Train Watching, Railfan, Trainspotter, Train Enthusiasts is defined as an activity in which we go out, find a safe place on public property or with permission on private property and watch trains as they work up and down the rails. Train watching offers us the enjoyment of getting out and watching the real guys doing operations which we try to simulate on our layout. It affords us a great opportunity to take pictures and video that we can share with others. There is still a lot of history on the rails in America. When was the last time you saw a caboose? Well believe it or not, they are still in use although rare. We have seen a caboose in use, right here in Montgomery Alabama in 2007. Mostly it is just a great time with friends enjoying the weather and talking about our hobby.
MGB members attempt to go train watching several times a year. Generally in the spring and fall when the weather is nice in central Alabama. We have been to the Auburn/Opelika area, and all along CSX north and south of Montgomery. We have listed some of our favorite spots and rated them, some of which may even be the best train watching. Check them out yourself sometime and let us know what you think.
One of our favorite spots is Thorsby, Alabama. In Thorsby, there is a park, with picnic tables, pavilions, and restrooms. The only issue is there isn't a lot of train action. We give Thorsby 
4 out of 5 Golden Spikes for train watching spots.
Just north of Thorsby is another of our favorite spots - Calera, Alabama. Behind the police station is the CSX and Norfolk Southern at-grade crossing. Here the action is a little better with NS added to the CSX, but the facilities are not as nice as the park in Thorsby. BONUS - if we get really bored, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is just across the road. We give Calera 
3 out of 5 Golden Spikes.
Irondale, Alabama is another spot we have visited several times. Irondale is at one end of the Norfolk Southern's Norris Yard (which is a hump yard), so there is lots of train action including Amtrak twice a day. Irondale has a couple of train watching platforms and to eat, the famous Irondale Cafe sometimes known as the Whistle Stop Cafe. This is the cafe that was referenced in the movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes". We give Irondale 4 out of 5 Golden Spikes.
We have been known to go on weekend long train watching trips. The best so far has been the Folkston Funnel in Folkston Georgia. Folkston has it all for train watchers. Train watching platform with scanner, restroom facilities, eateries, lights for night time viewing, and most importantly, lots of train action. Here you can see on average 70 trains per 24 hour day. Included are Amtrak, Tropicana Juice train, Auto Carriers, and unit trains of all kinds. We give Folkston 
5 out of 5 Golden Spikes.
Since Folkston is probably an overnight trip for most people, MGB can pass along some information to make this trip a really good one. For those of you that are married and have wives who care nothing about trains. The MGB founding members can highly recommend "The Inn At Folkston". This bed and breakfast is just blocks from the train watching platform and you know women just love romantic weekends at B&B's.
For those that are not married, can get away from the wife overnight, or families who go camping there is a little known RV campground just blocks from the train watching platform. An MGB Friend says, "I have stayed at Cedar Ridge Campground a few times. I recommend it to all my RV friends and they like it too. It's just a new park and not many people know about it. It has HUGE pecan trees and is surrounded by cedar trees. They have 30/50 amp hookups and always have room." Get all the details at Passport-America.
One of our favorite spots for train-watching in Chilton County is Mountain Creek, Alabama. We don't know why this area is called Mountain Creek, because we haven't seen a mountain or a creek, but it's a great place to watch trains. This spot is located in southeastern Chilton County, just off of US-31 (AL-3). The CSX has a siding here that is just a tad over one mile long. What makes this spot special to us is the fact that a seldom used concrete county bridge crosses over the tracks here. It makes for a great train-viewing platform. Looking north from the outstanding vantage point on the bridge, you can catch your first glimpse of southbound trains almost a mile away! The view to the south (of northbound trains) is not as good because of a nearby curve toward the southeast, but you'll hear trains blowing at the crossing that's about 4 tenths of a mile from the bridge. The traffic along this segment of the CSX is "not anything to write home about", but you'll enjoy yourself when a train does happen by. We give Mountain Creek 3 out of 5 Golden Spikes.
Speigner Alabama is another enjoyable place we like to watch trains. The area is kept mowed by the neighbors who live along the CSX mainline between Montgomery and Birmingham. It is also on the crest of a hill with crossings both north and south, so we can hear the train coming and it's moving at a slower speed for great pictures. There is also a hotbox detector here as well that tells us the length of train and axle count. Speigner is on 143 in North Elmore just north of the Elmore Correctional Facility. We give Speigner 3 out of 5 Golden Spikes.
Do you have a favorite train watching spot in or near Alabama, please let us know about it on our Contact page. Who knows, you may just see us there one day.
