By Robert H. Hanson
LOGANVILLE, Ga. | The photo and caption in the April 14 edition of GwinnettForum set me to thinking about the new train observation platforms that have sprung up around the country in the last decade or so.
Georgia has nine such facilities (to my knowledge) and they are located as follows
City Railroad(s) Traffic Volume (Trains per day – est.)
- Cordele………….CSX/NS/HOG…..45-50
- Dalton…………..CSX/NS ……………40-45
- Duluth ………….NS ……………………25-30 (includes two Amtrak)
- Folkston …………CSX ………………….40-45 (includes six Amtrak)
- Jesup ……………CSX/NS ……………40 +/- (includes six Amtrak)
- Locust Grove …NS ……………………25 +/-
- Manchester ……CSX ………………….30+/-
- Ringgold ……….CSX ………………….20 +/-
- Toccoa …………..NS …………………….25-30
(Key to Railroads: CSX – CSX Transportation; NS – Norfolk Southern Railway; HOG – Heart of Georgia Railroad.)
Train counts may vary from day to day, and season to season. Train count is from web sites and in a few instances, estimates provided from rail enthusiasts who’ve visited the sites.
These platforms are a far cry from Grandpa’s bench on the depot platform. They are designed for observing and photographing the railroad action. Most are covered, have railings and seats, some have picnic tables for those who want to make a day of train watching, and some have a radio scanner built in so train-watchers can determine what is coming from which direction by listening to the conversations between the crews and the dispatcher.
Most have close access to food, soft drinks, and rest rooms.
The cities who have opted to build these facilities did so to attract rail enthusiasts to come, watch trains, and (hopefully) spend some money while in town. I have spoken to someone connected with one of these platforms and was told that the city council in that location felt that the funds were well spent.
While I have not visited all these locations, I have visited two (Manchester and Cordele) and can attest to the relative comfort of these facilities. They sure beat standing out in the sun in some God-forsaken place, camera around your neck, waiting for a train!
These made-for-train-watching structures are a far cry from the benches at the local railroad depot that were used by the town folk to sit and watch trains.
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