Western Railroad Discussion > Final Solo Railfan Trip - Kingman

I will be 80 in a few days – solo railfan trips are over. Last one was a good one, though. (Previous ones were LA, KC, Chicago and Fort Madison.)

Flew to Las Vegas and rented car. Trip to Kingman on 93 was not as boring as the map would indicate. Scenic in Nevada, and the high desert afterward was kind of calming after the Las Vegas bustle.
 
My first stop before checking into motel was the Kingman Visitor Center. Spent a little time inside but then went out and sat on a picnic table under a metal roof. I ended up spending quite a few hours at that spot during the trip! It is only about 200 feet from the transcon! You never have to wait long for action there – eastbounds in full power climbing up to Kingman, and westbounds in dynamics going the other way. Gotta be one of the best train-watching spots on the western transcon! And I had it all to myself, every time I went there.
 
Of course I visited the Kingman Railroad museum. Got a personal tour from a nice man probably a bit younger than me. Exceptional model train layouts in different gauges. An eastbound manifest came by during that time so we had to stop and watch it, naturally.
 
Also went to an animal sanctuary called Keepers of the Wild. Valentine AZ, on old route 66, about 30 miles from Kingman right along the transcon. Saw many freights coming and going. I went on a Safari Tour of the zoo-like area with many animals. It was interesting but also a bit sad. (You will have to go there to know what I mean.) The compound is right across 66 from the transcon so I witnessed, from a distance, around 11 trains including a meet. (Only a railfan would be aware of the meet.)
 
I mostly ate in room or had fast-food lunches but had 2 excellent breakfasts at Ruthefords Family Diner on Andy Devine Avenue. (You gotta be old if you remember Andy Devine.)
 
I took a couple of videos but they are not of Trainorders quality so I won’t post.
 
I would like to thank Trainorders member “goneon66” for suggesting this trip as a comment to a previous post of mine.
 
Yes, my last solo trip, but wife and I are thinking about a fall trip to Pennsylvania next year. Station Inn in Cresson? Comments welcome.
 
Mark
Austin TX
 

Good report !

Made me laugh .....   "Hiya Buck !"

I've done that flight into Vegas and drive down 93 to Kingman (as I'm sure many others have).  Beautiful scenery.

As for Pennsylvania, the Station Inn is a good choice, but I would recommend The Bridgeview B & B at Rockville Bridge just outside of Harrisburg.  You'll get essentailly the same action on the NS Pittsburgh Line there as you would in Cresson, and you'll have more non-railroad options there than you would in the Cresson/Altoona/Johnstown area. 

markmcal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I will be 80 in a few days – solo railfan trips
> are over. Last one was a good one, though.
> (Previous ones were LA, KC, Chicago and Fort
> Madison.)
>
> Flew to Las Vegas and rented car. Trip to Kingman
> on 93 was not as boring as the map would indicate.
> Scenic in Nevada, and the high desert afterward
> was kind of calming after the Las Vegas bustle.
>  
> My first stop before checking into motel was the
> Kingman Visitor Center. Spent a little time inside
> but then went out and sat on a picnic table under
> a metal roof. I ended up spending quite a few
> hours at that spot during the trip! It is only
> about 200 feet from the transcon! You never have
> to wait long for action there – eastbounds in
> full power climbing up to Kingman, and westbounds
> in dynamics going the other way. Gotta be one of
> the best train-watching spots on the western
> transcon! And I had it all to myself, every time I
> went there.
>  
> Of course I visited the Kingman Railroad museum.
> Got a personal tour from a nice man probably a bit
> younger than me. Exceptional model train layouts
> in different gauges. An eastbound manifest came by
> during that time so we had to stop and watch it,
> naturally.
>  
> Also went to an animal sanctuary called Keepers of
> the Wild. Valentine AZ, on old route 66, about 30
> miles from Kingman right along the transcon. Saw
> many freights coming and going. I went on a Safari
> Tour of the zoo-like area with many animals. It
> was interesting but also a bit sad. (You will have
> to go there to know what I mean.) The compound is
> right across 66 from the transcon so I witnessed,
> from a distance, around 11 trains including a
> meet. (Only a railfan would be aware of the
> meet.)
>  
> I mostly ate in room or had fast-food lunches but
> had 2 excellent breakfasts at Ruthefords Family
> Diner on Andy Devine Avenue. (You gotta be old if
> you remember Andy Devine.)
>  
> I took a couple of videos but they are not of
> Trainorders quality so I won’t post.
>  
> I would like to thank Trainorders member
> “goneon66” for suggesting this trip as a
> comment to a previous post of mine.
>  
> Yes, my last solo trip, but wife and I are
> thinking about a fall trip to Pennsylvania next
> year. Station Inn in Cresson? Comments welcome.
>  
> Mark
> Austin TX
>  

Scary, I not only remember Andy Devine, I can recall his distinctive voice as heard on my parent's B&W TV. You and I are nearly the same age, 80 is a year and a few nonths off. I'm considering a cross-country Amtrak trip to visit my remaining sister in Phoenix. Late trains and bad connections won't matter too much. Although I'm still working I have boat loads of vacation time.
​Gonut

Yes good report.

Agree Kingman is the place for serious train action with good access to scenery and civilization, motels and restauraunts. Didn't know about the Museum, good excuse for a visit.

t4p.

The Kingman Culver's is very well run by the franchisee, Gordon, but the real action is downtown.

TJY

Glad you had a good time. But no visit to Kingman is complete without a visit to Mr D'z diner across the street from the 3759 display. 

Tom

Railfan4Christ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glad you had a good time. But no visit to Kingman
> is complete without a visit to Mr D'z diner across
> the street from the 3759 display. 
>
> Tom

You better believe it!  Love Mr D'z.  Went in there once with my wife on a sunny and warm spring day for lunch.  When we were finished a downpour kept us inside for another 10 minutes.  Then the sun came back out as we walked to our car.  Northern Arizona is always memorable.

-John

I've hit all of the well known lodgings along the PRR. 

For a low-intensity "watch 'em go by" experience, complete with other fans and advance warning of what's coming, the Bridgeview can't be beat. Sit on the deck, pull up a chair, and watch them roll over the bridge. An excellent photo location right there. 

if you'd prefer a more private experience, with your own kitchen and porch, take a look at Milepost 142. Three nice cabins, right across the road from the main, and the Juliana river right behind that. Very enjoyable. 

The last solo----it is not the quality of the photos that is is important but the quality of the MEMORIES.  Tom Klinger

Great report. My last solo trip could have been a disaster so wife is much against another. But will probably do another before end of year. Still in PT for that one.
JB

I get your comments on "the last trip".  I turned 80 last year and after a couple of trips this year, and #81 birthday, also determined my train chasing days were over.  You had an excellent trip and this is a very nice report.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/24 18:38 by ntharalson.

Sorry to hear this. I have wondered when my last trip will be too. As JB said my wife has warned me about the risks of solo trips.I just finished another to the Yukon and Aalska and all went well but it takes one time. Bill Webb