Rail Fanning Butler Indiana

[Scooterb]

A detailed look of railfanning Butler Indiana

Scanner Frequencies*
Huntington District 160.380
NS Chicago Line 160.800

* Scanners are illegal in Indiana
You are ok if you have a Amature radio license
More info here http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/amateur/

Maps

http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-6507
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-6508
http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-6509

Info
Moderate to difficult to get all trains
Butler is a neat town.
The NS Huntington District runs approx. NE- SW.
The NS Chicago Line runs East-West
As you can see from the maps there are several areas in town to park at.
The Bowling alley east of town is on the northwest side of the diamonds.
The Library parking lot west of South Broadway is a good spot. South side of tracks
There is a parking lot / truck staging area at West Willow and Eastern Ave. South side of tracks
Then the parking lot north of the tracks on East Fedral Ave.
Please stay away from the diamonds in the past the police have been known to kick you out.
Do yourself a favor and follow the Huntington district to the south, some scenic areas from Butler south to Saint Joe.
Nice area to photograph as none or few pole lines. Some curves and signals can be worked into photos.

The diamond is located at MP 358.5 On the NS Chicago Line
MP 113.9 On the NS Huntington Line

Defect detectors.
NS Chicago line mp 360.4 west of town

NS Huntington District
102.4 NE of town
118.4 SW of town

Listen for

NS Chicago Line
Edgerton
CP 352
Waterloo
CP367

Huntington District
Montplier
Blakslee
Atta
Mann
Saint Joe
Spencerville

Trains to possibly see
Chicago Line Straight through
100 series trains=General freight
200 series trains= intermodel, racks, roadrailers

M0M would be an extra 10M
M1K would be an extra 11K
I0K would be an extra 20K
I06 would be an extra 206

Several Coal trains in the 500 600 800 series will be seen on this line.
Unit grain trains.
Locals.

10M
10R
11K
11M
13Q
14A
14J
14Q
15J
16E
16N
17M
17N
17R (eastbound)
18A
18M
18Q
30A
31A
31M
38E
39E
358
359

205
206
20E
20G
20K
20Q
20R
20W
21G
21J
21M
21N
21Q
21W
21Z
22K
22W
23K
23M
23N
23Z
24M
24V
24Z
25K
25Z
26N

242 Road Railer

13N
26V
28G
29A
29K
29V
31M
358
66A
68T
69T
557

Chicago line to Huntington Line Southeast transfer


17J
20A
20T
21A
21T
27V
28K
28V
34N
35N

Huntington Line Northwest transfer
These trains are CP trackage rights trains
18T
20M
22T= X507
23T
28T
29T= X 747
32T
33T
36T


Huntington Line

114
121
122
171
181
196
197
252
253
255
260
266
120

These symbols are several years old so any updates or changes are welcome.

[~Z~]

Awesome idea here scott to post this...information is highly appreciated. Here's a couple small questions/corrections:

NS Huntington District
102.4 NE of town
118.4 SE of town

should be SW for second part

Also, what MP is the diamond at in relation to the NS Huntington District? Thanks scott!

[Scooterb]

Thanks Zack I will try to do this with all my fanning spots and maybe some others as I get time.
I have already edited in the corrections. (thanks)
I will also add any additions or corrections as I get them

[~Z~]

For those attending Butler this weekend, have a read.

[Norm]

Scott,

I've been on Erie St; just southeast of the diamond in the past, and had no problems with the local police.

Granted, it is a dead end street, and close to the tracks. Have the local cops been harassing railfans there?

[tsinoms]

So whos scanner will we use!?

[Scooterb]

Jon H and I actually had an officer tell us to railfan there, so we did the owner of the house came out and got his mail no problems...... maybe he was on his meds???????

[Norm]

With the constant din of passing trains, living that close to the diamond he probably was spaced out on sleeping pills, and I can't say I blame him.

Trains in the front yard; trains in the back yard. When does a guy get some sleep?

[GP30M4216]

Don't forget that Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited both roll through on the former Conrail NS Chicago Line. Consult an Amtrak timetable for approximate times, prior to the Waterloo time for westbounds and following the Waterloo time for eastbounds.