Railfanning Allentown Rail Hump Yard

You can still railfan CP-BURN - just stay at the public crossing and don't wander onto railroad property.

JD

I was at Allentown on Thanksgiving Day and it was operating like it was any old day. In a matter of 30 minutes I saw 4 trains. 33K with a CSX SD40-2, 99M being a work train with equipment strapped onto flatcars destined for Harrisburg, 24V which ran through the yard instead of on the other side of the river. There was also another east bound manifest and local HA15 waiting to return to Allentown from Bethlehem. Siting at the station was a UP Flag unit between two NS units. Also at CP JU was a brand new BNSF unit between two NS units. The best news of all was that the mother and slug working the hump were still in Conrail BLUE!!

I flew a bit south past it Friday afternoon at about 2,000 feet and it did seem like there was some activity. A couple of cuts of cars seemed to be moving.

The best places are by CP Ham by Canal Park and going to the Allentown Hump off River Drive, Normally they don't bother you. Espically if you take your son or daughter with you You can sit along the railing and they won't say anything at the Hump.... We already got chased out of CP Burn as a previous post said to stay off the N/S property and you are fine. The Hump crews are normally 3805, 3806, 3807 & 3808!! They talk on Ch.5 160.2450 ........ Good Luck

Took these photos at Allentown Yard on Sunday.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiv ... x?id=10705

Here are some recent shots from Allentown. The area seems to be consistently busy on Saturdays on both ends of the yard.

34M at CP Allen
http://devil505.rrpicturearchives.net/s ... ?id=688054

power getting refueled at CP JU
http://devil505.rrpicturearchives.net/s ... ?id=688055

35A crossing the Lehigh River at Canal Park.
http://devil505.rrpicturearchives.net/s ... ?id=688058

The afternoon changer at CP 88
http://devil505.rrpicturearchives.net/s ... ?id=688059

Two PBNE switchers passing parked CP Rail power in the River Yard.
http://devil505.rrpicturearchives.net/s ... ?id=688070

Enjoy!

I was there only once. SD40-2 6185 and yard slug RPU6 862 were the power.
the hump

During the winter months, you can get great views because of all the tree foilage missing.

Well although it may not be up to date, check out this link and have fun.. do the bird's eye view as well.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... &encType=1

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... &encType=1