Railfan Sites in Louisiana
A self-guiding railfan tour
Railfan, railfan--where do you see trains in Louisiana?
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
- Addis
- Baton Rouge -- CN/IC Engine Facility
- Baton Rouge -- KCS Engine Facility
- Gibsland
- Lafayette
- Monroe -- KCS Bridge
- Monroe -- KCS Yard East
- Monroe -- KCS Yard West
- Monroe -- Mall Area
- New Iberia
- Port Allen -- UP Caboose
ADDIS (December 26, 2001)
From Baton Rouge, go west on I-10, across the (really) big bridge, and then go south at exit 153 via LA-1 towards Plaquemine. After about 6 miles, you'll come to the town of Addis. Bear right on Old State Highway 1 (1st Street in town), and go southwest for 0.3 mile. Turn right on Peter Messina Road and go to the end of the road. You'll see the railroad yard straight ahead past the homes. If you follow the gravel road, you'll be able to cross the tracks. The UP main runs north-northwest to south-southeast, and you're on the east side of the tracks, so this is a morning location. For afternoon lighting, get on the west side of the tracks via any crossing and travel north on Ed Lejeune Street or Railroad Avenue.
NOTE WELL: This is a small town in the quiet south, but the trains on the main go thru at track speed. They are quiet and fast. Be alert and stay well back from any tracks.
NOTE WELL: Avoid this area completely at night.
The attraction at Addis is simple but enjoyable. Here, the UP between Livonia (the important chemical and SIT yard) and New Orleans splits to send a branch up to the city of Baton Rouge. There's a lot of action here, and you should bring plenty of film.
We need to thank T. N. Colbert (K3HX) and John Tricman for this information.
BATON ROUGE -- CN/IC ENGINE FACILITY (July 28, 2002)
Here are 2 approaches to describing how to get to this location:
From John Tricman is this method of access:
On I-10 southeast of Baton Rouge, head west, and at exit 155B, go north on I-110 for about 1.4 miles. Take the Florida Street exit (NOTE: This is a left lane exit), turn left on Florida Street, and drive 0.6 mile to River Road. Turn right to go north on River Road, and the CN engine facility is 1.3 miles on the left. Note that somewhere north of Dort Street, River Road becomes Chippewa Street. Pictures are tough, but there is a now-vacant store at Chippewa and Choctaw -- right across from the station -- and you can sit in the parking lot and get some decent pix.
We need to thank T. N. Colbert (K3HX) for this information.
From I-110, take the Chippewa Street exit and head west, towards the River. Go one block south at your first opportunity, and then go west on Choctaw Drive. Choctaw will deadend at US-61Business, which is named River Road in this part of the city. The small engine facility is just to the west of River Road. Photos are tough, because of wires, poles, and other typical e/f impedimenta. This is a heavy industrial area, and you are cautioned to be very security conscious at all times. Do not, under any circumstances, trespass on railroad property.
NOTE WELL: Both John and T.N. agree that this is no place to be after dusk.
BATON ROUGE -- KCS ENGINE FACILITY (July 28, 2002)
Here are 2 approaches to describing how to get to this location:
We need to thank T. N. Colbert (K3HX) for this information:
From I-110, take the Chippewa Street exit and head west, towards the River. Take a left to go south on Sorrel Avenue for about 5 blocks. To the east will be a large agglomeration of Louisiana state office buildings. Turn into the parking area and work your way southeast for about 2 blocks (the KCS tracks parallel Sorrel about 500 yards east, and the tracks are behind the government office buildings). The parking lot you should be working thru is that of the LA Department of Health and Hospitals. Finally, walk towards the KCS engine facility. As is usually the case, photography is difficult, because the units aren't nicely posed for railfans, but folks who have never had a chance to fan the KCS will enjoy the view.
From John Tricman is this alternate method of access:
On I-10 southeast of Baton Rouge, head west, and at exit 155B, go north on I-110 for about 1.4 miles. Take exit 1E to Capitol Access Road/Department of Transportation and Development, and go northeast for 0.5 mile. When you drive on the overpass, look northeast and you'll see the KCS railroad yard.
Continue on Capitol Lake Drive for about 300 feet, and turn right on West Highway Drive, and go behind the Department of Transportation and Development building for a better look.
Both T.N. and John agree: You need to be careful here, especially after 9-11. Stay out in the open, off railroad property, and be cool and enjoy the action. Do not be here after dusk.
GIBSLAND
From I-20, take exit 61 south on LA-154 into the small town of Gibsland. Here, the KCS Shreveport - Vicksburg main line and the southeast - northwest line of what used to be the Louisiana and North West Railroad cross. South of Gibsland, the latter railroad is still part of the Kansas City Southern, and it heads towards Alexandria. North of Gibsland, the railroad is now a short line, the Louisiana and North West Railroad as a stand alone entity. Explore the area of LA-154 and the crossings of the 2 railroads, Lebanon Gibbs Street, South Railroad Avenue, etc., and you'll see some goodies.
We need to thank T. N. Colbert (K3HX) for this information.
LAFAYETTE (9502xx)
UP/SP Sunshine (Street?) deadends into the engine facility. This is a pretty dead-appearing area. There is a good train watching spot at Pecan Street off Cameron. This was the Sunset Route, and it is busier than it has been for many, many years.
FOOD & FUN This is Cajun country, and the food and dancing and music are unlike most anything else anywhere. Spend some time here and have some fun. This is not a big-time pretentious tourist area. It's truly a down-home, genuine fun place to be.
MONROE -- KCS BRIDGE AREA (September 7, 2002)
From I-20 in the middle of town, and just east of the Ouachita River, take exit 117 and go north on US-165Business/LA-15. This is the 8th Street area. At the red light in front of the Civic Center take a left on Wood Street. Take a right on either South 6th Street or Hart Street. Go north until you reach Desiard Street. Take a left on Desiard. You'll go southwest, go under the tracks, and in about 6-7 blocks, take a right onto South Grand Street. You'll cross the tracks just after they come over the river. You can park in any of the parking lots or on the streets there and walk to the tracks.
Avoid this area totally at night.
Jonathan Taylor was kind enough to submit this location to Frograil.
MONROE -- KCS YARD EAST (September 7, 2002)
From I-20 in the east side of downtown Monroe, take exit 118, US-165 and head north. Do not take exit 117, which is for US-165Business. US-165 at exit 118 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Immediately after getting on US-165, take a right into the area in front of the first hotel you see, a Holiday Inn, and bear right to head to the tracks. This is apparently a frontage road for US-165. Follow this frontage road. Cross the tracks and turn right yet again, on to Millhaven. This is the east end of the KCS (ex-MidSouth, exx-ICG, exxx-Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific.
To view the action, Jonathan recommends leaving the car at the hotel and walking to the tracks. Millhaven is a very busy street, so be very careful in the area. Avoid this area at night, but staying in the hotel is fine.
Jonathan Taylor was kind enough to submit this location to Frograil.
MONROE -- KCS YARD WEST (September 7, 2002)
From I-20 in the middle of town, and just east of the Ouachita River, take exit 117 and go north on US-165Business/LA-15. This is the 8th Street area. At the red light in front of the Civic Center take a left on Wood Street. Take a right on either South 6th Street or Hart Street. Go north until you reach Desiard Street. Take a right on Desiard. (If you go too far, you'll find that you cannot turn right on Desiard, as it becomes one way. If this is the case, continue north until you reach Washington Street, turn right and go to North 8th Street. Take a right on 8th, and then a right on Desiard to get back to the US-165Business overpass.)
Jonathan says that Desiard has the 's' pronounced as a 'z', and the 'ia' as a long 'e'. I'm not sure what that equates to, but it's kind of like Chili in Rochester, New York -- it's one of those names that the locals use to figure out if you're a local or a "foreigner".
Just before going under the US-165Business overpass, you'll see the west end of the yard on your left. This area is OK during the day (stay off all railroad property), but you do not want to be there after dusk.
Jonathan Taylor was kind enough to submit this location to Frograil.
MONROE -- MALL AREA (September 7, 2002)
I-20's exit 120 on the east side of town is for the Pecanland Mall. Take this exit north and drive around to the north side of the mall. You can see the KCS tracks from the Mall parking lot, and there are some really nice grassy areas on which to stand and not be in anyone's way. Be aware that Millhaven Road, which forms the north boundary of the Mall area, is a very busy local thoroughfare.
Occasionally, one can see Delta Southern and NS trains on the KCS here.
Noise from the Mall area itself, Millhaven Road, and the local airport (which is just to the northeast), all combine to make this not only a busy area, but a noisy one. Stay alert and well back from the tracks, parking areas, or streets.
Jonathan Taylor was kind enough to submit this location to Frograil.
NEW IBERIA (9502xx)
LD Engines are at the yard, in the vicinity of South Jefferson and Rouly.
FOOD South of New Iberia is the unique village of Avery Island. This is the home of the McIlhenny Company, and it's world-famous product: Tobasco Sauce. The company provides an interesting tour, but the best part is the Country Store, which has lots of yummy samples of goodies. McIlhenny has many products other than Tobasco Sauce. I think their Bar-b-que sauce is celestial. There is no charge for the tour.
PORT ALLEN -- UP CABOOSE (July 27, 2002)
For you caboose fans: On I-10 in Baton Rouge, go west over the Mississippi River and take the first exit, #153, for Port Allen. As you go over the River itself, you should be in the right hand lane, as the exit is right after the bridge. The exit lane merges with South Alexander Avenue. Continue north on Alexander about one-half mile and look for a place called The Depot. It looks like a small train station. It will be on the left, between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Thanks go out to John Tricman for this contribution to Frograil.