Moving for Trains?

[~Z~]

A bit more of a personal question..
Wondering if any of you have moved from where you were to a different place that was closer to the tracks, whether it be a different spot within the same town, moving to a different town, or even a different state. I may have the opportunity to move myself to a different place. (ie Indiana, TN, or Oregon....whereever really) With CP pulling out of GR, my lease being done in April at my apartment, and job hunting elsewhere, this would be a good time to move. Less and less things are tieing me down here in Grand Rapids, and just wondering if any of you all have been in my shoes. Have you thought about moving as well like i am? Am i crazy to want to move really just for trains, and/or different weather?

if you don't want to reply here, i'd like your input if you care to email.. webmaster@railroadfan.com Thanks

[redside20]

Zach try Fort Wayne Indiana

[Scooterb]

I have thought about it at times, when I am looking at other job offers,or looking at what is available I check to see what rail lines are in the area. Also have thought about something like a cabin or small house by a busy mainline so I can get away for the weekend. On the downside If you bought a home by a busy mainline you have to consider the noise.
Also the chance you might burn out enjoying your hobby.
Also all your rail buddies wanting to spend thier vacations with you.

[~Z~]

luke: funny, i was actually looking into areas around ft wayne..lots of employment, and plenty of lines nearby, with many just 30 mins north.

scott: would your family be alright with picking up and moving? I'm still surprised your wife is so tollerant to the railfaning you do so frequently.
I think the noise would be ok, as long as i could still hear the trains going by, just not feeling the shaking. Friends coming down to railfan on their vacation would be good..i would be afraid of burning out though... although, what does burn me out sometimes is driving good distances and not finding many trains.. days getting skunked on longer drives are just tough on the hobby. Maybe i'll be staying around here as first thought..who knows

[Scooterb]

She would rather I get out more often .
Been married almost 24 years, dated 4 years before that. So its good to be away sometimes for both of us.
We have discussed moving before but it would have to be a great offer now as we both have good jobs, and I a great pension plan. Another 13 years and I retire from the current job.

Fort Wayne would be nice. lots of traffic through Fort Wayne and around.

As far as noise you might get used to it but I live 3 miles from the Michigan line and on cold winter nights I can hear them 10+ miles away.

[PAT.C]

ZACK, FT.WAYNE IS A VERY NICE CITY. LOTS OF TRAIN ACTIVITY AND MANY GOOD JOB OPS. I WOULDN'T HESITATE TO LIVE THERE. WE CONSIDERED MOVING THERE WHEN MY SON LIVED THERE. HE SINCE MOVED TO EVANSVILLE. YOU'LL BE CLOSER TO S.C. AND STILL CLOSE TO PATRICK.

[Aleks]

Here's a suggestion that may help your decision.
List your wants and needs and rank them in order of importance.
List your dislikes and don't wants and rank them in importance.
Use this list to evaluate the location you want to move to and using the ranking determine the score for each place.
Sounds a little daunting at first but putting down in writting what you want and don't want really helps to make your choice.

[GreatLakesRailfan]

Zack, I go to school in Mishawaka, Indiana, as you know. The school is about three blocks north of the CN line through town here, and the NS Elkhart-Chicago main is probably 2 miles or so- as the roads run. Aside from the issues with the occaisional train blocking a crossing and stuff, the only thing that's really different from home (where the HESR at about 10 miles is the closest rail line around) is that at first the horns and engine noise are apparent, but after a while you just get used to them and they're really not noticeable anymore. Aside from the fact that I can get to high density main lines a lot easier now that I can at home (convenience, when I get the time to go), its not really all the big of a deal. I'd say, if you find somewhere you really like, move there, regardless of what the railroad situation is. Aside from that, I'd say Aleks has the best advice.

[Aleks]

Scott,
I know the feeling about the wife thing.
Mine lets me go every Friday night, Saturday morning & Sunday morning. She gets to sleep in.
After awhile though she thinks I've had enough if I try too much more. She's tolerent to a point.
We've been married 26 years now and with both my kids in University I have alot more time on my hands to railfan.
Mind you I've been taking photos for some 33 years so it's kind of hard to get it out of my system no matter what the wife may want.

Zack,

I've been fortunate to be near the tracks most of my life so I've never experienced being somewhere where not to much is going on. As you can see from my photos I'm blessed with a nice station, double track mainline, a yard that still is active and 2 secondary lines that branch off of the mainline. I live no more than a 4 or 5 min drive to the station and I can hear everything that goes by on the main and can see the line to the downtown by looking down my street to the crossing or down through my neibour across the streets driveway and over their garage to see the Hagersville sub trains that go by.
To have to drive any real distance would greatly curtail my railfanning.
If it's in your blood deep enough you'll probably never burn out of the hobby. There are times it may wane but it'll come back.
Just try to be resonably near the tracks. You can always drive to the less dense traffic lines anytime.

[SousaKerry]

I grew up within sight of two active rail lines in Ohio, probobly why I am adicted now. Whenever I go to my parents house I am reminded just what it's like living next to a 70+ train a day mainline(B&O across north west ohio) and all I can say is it ROCKS!!!!!!! granted my parents place is far enough from the tracks that the house doesn't shake but you sure can hear em, after a few hours though you really don't notice them that much unless your outside. When I moved out and got a couple of places of my own I could hear the trains but never see em, it drove me nuts, Now I rarely hear em and almost never see em, living here in Jackson, MI except for a silver flash and I really miss it. A good railfan can never burn out on trains and living next to the tracks is awesome, I say do it.

[redside20]

Zach maybe you should look at Columbus Ohio. There is a place over here called Calltech and they handle inbound calls. They offer tech support

The Negative drawback about Columbus is that it has grown too fast and there is lots of congestion on the roads.

So check it out www.calltech.com

[~Z~]

Thanks for all the input here guys.
I can definately understand those married guys that feel the need to have a bit of time to themselves to go out railfanning...anyone in a relationship can understand this issue. Being engaged and living with my fiance, i need some time to get out on my own, and plan it ahead of time..otherwise my time gets scheduled into doing other activities...not to say those aren't still fun, but i need to plan my railfanning time usually, unless it's just around town. Since rail activity is really lacking in GR currently, and with living in an apartment facing north, can't get a decent antenna to hear much rail activity to the south(where most traffic is)

I actually heard Marquette Rail this morning around 8:30am while doing laundry at least. By far, i just miss hearing the activity on the radio, along with hearing the trains, even if i can't see them. While living in Jenison, used to hear them clearing a few mileposts on their way by and going away.

I'll definately look into either Mishawaka area or Ft Wayne though if i do end up moving. I'm surprised with Charles's comment though. He lives the closest out of any of us to the busy lines, but really doesn't think living there is a big deal... Maybe overloaded with the sheer volume on trains heading through?

If i do just move within Grand Rapids, I'm definately moving closer to the main CSX line through town. Thanks all.

[patrick]

HERES A TIP FOR YA TO THINK ABOUT WHEN MOVING>>>>>>>IF YOU MOVE FARTHER AWAY THAN YOU ARE NOW I"LL KICK YOUR BUTTOX. Its hard enough now to plan railfanning events with you.

[PAT.C]

PATRICK'S TYPING LIKE ME . TALK ABOUT HERO WORSHIP !!!!!!!!!!! NOW IF WE CAN WORK ON HIS PERSONALITY . HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE PULL MY FINGER !!!!!!!!!!!!

[GTWTD3]

I did move for trains, although my move was for the job with the trains. However, an interesting side note. As I'm moving junk into my apartment, I hear a horn approaching. Lo and behold, unbeknowst to me, the former conrail now CSX trenton line runs about 20 yards behind my apartment. Great view out the back window of trains coming and going. Can't beat that. GO to work and move trains, come home and watch them.

[BNSF 1088]

I live about 75 feet from the BNSF Mainline in Cade LA the house i am renting just happend to be on the mainline been in the house for 2 years i could do with out the shacking of the house that kinda gets me mad since the pictures always want to slant to one side from all the vibration.

Other then that i like it and the cool thing is if i forget something at home we just stop the train at my front door and i get what i need or they stick me in the siding i just walk home for a while.

[gtw5812]

I moved to my house here in Michigan..specificly for the location..I'm within 10 minutes of the Huckleberry! No joke, I use to live in the Shennadoah Valley of Va, right on the Shennadoah Sub, in Stuarts Draft, but moved back home, cause the folks are getting older...etc. Anyways, I located my new residence within a certain distance of the one thing I really enjoy!! And now I'm a student Fireman there!! Gotta Love STEAM!! Just my couple of pennies!!

Merry Christmas to All!!

Best Regards,
Galen