Western Railroad Discussion > HELP -- Phoenix / Tempe area questions

I'm going to be in the Phoenix area this weekend for my Granddaughters 1st birthday. I won't have much time for railfanning, but I would like to get a shot of something coming across the Salt River bridge in Tempe. Do the trains in and out of Phoenix run on any predictable schedule? I would like to get a morning or late afternoon shot or even a night shot. early morning works good because my better half likes to sleep in & I don't. Also do the Peavine trains in & out of town run on any kind of regular basis? Thanks in advance for any help.

Bob Jones

Bob,

Trains run fairly frequently in and out of Phoenix but not on anykind of a schedule.

From personal experience and listening to UP chatter on the scanner every morning there is quite a bit of UP traffic between 0630 and 1030 hours. Right now we are up to about eight UP trains a day on the Phoenix Sub, not including locals.

The BNSF is more of a hit and miss. I know there is an EB that leaves Mobest almost everyday around 1600 hours (4pm). Just take a drive along Grand Ave and you will most likely find some BNSF action.

Hope this helps.

JMW
http://www.arizona-rails.com

Thanks, maybe I'll run into you down at Shawmut again some time.

I live near the BNSF in Surprise. It seems every morning between 7-9 AM there is a westbound coming into town. Most of the time it has a meet with an eastbound at the Beardsley siding by Grand Ave and Reems Rd.

On Grand Ave between Bell Rd and 111 Ave. there is a great girder bridge over the Aqua Fria where you can get good morning shots. This is just south of the auto unloading yards.

I've had good luck in the evenings at Tempe town lake. It's funny, when I'm not looking for them, the rails get quite busy. But if I decide to "wait for a train" I'm waiting for hours, and eventually give up.

Last weekend I saw an inbound freight, blew it's horns through all the crossings. A few minutes lates, the local went over the bridge, never blew their horns. Anyone know why not?
--Mike