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TOP 10 TRAIN VIEWING SITES NEAR CINCINNATI-other than Tower A, of course!
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TOP 10 TRAIN VIEWING SITES NEAR CINCINNATI - other than Tower A, of course!

List compiled by Robert W. Martin, Jr. with the assistance of Fr. Dale Peterka, Tom Beueggeman, Jack Haap and Jim Edmonston, all of whom are on the Cincinnati Railroad Club Board of Directors.

Tower A at the Cincinnati Union Terminal/Cincinnati Museum Center is by far everyone's favorite train viewing location. However, due to the much anticipated and much needed renovation of the entire facility, Tower A will be closed for 2 1/2 years starting May 23, 2016. With that in mind, the Directors of the Cincinnati Railroad Club (which maintains Tower A) put together the following list of their other top 10 train viewing sites in and around Cincinnati. The list is not in any particular order but rather runs generally north to south. You can see the trains from each location without trespassing. Remember, it is both unsafe and illegal to enter railroad property. Please check these locations out BUT be sure to come back and see us at the new Tower A in 2019! ADDITIONALLY IT IS VERY IMPORTYANT TO NOT TRESPASS ON ANY RAILROAD PROPERTY OR ANY OTHER PRIVATE PROPERTY AND BE SURE TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM ALL RAILROAD TRACKS AND EQUIPMENT.


1. Behind the McDonalds in Hamilton
This is a very popular destination because you can pick up something to eat or drink at McDonalds and then see many trains if you park nearby. The CSX and NS main lines run through here so the action is pretty much non-stop. Coming from the south, the McDonalds is on the east side of Central Ave. (US 127 just before the intersection with High St.) The Butler County Justice Center is across the street. Another excellent nearby location is the old Hamilton Depot just south of here on Rt.4.

2. Glendale
This location is very scenic because it is just off E. Sharon Rd. in the center of this beautiful, upscale town. You can park right behind the police station for free and sit on a bench under a tree. Alternatively, you can sit on the upper deck if the Cock and Bull restaurant and enjoy the food and/or drink while the trains go by on the CSX mainline. You will see plenty of NS power here as well. This line is the old B&O track. You can reach this location very easily by taking exit 15 off O75 and then head west on E. Sharon Rd.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

3. Wyoming
This location is once again in the middle of a very scenic upscale town and there is even a bench and little fountain area just off the tracks. There are plenty of options for refreshments nearby. This is the same mainline CSX track that runs through Glendale and there is plenty of action. Wyoming is south of Glendale and to reach this location from Cincinnati, you would proceed to Route 4(Vine St.) by taking exit 10 off I75 and the heading west on E, Galbraith then right onto Route 4. You then turn right (east) onto Wyoming Ave. , go through the commercial center of Wyoming and the tracks will be right in front of you.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

4. Elmwood Place
This is a nice location if you have young children with you because they can play in the playground while you watch the trains. It is located on Elmwood Ave. between Maple and Walnut Sts. This is the NS mainline but you will see CSX as well. It is the old New York Central track. Route 4 (Vine St.) runs right Elmwood Place and intersects with both Maple and Walnut Sts.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

5. Intersection of Spring Grove Ave. and Vine St. Cincinnati
this is a very busy location and you can park and get very close to the tracks. It is just south of the location described in #4 above.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

6. Old B&O freight terminal(Longworth Hall) in Cincinnati
The huge structure is hard to miss. The building has been renovated and is use for various commercial purposes. There is plenty of parking and a wide variety of refreshments available nearby. It is located on Mehring Way and is very visible on the west side of I75 as you enter Ohio from Kentucky and is very near Downtown Cincinnati.(Photo by Chris Mayhew)

7. Footbridge over 6th St. Cincinnati
This is where the NS climbs the approach to the Ohio River bridge,. Approach by following Mehring Way west from Paul Brown Stadium.(Photo by Chris Mayhew)

8. Near the site of old Ludlow, KY station
Crossing into Kentucky, take exit 192 from I71/I75, follow route 8 west into Ludlow. This charming little river town has many refreshment options. Turn left (south) onto Carneal St. (Ludlow Phatmacy on corner) and follow to the end. Your will have an excellent view of the NS mainline heading south to Chattanooga and north to the "cut in the hill" then over the Ohio River to Cincinnati(Photo by Dennis Teagle).

9. Tim's Trains, Covington, KY
Here you will see not only CSX trains on the mainline, but you can step into Tim's Trains and experience old fashioned friendly service and purchase anything related to model railroading, It is easy to reach fro Downtown Cincinnati by a number of different routes but the most scenic is to take the historic Roebling Suspension Bridge (which served as a model for the Brooklyn Bridge) and proceed onto KY route 17 south to Decoursey Ave. Tim's will be on the right at the RR crossing.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

10. The old Erlanger, KY Depot
Easily reachable from I71/I75 by taking exit 184A and proceeding southeast on Commonwealth Ave. (KY route 236). Turn left on Dixie Highway and then take the first left onto Erlanger Rd. and then immediately bear right onto Crescent Ave. The Depot is on the right and there are plenty of parking options as well as a play ground for younger railfans.(Photo by Dennis Teagle)

 

 

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