Western Railroad Discussion > Help with the Houston Area

Greetings-

I have a business trip coming up in Houston next week. I am actually going out a bit early (this Thursday) to spend a couple of days doing some chasing in the area. I am hoping to get some shots of KCS Belles while they are still prevalant. Thursday and Friday night, I am staying in Rosenberg, TX, southwest of Houston. As I understand it, KCS has trackage rights on UP's Glidden Sub, then turn south at Rosenberg on the KCS Rosenberg Sub. Just wondering if there are any specific areas I should make sure I hit and any suggestions for chasing in the area. Oh, and if someone has the AAR freqs for the scanner for both subs, it would be much appreciated!

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Kevin,

Here are some frequencies for the Rosenberg area for you:

BNSF:

AAR channel 72 161.190 BNSF DS 23 Galveston Sub south of Somerville, also Mykawa Sub

CPKC:

AAR channel 47 160.815 Switching
AAR channel 67 161.115 Road
AAR channel 97 161.565 Dispatcher

UP:

AAR channel 44 160.770 UP Houston Terminal Dispatcher 2, handles Glidden Sub as far as west switch Eagle Lake, also handles Rosenberg Sub
AAR channel 77 161.265 UP Glidden Sub west of Eagle Lake

As long as you do not venture onto the tracks, you should be safe viewing trains from street side (Walnut Street) adjacent to the BNSF/UP diamond at CP SA036. https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5608006,-95.8126193,3a,75y,207.29h,78.37t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSyO43CqaD6nmOaE-O4REFQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DSyO43CqaD6nmOaE-O4REFQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D61.95292%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Avoid parking between the BNSF and UP mains at the Third Street crossing. 

You can also park along South Calhoun Street in Richmond west of UP's Brazos River bridge; it is also not a bad vantage point for eastbounds.  https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5838867,-95.7611207,3a,75y,73.52h,91.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGivH3EEx6aogCCXyXhzt6Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DGivH3EEx6aogCCXyXhzt6Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D263.383%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

As much as I despise what TXDOT has done to the highways on the west side of Rosenberg, you can use the TX 36/US 90A intersection in the sky and associated ramps to spy on eastbound home signals at CP SA036.  https://www.google.com/maps/@29.5598019,-95.8198771,3a,38.6y,79.43h,81.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfRFGZfDy-PX9Ci6LlI7ilQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I suggest a trip to Kendleton.  Be careful, as map software may still show Gin Road parallel to the yard as a public road; I regard it as CPKC property and stay off it.  I have not been bothered while perched atop the Doris Road overpass (along a shoulder of Doris Road, not the southbound feeder of US 59) on the north side of the yard; watch out for southbound feeder road traffic, as it is common for drivers to run the stop sign at Doris Road.  https://www.google.com/maps/@29.4680292,-95.9670442,3a,75y,250.99h,81.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_GwA3VCBE0l8i_0TbwC-mA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Matthew
 

Thanks for the information, Matthew. This is exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com