have to admit that growing up in the NYC area the FDNY equipment was impressive.
I am also sort of familiar with some of the fire service in Israel. If you want to talk about it please contact me off the list. I don't want to get in trouble for going too far off topic.
Again, thank you very much.
73 and good listening/fire buff activities (sorry I don't know what else to call it).
Mike KA2SPH[/b]

 

[BarryWV]

I monitor 2 meter....anyone know the rr frequencies for the area?