Railfanning in Atlanta

Max:

Insofar as CSX, a good spot is at the former NC&StL station in downtown Kennesaw.  This is right across the street from the museum that houses The General and is about 20-25 minutes from Eric's depending on traffic.  For NS, the best spot is in Austell, GA where NS' Atlanta to Birmingham and Chattanooga lines split.

Neither spot is particularly conducive to photography but, you will see trains.

Curt

Max:

 

I should add there are also about a half dozen nice HO layouts on the tour tomorrow in addition to Eric's O gauge layout.  You might want to also consider checking some of them out as well.  I have pasted in the link to the NMRA Piedmont Division tour schedule so you can take a look at what else is open tomorrow.  I'll note these layouts are all grouped geographically and are within a reasonable driving distance of Eric's. 

 

Curt

 

http://piedmontpilgrimage.com/...lendar/month/2015-11

 

On the west side of Atlanta are yards for CSX (Tilford Yard) and NS (Inman Yard). West Marietta St NW into Perry St (south of the trackage) runs the entire length it, and there are a little couple pull offs along the road where you can watch the action. Additionally, there are lots of bridges where the tracks pass over, especially at the beginning of West Marietta and along Howell Mill Road.

 

I'm not sure how familiar you are with the general area, but I have seen people rail fanning along the tracks north of Atlantic Station, just southwest of the Atlanta AMTRAK station. You take 17th Street to Bishop, and when it turns into Mecaslin there's a cross street that leads to the tracks. People pull off there and you can set up / watch as close to the tracks as you think is safe (pedestrians and bikers use that little cross street as a way to cross the tracks to get into Atlantic Station). Here is a video of the spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjZ7kCQyxhs

 

Hope this helps! Have fun at Eric's always wanted to stop and see his layout but unfortunately I'm out of town.

 

(If you can, swing up to Misty Mountain Railroad. It's about 2 hours north of the city.)

Trains' Hot Spots Guidebook recommends the parking lot at King Plow Art Center, which they say is the safest view of Howell interlocking, the busiest in the state.  And they also recommend the bridges that cross over the yards are the best and safest places in that area.

 

In Austell they recommend the overhead bridge with double sidewalks.

All of the in-town locations are sketchy. I've been panhandled by obvious junkies, near the yards, at Spring Street and other locations. Keep your wits about you, and clear out before sundown.

 

Don't trespass as CSX and especially NS cops will be on you like white on rice.

 

Don't be surprised if Atlanta Police stop and ask what you're up to, even if you're on public property. Be polite and explain what you're doing and they will usually caution you about your surroundings and leave you alone.

 

Only once was I told to remove myself from the sidewalk of the Marietta Blvd Bridge over the NS tracks by an ATL PD officer because, he claimed, NS had complained that people were throwing missiles at their trains. I didn't feel like wasting time arguing with him so I complied with his request. The only "missile" I was armed with was a $3500 Canon camcorder. I assure you I had no plans to throw it at a train or anything else for that matter.