Eastern Railroad Discussion > Norfolk-Southern radio frequencies?

I am new at using a scanner to listen in to railroad transmission. I generally visit southside Virginia, from Danville up to Lynchburg. I own a Radio Shack, hand held scanner, model Pro 46. This is a 100 channel, programmable unit. Because Norfolk-Southern is in my area, near Danville, Virginia, I have programmed in the following frequencies:160.245;160.440;161.190 and 161.250. I should mention that I have changed my "rubber duckie" antenna to a "telescoping" antenna. My problem is this....The other day while I was watching for trains and observing "local" yard movements, I thought for sure I would hear the crews and engineer giving signals when they coupled and uncoupled cars. Or, perhaps the yard master communicating with the switching crew. A train passed by on the mainline and I was dissapointed to hear it's horns as it approached and nothing from my radio. I didn't hear a thing! Can anyone give me any advise as to the frequencies I should be using? I am standing within 50' to 150' of the action and I hear nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks you, Richard

160.950 is the road channel on the Southern.
160.245 is used for some conversations with dispatchers.

Gary

160.245 is the SOU dispatcher to train channel 2.160.830 is the train to dispatch. These 2 in my area(Birmingham) are mostly used to give track warrants in the not CTC areas. If the train has a good radio and you have a good enough antenna,you should hear them at least 5 to 10 miles away. I have picked up a few trains over 20 miles away. You will always hear the dispatch talking to someone somewhere if you are near a radio relay and I would expect there to be one in Danville. Once you know the names of locations down the line,listening to those MOW track warrants will give you a heads up of whats coming from as far as 50 miles away.

Not sure if this covers the area you are in but it may be worth checking out:

http://www.krunk.org/ns-nrv/

rfprr

There are a couple of ways you can find out what frequencies are being used in any area. Put the scanner into "search mode" and search the frequencies from 160.215 to 161.565. You could also program in all the AAR frequencies ( 160.215 to 161.565 in .015 increments i.e. 160.215, 160.230, 160.245 and so on) then note which frequencies are being used in the area.

Thanks, for all the suggestions. I went back over to Danville, last night, and actually got some sort of transmissions. One, simply stopped the scanning process, I don't remember the frequency that it stopped on, however, it was one of the frequencies I had programmed in. The other was a train crew member calling out to the conductor or engineer. It was a bit "static sounding" but at least I heard it. Another train passed by later and I had no transmissions at all before it showed up, or, after it passed. Go figure.
...Richard

If there are any signals in the area you should hear them calling signal indications as they approach them. At least NS does it in my area. Also if there are any defect detectors around you should hear them. If you hear a sqeaking sound on frequency 161.115 that is one of the old NS rearend devices. Good luck!

There are signals all around the mainline in Danville. The mainlline splits into two sets of tracks that extend all the way through Danville and into Caswell Co; North Carolina. Many trains pass one another when approaching this trackage. I generally watch the signals for indications of train presence. The scanner idea was to help me better understand movements. Thus far I'm still a little confused. Especially when a train comes and goes and I've heard nothing before, during or after it passes. I'm within site of signals and CTC equipment.
...Richard