Loading

Railfan Sites in Kentucky

A self-guiding railfan tour

Railfan, railfan--where do you see trains in Kentucky?

We are making progress with some railfan point-to-point-to-point tours. For a map of what we've accomplished in Kentucky, go here.

An effort to detail the Norfolk Southern's Louisville District from Youngtown Yard in Louisville to Faulconer (Danville) has been started. So far, 24 railfan locations in Louisville have been detailed, and a few locations close to the CNO&TP have been started. This is obviously a work in progress, but the cross-Louisville tour is easy, and is great for a business person with a few hours to kill, or for a vacationer in the area who has some time to spend trackside. Points on the tour are marked with a [SOU West] symbol.

While you're here, why not take a mountain railfan tour? Here's another one, and it's rather short, at least in Kentucky, but it's part of a much bigger (at 150+ miles) Clinchfield tour, and it's here. Points in Kentucky on the Clinchfield tour are marked with a [CCO] symbol.

For a longer tour in Kentucky, I've started the Cincinnati - Chattanooga CNOTP tour, and it promises to be a barn burner. So far, I've gotten the Faulconer to Danville - Keno segment completed, a distance of over ????? miles. Sites on this tour are indicated with a [CNOTP] symbol.

Mapwork: If you're going to be looking for railfan locations, you'll need an industrial strength map resource. I definitely recommend you get a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer, study it before your trip, and copy pertinent pages for your field work. You can find information here about Railfan Maps that are available.

Cities And Sites

* With thanks to Eric McFadden. Visit his Ohio railfan pages here.

(1) Roger Rassche and Eric Landrum collaborated on these sites. Please note the excellent detail they've provided.

(2) A tip of the hat to Jeff Horstman for this information. His homepage is here.

(4) Joe Ferguson was kind enough to give us this excellent information.

ASHLAND (October 22, 1998)

This data will supplement Eric McFadden's material, which is accessed above. The Amtrak station, which appears to be the ex-C&O freight station, is reached at the foot of 15th Street at the Ohio River. Just east of the CSX tracks is a public park, for AM shots, and for letting the kids run around and burn off calories while you wait for some goodies to roll by. Just north of the station area are the twin bridges across the Ohio River, which are huge, and pass far, far over your head. Between the bridges is a large grassy area with is perfect for PM shots. Bring a lawn chair and a cooler.

Traveling south on US-23 out of town, the CSX mainline is close enough to reach out and touch. This is primarily an afternoon photo location, because there is little room between the tracks and the river in most places. There are good photo spots for several miles. Coal is king here!

Back to the top

BURGIN(March 5, 2002)

From Harrodsburg's US-127By-Pass, go east on KY-152 about 5 miles to the small town of Burgin. Once in the center of Burgin, it's kind of difficult to get away from the tracks, as this is the busy NS Cincinnati -Chattanooga ex-CNO&TP main line. AM and PM locations are available off-railroad property. For most welcome life support, there's a grocery store right by the mainline.

With a tip 'o the hat to Buddy Burton for this information.

Back to the top

CORBIN (July 27, 2001)

Corbin is all CSX, all the time. Three subdivisions meet here, and there are two separate activities taking place. North-south Detroit/Toledo/Cincinnati -- Knoxville/Atlanta/Jacksonville flows thru Corbin, but is generally not yarded. Indeed, crews change at the depot downtown, and some refueling is also done outside of the yard (this is very similar to how NS handles it's thru traffic in Danville, although crews do change in the yard at Danville). The other activity, and the main reason for the big yard in Corbin, is coal. The rugged country east of Corbin is home to King Coal, and this coal is brought into town via the CV Subdivision. Most coal entering the terminal (some coal comes into Corbin from mines south of town, also) is classified, and trains then depart for specific customers.

From I-75, take exit 25, and go east on US-25W heading into Corbin. Be aware that US-25 comes into North Corbin from the north, and splits into US-25E and US-25W. Don't confuse them, or you'll really have a tough time finding anything. You'll come to a T, with KY-26 heading south, and US-25W heading north. KY-26 goes parallel and close to the tracks for several miles, and there are train watching locations. The traffic south of town is heavier than that heading north, because more coal moves south. At the T intersection, the main bulk of the yard is right in front of you, but is inaccessible behind buildings. Go north on US-25W into the downtown area, and the street will split to become 2 one-way streets. Pass the police station and take a right onto West 7th Street. This will quickly bend 90° to become Depot Street, and it will parallel US-25W on the west, and the yard on the east. Take Depot north to the area of the L&N depot and park. This is the place to watch trains, because most of the interesting yard-related activities are blocked by coal cars and are inaccessible from public property. Also, all thru trains stop for crew change at the depot, and some are re-fueled there, also.

Just to the north of the depot, you can see the wye-like area where the CV sub comes into the CC sub coming down from Cincinnati. Radio activity is heavy, as trains talk to the yardmaster for their orders, etc. Northbound trains bringing empties into the terminal often get this far north, so you've got a good chance of seeing that power, but coal cars can often block your view.

The area is apparently safe and quiet, with normal people doing normal things. That said, we always recommend you fan with at least one male friend. Shane Miller provided the majority of this information, and his help is very much appreciated.

[Note: This material was supplemented by info provided by TRAINS Magazine in March of 1996. If you don't subscribe to TRAINS, well, you should. It's an excellent publication. Get on its web site here . ]

Back to the top

ERLANGER -- DEPOT AREA (November 28, 1999)

The suburban community of Erlanger is located at milepost 9.8 on the NS 1st District CNO&TP. The depot has been moved and restored, and now houses the local museum. There is a wide-open park here, great for letting the kids run around and work off steam, while it also provides a good vantage point to safely watch the very busy NS main, including the locals based in Erlanger. Food of all sorts is available on Dixie Highway (US-42/US-147), just over the tracks and a quick drive.

Safety: Excellent
Photogenic score: Fair
Traffic: Good

Directions: Take I-75 south from Cincinnati approximately 10 miles to the Donaldson Road exit, just south of the I-275/I-71/I-75 interchange. NOTE: This is a really screwy interchange coming from the north, so be careful as the I-275 folks are trying to enter as you are exiting. Go left (east) at the bottom of the ramp about one mile. There are a couple of ways to get to the depot area, but the easiest and safest is to avoid the intersection with Dixie Highway and Donaldson Road. So, as you enter the pleasant residential area of Erlanger, pick a side street to the left and turn left. Go one block, then turn right on Erlanger Road. In doing this, you'll parallel Donaldson without the hassle. Follow Erlanger Road until you see the tracks, and turn left. You'll see the station and the paved parking lot at this point. This is primarily an afternoon photo shoot location, as industry and line-side growth interfere in the morning.

NOTE: Watch your speed in Erlanger, as the local police have been known to hide in driveways, etc., and issue tickets for very minor speed infractions. FURTHER NOTE: A local Erlanger resident has disputed this information, and I certainly can't vouch for one side or the other in this difference of opinions, so I'd suggest you just use common sense: Observe the speed limit and remember, no photo op of a train is as important as the safety of you, your passengers, other drivers and passengers, and pedestrians.

Roger Rassche and Eric Landrum collaborated on these sites. Please note the excellent detail they've provided.

Back to the top

GREENDALE -- GREENDALE ROAD (August 20, 2002)

This is an area just north of Lexington. From I-75 north of Lexington, take exit 120 for the Iron Works Pike. Go west on Iron Works for about 1 mile to US-25/Georgetown Road. Take a left and go south on US-25 for about 2 1/2 miles. Take a right onto Spurr Road. Note that this road is referred to as "Spurr" and "Spur" depending on the map used. You'll come to a left turn at Greendale Road within a half mile. Take this left and drive to the vicinity of the crossing. This is Greendale Interlocking, and is the start of double track southbound thru Lexington. Viewing is good to excellent.

Buddy Burton has been good enough to provide this information to Frograil.

Back to the top

GREENDALE -- SPURR ROAD (August 19, 2002)

This is an area just north of Lexington. From I-64, take exit 75 and head south towards Lexington. Just a mile or so south of the Interstate, take a right onto Spurr Road. Note that this road is referred to as "Spurr" and "Spur" depending on the map used. Within a mile you'll get to the NS (ex-CNO&TO) tracks. There is a Ferrellgas facility east of the tracks, and you can park there. Viewing is excellent from the west.

Buddy Burton has been good enough to provide this information to Frograil.

Back to the top

HIGH BRIDGE (August 19, 2002)

From US-68 southwest of Lexington, take local road 1268 into Wilmore. In town, take a right on KY-29 and go continuously southwest towards the confluence of the Kentucky and Dix rivers. Just northwest of the confluence, the CNO&TP crossed the Kentucky River on a massive structure, which is still referred to as High Bridge, and even the small community in the area is now named High Bridge.

There is a park, High Bridge Memorial Park, that offers excellent viewing of the bridge. There are parking areas, restrooms and a new overlook (2001) to watch and see trains. A pavilion is near the overlook. The park is closed January and February. It is possible to get closer to the bridge, but you must be mindful of trespassing and personal danger. The bridge itself is at MP 103.0.

Buddy Burton has been good enough to provide this information to Frograil.

Back to the top

HOPKINSVILLE -- CASKY LANE (September 3, 2001)

In the southeast corner of Hopkinsville (home of the 101st Airborne Division -- The Screaming Eagles), take US-41 (not US-41Alternate) south. Just south of the Pennyrile Parkway, take a left onto Bradshaw Pike, which will go southwest, and then turn almost 90° to go southeast, shortly after which it will cross the tracks. This is the CSX Nashville - Evansville - C&EI main line. Continue on what is now called Bradshaw Road to the intersection with Casky Lane, probably a mile or so. Take a left to go northeast and back to the tracks. In the crossroads of Casky, you're in the mid-point of the Casky siding.

I'd like to thank Chuck Hinrichs for his heads-up on this site.

Back to the top

HOPKINSVILLE -- LATHAM SOUTH (September 3, 2001)

Hopkinsville is just north of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Airborne Division, US Army, the "Screaming Eagles". If you don't understand what you just read, you'd better do some homework, or join the friends of the socialist society for something. Note the lack of capital letters.

Hopkinsville is also the home of the CSX heavy duty main line from Nashville up to Chicago, and it's a great line to fan. Here's a quiet place to see some trains:

From the junction of US-41 and US-68 in the center of town, go north on US-41 to Metcalfe Lane. Go east on Metcalfe to the tracks, and pick your spot. This is the south end of the Latham siding. Stay out of Riverside Cemetery. Since you're virtually 0° north-south here, you'll probably want to shoot only southbounds, and the time of day you select is important.

I'd like to thank Chuck Hinrichs for his heads-up on this site.

Back to the top

HOPKINSVILLE -- SKYLINE DRIVE (September 3, 2001)

From the intersection of US-41 and the Pennyrile Parkway, go north on US-41 into Hopkinsville. Take a right onto Skyline Drive and drive to just west of the crossing. There's excellent viewing from the west here, so park, get out the lawn chairs and coolers, and relax. Life is good, and some of the best soldiers in the world are just south of you at Fort Campbell -- the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division -- The Screaming Eagles.

I'd like to thank Chuck Hinrichs for his heads-up on this site.

Back to the top

LEXINGTON (March 2004)

RJ Corman At the corner of West Main and Buchanan, go down the hill into the yard office area. 1-4 engines. Up until October 2003, this was a CSX facility. The Old Road subdivision included in the purchase was from Berea to Winchester (trackage rights) and then Winchester - Lexington - Anchorage. It apparently has rights or owns the track all the way thru Bowling Green to Memphis Junction. There is very little traffic thru Lexinton, apparently.

Back to the top

LEXINGTON -- HAYMAN AVENUE (August 20, 2002)

From the loop road around Lexington (New Circle Road/KY-4), take the Harrodsburg/Lexington exit on the southwest side of town, and drive east into Lexington on US-68/North Broadway/Harrodsburg Road. After approximately 3 miles you'll pass the NS (ex-CNO&TP, not at grade). Take the first left, which is Hayman Avenue. This is the entrance to the NS yard area. Parking is available, and if you stay in your car you'll probably be OK. Do not, under any circumstances walk on or even near the tracks.

Buddy Burton has been good enough to provide this information to Frograil.

Back to the top

LOUISVILLE -- CSX OSBORN YARD SOUTH (August 22, 2001)

Osborn is the major classification facility for CSX in the Louisville area. Lines from north, south, east and west find their way into the yard. The major southbound line is the very heavy ex-L&N main line to Nashville. This site will get you trackside for these trains.

From the Ohio River, go south on I-65 to I-264, and go west on I-264. Take the 3rd Street Exit, and take a left on 3rd to go under the interstate, and then take your first left after coming out from under the underpass. At this last turn, make sure you stay to the right, or you'll find yourself going back up the ramp to get on I-264 going right back the way you came. This street is Southern Heights, and it will take you east to its end in a T with Strawberry. Southern Heights will wiggle around a bit, but just stay with it. Take a right on Strawberry Lane, and you'll closely parallel the tracks coming out of the south end of the yard for about 1.5 miles.

This is a decent area, but be alert. It's a western view, but because it's almost north-south in orientation, most southbounds will give you decent photos. Check out Strawberry Lane for a photo spot that suits you.

Back to the top

PAINTSVILLE (October 22, 1998)

This is a hard-working, nitty gritty town, and the CSX is at the east side of town. I never did figure out the name of the street, but sometimes you've just got to follow your instincts. Anyway, there is a street leading down to, and dead-ending at the ex-C&O station. It's easier to find than to describe.

There is a yard at the station, but this is mountain railroading, which means the yard is a few tracks wide, and several miles long. That's the case here. There are some 10-12 trains thru here a day. My suggestion would be to take a backpack with food and drink and reading material, and hike either left or right from the station, until you found a spot you liked. You'll not be bothered by other railfans or over-zealous railroad police up here, but use your head, be safe, and stay off railroad property.

Back to the top

PEMBROKE (September 4, 2001)

From Hopkinsville, go south on US-41 to the town of Pembroke, about 9 miles. Take a right at North Main Street and drive to the tracks. There is parking and viewing along Magnolia Street to the east of the tracks, and Hobson Street to the west. You're assured good light virtually all day long.

I'd like to thank Chuck Hinrichs for his heads-up on this site.

Back to the top

RICHMOND -- DEPOT AREA (December 17, 1999).

From Lexington, go south on I-75 to exit 87, and go east on KY-876 (known as the Richmond By-Pass), until you reach US-25. Go north into town for about a mile. You will come to a crossing of the CSX mainline. There will be a helper unit on your right (north), and the depot will be on your left (south). If no helper is present, you can be certain it's out helping a train!

Joe Ferguson was kind enough to give us this excellent information.

Back to the top

RICHMOND -- NORTH END FT. ESTILL (December 17, 1999).

From Lexington, go south on I-75 to exit 87, and go east on KY-876 (known as the Richmond By-Pass), approximately two miles. You will pass Eastern Kentucky University on your left, and then go under the CSX mainline. Just past the overpass is a traffic light. Turn right at the light and go up the hill to the railroad crossing. Just past the tracks is a grassy area where fans park to watch trains.

This point is the north end of the "Ft. Estill" siding, and is actually at the top of a rather long climb out of the Kentucky River Valley to the north of Richmond. Tracks here are north-south oriented, so best light is usually late afternoon. The other side of the tracks is inaccessible for morning shots. It's not unusual for a train to be sitting here waiting for one to come up the "hill."

Expect perhaps about 20 trains per 24-hour period, but they can bunch up at times. Traffic consists of coal, autos, a few general merchandise freights and one intermodal each way daily. You might get lucky and see unit molten sulfur and grain trains, also.

Joe Ferguson was kind enough to give us this excellent information.

Back to the top

RICHMOND -- US-25 SOUTH (December 17, 1999)

From Lexington, go south on I-75 to exit 87, and go east on KY-876 (known as the Richmond By-Pass), until you reach US-25. Turn right (south), and head away from Richmond. There are places along US-25 where the CSX mainline gets within 1/4 mile of the highway, and there are a couple of overpasses off US-25 which are lightly traveled, and provide good vantage points from which to catch southbound freights. These bridges are easily seen from the highway.

There is also a spur here into the Lexington-Blue Grass Army Ammunition Depot. The Depot sees irregular service, and is switched by an inaccessible 80ton locomotive.

Joe Ferguson was kind enough to give us this excellent information.

Back to the top

STEARNS (February 6, 2004)

Stearns can be reached by taking US-27 approximately 30 miles south of Somerset, KY, to one mile south of Whitley City, KY, then turning west 1 mile on KY-92. This is on NS's CNO&TP line, and is one of the busiest stretches of track on the NS system. In addition, many extra locomotives travel to and from the servicing facility in Chattanooga along this line.

Stearns is the home of the Big South Fork Scenic Railway and the Kentucky & Tennessee Railroad. These railroad are sister operations, and the former is a tourist line, while the latter is a freight railroad. Check them out at http://www.bsfsry.com .

Bill Johnson was kind enough to submit this railfan area to us.

Back to the top

WADDY (August 21, 2002)

About 40 miles east of Louisville, take exit 43 from I-64, and head south on KY-395 to the small town of Waddy. After one mile you'll cross the Louisville - Danville NS main line. The crossing is at the west end of the Waddy passing siding, and photo ops aren't much to brag about. Therefore, continue south for 1/4 mile, and take a left onto Kings Highway/local road 637. This will shortly bring you up to the mainline, and will then parallel the railroad all the way to the Waddy siding east end.

There are several good locations for photos along here, especially an overpass that sits in a sharp curve that goes over the main.

Buddy Burton has been good enough to provide this information to Frograil.

Back to the top

WILMORE (March 5, 2002)

From Lexington, got southwest via US-68 for about 15 miles to the junction of US-68 and KY-29. Get onto KY-29 and continue southwest for a few more miles, and you'll roll into Wilmore. You'll pass College Street, and then come to Main Street. Take a left on Main to go southeast to the tracks -- and they're busy tracks, as this is the NS Cincinnati-Chattanooga ex-CNO&TP main line. There is a police station that provides a good place to park, and access is available off-railroad property from both sides of the tracks.

With a tip 'o the hat to Buddy Burton for this information.

Back to the top