Train Watching?

[Lash]

So my 3.5 year old is OBSESSED with trains. Does anybody know of a place around that gets a lot of train traffic where we could go and watch them?


:thumbsup

[Car Guy]

I will talk to my father; he has been a conductor for 35+ years with Union Pacific (formerly Chicago Northwestern) and knows where all the best spots are.....

[97z2801ss]

My son loves trains too we seen one on the way to his school today. Thiers a train shop down in bayview I believe they has alot of cool stuff, My father and grandfather each have layouts and have been spending tons of money on trains.

[lilws6]

My son loves trains too we seen one on the way to his school today. Thiers a train shop down in bayview I believe they has alot of cool stuff, My father and grandfather each have layouts and have been spending tons of money on trains.

i think he means real trains tho???

[Lash]

Yeah... real trians...lol.

We did go to the train show at State Fair Park. He was in awe....as was I.

[TheRX7Project]

If any of you are interested with your train loving kids, I have a model train setup I'd sell you dirt cheap. N scale, it includes an assload of track (some of it is EZ-Track), a power pack (plugs into wall), a Bachmann F9 painted in Santa Fe livery with a Micro-Trains coupler conversion, and a few freight cars (some are Micro Trains, some are Bachmann with MT coupler conversions). I also have a bunch of scenery stuff if you're looking to go more permenant that I'll throw in. I had it set up on a 2'x4' plywood board at my old place but I have no room here.

Sorry for the thread hijack...

If you are looking for a good spot to do some real train watching (or just gazing) go down by Potowatami. There's a train yard there less than 50ft from the road.

[indyzmike]

A good place to watch is duplainville rd. in the town of Pewaukee. There is a street to park on along the tracks just south of Quad graphics, by the bar. Amtrak goes through at 4:05 every day. Two railroads cross there and if you have a scanner to monitor the trains it is a plus. If you go there on a weekend there are usually other train nuts you can get schedule info from.

[Car Guy]

Take him to the Milwaukee County Zoo and go for a ride on the train, one is steam powered and one is diesel powered. We went for a ride last fall and many childhood memories flooded into my brain.....:)

[Lash]

Take him to the Milwaukee County Zoo and go for a ride on the train, one is steam powered and one is diesel powered. We went for a ride last fall and many childhood memories flooded into my brain.....:)

We have a zoo pass. He's been on it more than I care to say....lol.

[Korndogg]

Luke. I took my car to the Illinois railway Museum when they had their train/car show and it was a blast!

http://www.irm.org/

They have tons of trains that are on display and you can also ride some of them like steam engines and also electric ones. If you don't want to go to the car show, they have a schedule of what trains are running when so you can ride on your favorite one.

I believe their car show this year is Aug 1st.

[0TransAm0]

you can hop on the metra train in kenosha and take it to chicago. i know its nothing huge but its still a nice ride. we went today and bummed downtown chicago all day. just got back about an hour ago. only cost $15 round trip each.

[Lash]

Luke. I took my car to the Illinois railway Museum when they had their train/car show and it was a blast!

http://www.irm.org/

They have tons of trains that are on display and you can also ride some of them like steam engines and also electric ones. If you don't want to go to the car show, they have a schedule of what trains are running when so you can ride on your favorite one.

I believe their car show this year is Aug 1st.

Awesome!

Thanks man.

[Korndogg]

Awesome!

Thanks man.


Let me know if you go to the car/train show. Me and the woman might want to go or might be going anyway.

[indyzmike]

Illinois Railroad Museum is best on holiday weekends when they have the most equipment running.

[88Nightmare]

124th and capitol has a few union pacific lines right there if you want to watch a few freight trains. go behind the strip mall next to home depot

[lordairgtar]

There is a drive way to the left of the Mitchell Park Domes they use for maintenance. If you go further down the drive, it will take you right into the train yards. Don't know how much action there is there but sometimes a switcher or other locomotive is idling at the building down there. Just don't go onto the track area, stay in your car and you should be fine. Also in North Freedom, Wisconsin there is a train ride there on a full size steam locomotive.
http://www.mcrwy.com/

[Windsors 03 Cobra]

I have a 3.5 year old little girl also obsessed with trains.
We did the Day out with Thomas last year @ IRM and that was fun, I wish Thomas would have been a real steam engine but sadly it was an old diesel with a big fake Thomas out front.

There is an East Troy train ride and museum that look like a fun ride on some old tracks from Mukwonago to East Troy. http://www.easttroyrr.org/

Closer to home for us is the Sturtevant Amtrak train station which is brand new and nice for the gubmint supported train with some cool old pictures and stuff from the old station, a very cool bridge to safely cross the tracks to the other side. The bridge provides atleast 10 miles worth of sight to the south for viewing of oncoming trains, The fully enclosed bridge is also a safe and secure place for the child which is nice with a little kid. This little video kinda shows what it looks like, easy to get to right off highway 20 about 4 miles east of I94. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4tiEaSSohI
Another view with a train rolling thru @ Sturtevant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LebA9Io6syg
Being on the bridge when a freight rolls thru is neat and a bit scary the very tall stack trains are about 4' from the bridge and provide a neat effect @ 50 mph, we usually go to see a scheduled Amtrak on its way from Cago to Milwaukee, need to check out the Mitchell Airport station sometime soon.

We also ride/check out/railfan Metra and CTA trains in northeast Illinois and Kenosha
Kenosha also has cool old steet cars.
Summer Hours: (April 1st - January 4th)
Monday through Friday: 11:05 a.m. until 6:35 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10:05 a.m. until 5:35 p.m.
- Fare: 50¢ Adult - 25¢ Children 12 & under
http://kenoshastreetcarsociety.org/default.aspx

[Undertaker]

Go to Wirth Park on Pilgrim. It seems like at least one train goes by when we take the kids there to play. They love going there.