Railfan help for Ashland, VA and Norfolk

[Treebeard56]

Hi Folks,
I am going with my special needs son to Ashland on Saturday to railfan for the day. He is a special young man, now almost 30 with a rare genetic disorder but loves trains and always have. We have been to many places to watch trains since he was a teen. Things lagged a bit and he is now interested again to watch and listen.
I bought a BC125AT scanner for him, a subscription here and for the ARC125 software so I can program the radio. He is pretty high functioning and lives in Norfolk in his own apt with the Hopehouse foundation. I am an old ham N1GMM mostly on HF and CW and make my own radios...

So, is there a list of frequencies for the Norfolk, Eastern seaboard up through DC that I can program the radio? Its probably not the BEST radio but it will work for him. We had an older one in the past but it was misplaced..

My name is Guy and I am recovering from 2 right cerebral strokes but am capable of getting about with a cane. I am 68+

Thanks for any help.
PS. I think most of these frequencies are from 168mhz up to ~ 170 or so.. thanks for any help!

73 N1GMM Guy

 

[K6CDO]

Good morning, Guy.

There are two frequencies you will want while in Ashland. The 'Road' channel, 161.550 (known as "Channel 96") and the 'Dispatch' channel, 161.410 (known as "Channel 20").

Ashland is on the RF&P Division of CSX. The Ashland station is at Milepost (MP) CFP 14.9. Trains here usually report their position as they approach signals. The two closest to town are "Ashland North" (about MP CFP 15.8 north of the station) and "Langford" (about MP CFP 13.8 south of the station). He may be able to hear the defect detectors at MP CFP 8.1 or at CFP 14.6. The dispatcher covering the area is known as "BD" (CSX Baltimore Division, area "D").

If you are standing on the platform near the station, you can see the trains approaching from about a mile north of the station, or 2-3 miles south of the station.

I hope the two of you enjoy your day in the Center Of The Universe!

73,
Don K6CDO
Ashland, VA

 

[Treebeard56]

Thank you Don. This is very helpful to me and my son!
This is exactly what I needed to know. I looked you up on qrz. But nothing there. I hope you are active!
Ham Radio and building little rigs keeps me going. I will send you a private email later.
73 N1GMM
Guy
Bealeton, VA sticks..

 

[nickwilson159]

I hope that wasn’t either of you talking on the CSX Road channel in Ashland this past Saturday…

 

[Treebeard56]

I hope that wasn’t either of you talking on the CSX Road channel in Ashland this past Saturday…

Most likely if I had a cane.

 

[Treebeard56]

We had a nice time.

 

[vavolff]

We had a nice time.

I'm glad to hear it too! If you ever do end up down in Norfolk, send me a message. I can hook you up with frequencies and where the good spots are. It's no Ashland down here, but there's still some pretty good rail action around here if you know where to look. I do need to get up and railfan/photo Ashland at some point, one of these days. 73's from KC2VSP (Current, but not active).