User:Trainfan01

I have been a Wikipedia editor since April 2010. My typical hobbies are mainly various types of transportation and some Pixar films.

Below is a list of the things I like.

Railroading
As you can tell by the name of my account, I pay quite close attention to mainline train activity wherever I go. However, despite living in a city that is served by three freight services (BNSF, CP and CN) and three passenger services (Amtrak, Via Rail and Rocky Mountaineer), I rarely encounter any mainly because my daily business routines do not usually take place near any of the mainlines. As a result, I mostly encounter mainline freight or passenger rail services when I am outside of Vancouver. Below is a table listing all instances where I have come across any mainline freight or passenger rail activity to date (since 2000). Many of the instances were caught by chance and some were done in preparation (mainly the passenger services). The following listing though, is based on memory and may not be the exact number of train sightings I have actually had (there may have been lots more than what is listed) and the more recent sightings are more accurate. Sightings of freight/passenger services that are now defunct to this day (ex. BC Rail) are omitted and are not included on this list. Sightings of trains on lines that are specifically for tourist railroads are also not included on this list. Instances where there was only a passenger or freight car(s) that was just parked or an engine that was just parked seperate from any cars are omitted as this is a frequent sight I see alot of the time. Train numbers are based on chronology and are not the actual numbers of the engines/cars themselves (which I have not really paid attention to).

Railfanning at major train stations
As noted above, it is harder to trainspot at major rail stations without a ticket. Below, I have a listing of what and where the best ticketless viewing spots are located at stations across North America. At stations in small towns, it is really easy to get close to the action without a ticket since there is often nothing more than a fence or barricade seperating the platform from the station or there may not even be any obstruction at all. As a result, I am focused on stations in big cities. All of the viewing areas listed are based on visits to the station or uses of Google Street View and various sites on the internet. Also, I have listed the level of what the viewing is like at each station as presented by each of the following numbers:

5=Easy to get close views of trains at the station

4=Getting close to the trains cannot easily be done, but there are other spots that offer great views of the action

3=Some great viewing spots of the trains, but you may have to wander a ways from the station to get to them

2=Good viewing spot exists, but it only offers a limited view of the action

1=No good viewing spot exists.

Pacific Central Station
What is the action like? Serves Via Rail's Canadian (weekly) and Amtrak Cascades with a few departures a day.

Platform access (Note the blue sign at the middle top of the image and the green sign on the left side of the image)

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions If you can go a little ways just to the east of the station to where Thornton Street turns into Evans Street, it runs parallel to the tracks on the south side. Nothing more than a barbed wire fence seperates the tracks and you get a great view of all traffic coming in and out of the station. Also, National Avenue which runs along the north side of the station offers a great view of the action as well (but note that a large facility building blocks the view from just before Thornton Street to quite a ways after. If you go past the east end of the building, you will be much closer to the action).

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (north side),  (south side)

Edmonton station
What is the action like? Serves only one train (Via Rail's Canadian) weekly.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Despite this station being in a big city, it sits on the outskirts and is actually quite a small station. Nothing more than a fence seperates the platform from the station, so you have a great close view of the trains.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots, (if you go right up to the barbed wire fence)

Winnipeg station
What is the action like? Serves two Via Rail lines, the Canadian (weekly) and the Winnipeg-Churchill train.

Platform access (very small resolution so it is difficult to read that sign in the center of the photograph)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions Because the trains are on an elevated viaduct as they pass through Winnipeg, it is more difficult to trainspot here. The Fort Gibralter Trail is at the bottom of a steep embankment by the line. At the top of the slope is a barbed wire fence where you can see action outside the east entrance of the station. For stuff coming out the west entrance, you can see trains from the parking lot around William Stevenson and Westbrook, but the view is a bit obscured and a train may appear with very little warning.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (east end),  (west end)

Halifax station
What is the action like? Serves only one Via Rail line (the Ocean) 6 days a week.

Platform access (only half of the sign is visible on the left of this image, it fully reads "Passengers Only Permitted On Platform" and is then repeated in French)

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions Some parking lots on the south side of the station offer a view of the action if you go to the back of them.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Montreal Central Station
What is the action like? Hub for AMT and Via Rail with numerous Corridor routes going out of here as well as the Ocean. Also serves Amtrak's Adirondack.

Platform access (these gates are firmly locked shut when no train is boarding or unloading at the platforms the entrance is for)

Level of viewing 1

Viewing spots and conditions No good spots seem to exist around this station. Because the trains board underground and they enter and exit the station on an elevated viaduct, they are not really visible from the streets below. The Bonaventure Expressway is at level with the tracks as it enters the city and the trains are visible from there, but this of course cannot be accessed to pedestrians.

Ottawa station
What is the action like? Serves a couple of Via Rail Corridor routes to Montreal and Toronto.

Platform access (note the blue sign on the right side of the image)

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Even though the platforms are off limits, there are big windows in the station where you can plainly see the trains just outside. Also lots of spots on the west and east sides of the station offer views as well.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots, (yes, you can get this close)

Toronto Union Station
What is the action like? Busiest train station in Canada. Hub for GO Transit and Via Rail with numerous Corridor lines going out of hereas well as the Canadian. Also serves Amtrak's Maple Leaf.

Platform access (note the sign on the left side of the entrance, albeit blurry)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions Several overheard pedestrian bridges are located west of the station that cross over the tracks and you get a great view of trains coming in and out of the west entrance. There aren't any good spots east of the station, but the large majority of traffic comes out the west entrance.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (this is the closest skybridge to the station),  (taken from a skybridge further west; others can also be seen in this image)

Portland Union Station
What is the action like? Serves Amtrak's shorter haul Cascades and long distance Empire Builder and Coast Starlight.

Platform access (note the white sign in the center of this image)

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions Overheard pedeastrian bridge crosses over the south end of the station platforms offering views of the trains right below. Also Station Way runs parallel to the tracks towards the north end and offers views of the trains here too.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (the bridge),  (street views)

King Street Station
What is the action like? Serves Sounder commuter rail lines and Amtrak's short haul Cascades and long haul Empire Builder and Coast Starlight. Rocky Mountaineer also shows up here on only a few dates a month during its season of operation.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Unlike at other major train stations, the Sounder ticket machines are located on the platforms rather than in the station (it makes it easier to connect from the transit tunnel without having to all the way over to the other side). This makes it possible to go down on these platforms and watch action here as well as the overheard pedestrian bridge (Amtrak platforms are off limits). Also, 4 Avenue runs parallel to the east side of the station and offers views of activity coming out both ends.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (the bridge),  (Sounder platforms)

St. Paul-Minneapolis Midway Station
What is the action like? Serves Northstar commuter rail and Amtrak's Empire Builder.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Pretty easy to watch the action from the station even if the platforms are off limits.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Houston station
What is the action like? Serves Amtrak's Sunset Limited weekly

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions This is a small station so watching the trains here is easy.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
What is the action like? Serves three long distance Amtrak routes, Sunset Limited, Crescent and City of New Orleans.

Platform access (note the stop sign on the paper posted to the door)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions If you go over to Le Rouge Lane, just west of the station right by the arena, you have a great view of trains coming in and out.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots I could not find any images from my listed location (but there are lots taken from the platforms themselves)

Atlanta station
What is the action like? Serves Amtrak's Cresent.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Deering Road runs parallel to the station and offers a great view of the action from above.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots, (this is taken from the road)

St. Louis station
What is the action like? Serves two short haul Amtrak lines and the long haul Texas Eagle.

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions Not sure if the platforms are off limits at all, but if they are, then going to the back of the station parking lot offers a view of the station. While 14th and 18th streets cross over the tracks to the east and west sides of the station respectively, they are not pedestrian friendly as they have no sidewalks.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Orlando station
What is the action like? Serves Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star. Also serves SunRail commuter rail service.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Under the shelter of the station, only a fence separates the platform from the station therefore making it easy to trainspot here.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (no fence here, but stay behind the columns)

Miami station
What is the action like? Serves as the terminus of Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions This is a small station, so plenty of viewing spots in and around the station

Images from aforementioned locations

Chicago Union Station
What is the action like? This is the big station of the midwest and serves numerous Amtrak lines (both short and long haul) and is a hub for Metra commuter rail.

Platform access (note the sign directly below the track numbers)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions Because the trains board underground, it may appear tough to trainspot here. However if you go over to where Polk Street crosses over the tracks (right by the entrance to the postal facility), you have a great view of trains coming out of the south entrance of Union Station (this is also the side of the station where the most activity comes out of). For trains coming out of the north end of the station, Randolph Street crosses over the tracks and you can see the action from here. It is also possible to view some of the action from inside the station itself because the platform entrances are at level with the tracks (they are not at the top or bottom of a long escalator, staircase or ramp).

Images from aforementioned viewing locations (south entrance; this was actually taken from the bridge further south of Randolph Street, which is visible in the distance),  (north entrance)

Detroit
What is the activity like? Serves only one train train (Amtrak's short haul Wolverine).

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions This is a small station so it is easy to find many great spots to watch the trains here.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Sacramento Station
What is the activity like? Serves Amtrak's long haul California Zephyr and Coast Starlight and two Amtrak California routes, San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor.

Platform access (there does not seem to be any obvious sign visible noting a valid ticket being required, but it is not easy to tell)

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions Extensive construction progress is in effect, but if you go past the railroad museum under the overpass to the back of the parking lot, you are right by the tracks separated only by a barbed wire fence and you get a great view of trains coming out of the west end of the station. Also the back of a parking lot along N 7th Street offers a view of trains coming out of the east end of the station. The light rail platforms also afford a good view.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (This was taken somewhere close to the east end)

Oakland Jack London Square station
What is the activity like? Serves two Amtrak California routes, the San Joaquin and the Capitol Corridor and the long distance Coast Starlight.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions Trains run through the streets outside of this station which is also very open (platforms can be accessed without going through the station) which makes viewing here easy.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Diridon Station
What is the activity like? Serves as a hub for Caltrain and a terminus for Altamont Commuter Express and Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor. Also serves Amtrak's long haul Coast Starlight.

Level of viewing 4

Viewing spots and conditions When I visited this station in 2007, I could freely go up on the platform. However, it is possible that things have been upped at that station since then, so if the platforms are now off-limits, going over to where Bush Street parallels the light rail line offers a close view of the trains coming out the south end. Going over to the back of the bus plaza on the opposite side also gives you close views of trains coming out the north end of the station.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (this was easily possible at the time),  (if you go to the right of this image, you will get the east side view),  (taken from the west side)

San Diego Union Station
What is the activity like? Serves as a terminus for Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner and NCTD's Coaster commuter train.

Level of viewing 5

Viewing spots and conditions At the station itself, only a fence seperates the platform so you have a great view of trains here. Also going up onto the trolley platform affords an even closer view.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots

Washington Union Station
What is the activity like? This is the second busiest train station in the United States and serves numerous Amtrak lines as well as being the southern terminus of the Northeast Corridor (Regional, Acela) and serving various long haul routes. Also a terminus for MARC commuter rail and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail.

Platform access (note the red sign on the left side of the entrance next to the status board)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions No spots in the street afford a good view of the action. Instead, get on the Washington Metro Red line and get off at Noma Gallaudet U Station (which is the stop right after Union Station). The platform here is right at level and parallel with the tracks and you get a great view of all the trains coming in and out of the station (even though VRE departs to the south, there yards are north of the station so they also come out here). This location is considered one of the best trainspotting locations in the US.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots On this forum

Baltimore Penn Station
What is the activity like? Serves several Amtrak lines including Northeast Corridor services and is a hub for MARC commuter rail.

Platform access (noted on the bottom of the "Train Information" board)  (also noted here on the messahing board)

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions All bridges that cross over the tracks (Maryland Avenue, Charles Street, St. Paul Street and Calvert Avenue) are lined with railings on both sides, but they are short enough that you can peer over them and see the action below. A better place is the MTA light rail platform at Penn station where you get great view of the trains here.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (light rail platform)

30th Street Station
What is the activity like? Serves several Amtrak lines including Northeast Corridor services and is a hub for SEPTA Regional Rail service. Also the terminus of NJ Transit's Atlantic City line.

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and conditions Part of the issues with this station is that it is built next to a freeway (which runs at level with the tracks) which makes it very difficult to watch trains here. However while all streets crossing over the tracks have big concrete walls blocking the view, Schuylkill Ave runs parallel to the tracks between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street and the view down onto the tracks is not blocked by any fencing and you can see trains coming out of the south end of the station. For trains coming out the north end, the Spring Garden Street bridge crosses over the tracks and at certain points you can see the trains passing by down below (a metal wall blocks the view part of the way).

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (south end)

Boston South Station
What is the activity like? Serves as the northern terminus of Amtrak's Northeast corridor services and the eastern terminus of the long haul Lake Shore Limited. Also the hub for MBTA Commuter rail services.

Level of viewing 3

Viewing spots and locations There is no good spot to watch the trains from the streets at all due to the large amount of freeway off-ramps. However, in the station if you go through the glass sliding doors to the area under the shelter (the actual platforms are off limits), you can see the action from here.

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (this is how close you can get without a valid fare)

New York Penn Station
What is the activity like? This is the busiest train station in North America serving Amtrak lines all along the coast (including Northeast Corridor services) and to the midwest. Also a hub for Long Island Railroad and NJ Transit commuter rail.

Platform access (the signage is not visible in this low resolution image, but having travelled through this station once before, I am aware of its presence)

Level of viewing 1

Viewing spots and conditions Because the trains board underground and go under the city and the Hudson River, there is no good spot to watch the trains anywhere. While 9th Avenue crosses over the tracks at an opening, a massive concrete wall blocks the view. According to this forum, it seems that it is better to try another station further along the line, due to limited lighting and sensitive security in Penn Station.

Los Angeles Union Station
What is the activity like? Serves as a hub for all Metrolink lines and Amtrak California'a Pacific Surfliner. Also the terminus for Amtrak's long haul Sunset Limited, Southwest Chief and Coast Starlight.

Platform access

Level of viewing 2

Viewing spots and conditions As stated above in the section on "Train 150" in the Railroading table, platform access can no longer be done without a ticket. The Metro Gold Line platform affords a close view of trains on the far west tracks, but due to the angle, anything on tracks further over (including long haul Amtrak trains) are not easily visible from here. The parking lot of the Metro Gold line station also affords a view, but the only way you can see anything further over is if all the closer platforms are empty (which is a pretty rare occurrence especially on a weekday).

Images from aforementioned viewing spots (notice the very small gap between the Metro train and the Metrolink train)

Movies I like
Below is a list of the movies I have seen and like. Although I own VHS and DVD copies of all these listings, many of them (especially the earlier listings) I have not watched in ages (it has been nearly twenty years since I last watched Dumbo). Some of the listings might appear odd, but I seem to more like the ones that people don't seem to remember that much. Also, in addition to the movies listed here, there are a huge lot of other movies on my video shelf, but I have never watched any of them. Even if they are good ones, they either seem to range from not being of my interest (Frozen) to mostly blatant commercialism (The Lego Movie). I have listed my own thoughts of what I think about the movies that I like. The movies are listed in the order I got them, although the first few films are ones I initially got when I was very young and I cannot remember which ones I got first.

Dumbo (This is only one of two traditionally animated Disney films I have seen. I only received it because of my train interest (a.k.a. Casey Jr.). While these earlier scenes have always gotten me the most attention, the second half of the film sort of drags along even for its short runtime (films always seem much longer when you are younger). Due to my hatred for clowns, I stopped watching this and started watching Mary Poppins instead.) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. I cannot remember how I got it)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (I still use my Winnie the Pooh plate after all these years. Back when I regularly watched this, I always requested to fast forward the scene of Rabbitt being lost in the woods. Sometimes, I remember even stopping the film before this last part.) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. As with ''Dumbo, I cannot remember how I got it)

Babe (The stuff I remember about this film (other than the talking farm animals concept) is only the first few minutes and the last few minutes. I can't really remember the middle part of the film which tediously dragged along. Also at a younger age, I could not figure out what the storyline was.) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. As with the above two, I cannot remember how I got it)

Mary Poppins (I have never made it through the film's entirety. While it certainly remains a well-known classic with its familiar songs, I always stopped watching after the end of the animation/live-action segment because the film got boring after that.) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. As with the above three, I cannot remember how I got it)

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines (Despite never making it through Mary Poppins, I never have had a problem in viewing this film in its entirety. Maybe because of my interest in airplanes and trains (the latter of which comes up towards the end of the film).) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. As with the above four, I cannot remember how I got it)

Toy Story (never had any problems with this film, but it certainly is one of my faves.) (I own a VHS copy and it was one of the first videos I have owned. As with the above five, I cannot remember how I got it)

Toy Story 2 (Both this and Toy Story are my two favorite films in the series.) (I own a VHS copy and I got it much later than the above six. I cannot remember how I got it)

Stuart Little (I have never read the original book; I first got exposed to Stuart Little in a PC computer game based on the movie. While I like this film, parts of its second half drag on for lengthy periods of time.) (I own a VHS copy and I got it much later than the above seven. I believe I got it as a christmas present)

Stuart Little 2 (I liked this one better than Stuart Little. Much more action and excitement to it.) (I own a VHS copy which I got as a christmas present)

Finding Nemo (This and Cars are the only non-Toy Story Pixar films I have seen. Another Pixar masterpiece.) (I own a VHS copy which I got as a christmas present)

The Polar Express (This film I saw twice in regular cinema and once in IMAX. I read the original book, but it is nothing compared to this amazing masterpiece (and trains are the major focus here). Music is even on the John Williams score level.) (I own a VHS copy which I got shortly before christmas came along)

Madagascar (This is a funny film with the catchy "I Like to Move It" song, but it gets tiresome quickly (maybe I had been surfing the film's website too often beforehand). Regardless, I actually like The Wild better.) (I own a VHS copy which I got as a christmas present)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Never seen the 1971 version, but that hardly matters. I have read the original book and this version stays much closer to the book.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present. This was the first DVD I got and since there was only a VHS player in my apartment beforehand (they were no longer releasing films on VHS), I had to buy a DVD player in preparation for this and future films)

Herbie: Fully Loaded (Never seen the original Love Bug films at all, but I was forced into seeing this film despite it not being on my list. However, in the end, I do like it and at least it is fresh enough (the concept of the car is self-explanatory) for ones who have not seen those films.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present along with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (I haven't watched the short films in ages, but I do like the feature film. Many funny moments.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly after its release)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (I read the original book in elementary school, so I brought the movie. Pretty faithful to the book.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly after its release)

The Wild (,, It's not THAT bad a film. Although it appears to initially be a repeat of Madagascar at first, it is not quite on the same rip-off level as FlyOver Canada is with Disney's Soarin' Over California (that is far worse). Also, The Wild was in production first anyway (but took much longer to make). Regardless, this one has better animation and has its moments.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present)

Over the Hedge (Funny movie.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present)

Cars (This and Toy Story are my two favorite Pixar films. I own the soundtrack, a 2007 film-based calender and even a Lightning McQueen christmas decoration to further prove it. I do not care about the forgettable sequel.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present)

Hoot (I read the original book in middle school and it caught my interest (I probably would have never known of burrowing owls beforehand), so I grabbed the film as well. Decent faithful adaptation.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly a year after its release (I had not read the book when it initially came out))

Charlotte's Web (I read the original book in elementary school, so I grabbed this movie as well. It is also a pretty faithful adaptation with the sense of Babe to it.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly after its release at the same time I got Hoot)

Flushed Away (Funny film much like Over the Hedge.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly after its release)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (Better than the first film. Lots of funny moments.) (I own a DVD copy which I got shortly after its release)

Bolt (I initially did not plan on seeing this film, but changed my mind. It is a pretty good film.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as an Easter present)

Toy Story 3 (I do not like this film as much as the first two. While it certainly is a perfectly consistent follow-up and has its moments, the second half suddenly turns really dark (at times, you forget this is a Toy Story film). Also, the scenes are better and more relaxing when the annoying and rather irritating Bonnie is not on screen. I hope Toy Story 4 will be better.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present)

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (I like this one better than Toy Story 3 and the first Madagascar. More entertaining moments that get my attention.) (I own a DVD copy which I got as a christmas present)