Well now that I call Champaign home once again, I'm happy to find that I live real close to the former IC now CN Champaign yard. I now get to see a lot more trains than I did in Winnebago and I see Amtrak at least twice a day. Sooooo, any body know where I can get the scanner freqs for this area or maybe someone has them? I get to see a lot of CN/IC and NS traffic here. Thanks in advance! Jim
Jim, welcome to the area, go hit Tolono just South of Cham-bana,for the NS and here is a helpful link for you http://www.railfanswelcome.com/RailfansWelcome.htm If you need any help for directions for anything local just PM me, will be happy to help if I can, and nice to have ya in the neighborhood, as I live just North of Danville
I did the Tolono thing last year and it was really cool. The Champaign yard wasn't very active that day.
Tolono is a great place to spend a day, never know what you are going to see there, but can be sure you will see alot of trains and just about any active loco on either the NS or CN/IC plus just about any other road. And the town and their police force are very railfan friendly, have NEVER had a problem at all down there. Have never had much luck at the CMI yard
Thanks Shaun, I went to Tolono about seven years ago and had a good time. Tolono is about ten to tweenty minutes away so I'll probably check it out soon. Typical Sunday here today, not much IC traffic, but yesterday was busy. Oh yeah pics will be coming! Jim
jim- Nice to have you back, as far as the Scanner They are AAR Channel 25 (160.485) up here north of Chicago, Since I drive all over Illinois and Wisconsin for work I took the 20 minutes and plugged all 98 AAR channels in my radio and hit scan! It has been well worth the effort. Canadian National 161.415 -- [AAR channel 87] -- channel 1 (end to end) 161.205 -- [AAR channel 73] -- channel 2 (dispatcher) 160.935 -- [AAR channel 55] -- channel 3 (dispatcher) 160.665 -- [AAR channel 37] -- channel 4 (dispatcher) 160.365 -- [AAR channel 17] -- channel 5 (terminal switching) 160.485 -- [AAR channel 25] -- channel 6 (dispatcher) 161.025 -- [AAR channel 61] -- channel 8 (dispatcher) 161.505 -- [AAR channel 93] -- CN police Brad
Jim: I began my railroad career as a brakeman on the I.C. out of Champaign yard 30 years ago. That was a time of black geeps, red, side, door, cabooses and orange and brown streamliners. I worked the road down to Centralia, Bluford, the Dry line, and locals out of Mattoon, Effingham, Centralia and Clinton. It was a good time to railroad and I remeber it fondly. When you get a chance, head out to the railroad museum at Monticello to truly relive the 1960s in Central Illinois. Lots of local railroad equipment in great shape and they not only have a great staff but are in the process of completly rebuilding a former Southern 2-8-0 which should be done this year. Also check out a red, wood Soo Line caboose which my family and I use to own it is pretty nice and now is back home again at Monticello. Enjoy central Illinois, Barry, Training new railroaders in Kansas
Charlie: No. I am the regional training instructor and DSLE for the K&O out of Wichita. Formerly from up north in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Have a great night, Barry
Barry PM me I have a question for you. Jim, Welcome back to our favorite web site. Looking forward to some photos from your new local.:thumbs_up:
