Austell, Georgia On My Mind

[@em2attic]

Man everything back in the day had much cooler horns, i miss it.

[@MattChaffe]

Here after Danny's latest video! Even going back to older videos, I still love the video presentation and story telling. Truly a role-model for myself and future railfans!

[@LancesLens]

Still a great spot! Trees and gazebo are gone. And I cruise Woody's "Golden Triangle" several times a month and catch trains at different crossings. Including Austell! So thanks Woody! Great seeing old footage of Austell Danny!

[@n2l8ukudaddy76]

I raised my kids in Austell just 1 street back from those tracks in the downtown area so the trains are a fond memory for me. Thank you for putting together this wonderful video.

[@distantsignal]

Apt. 15 Thank you for the comment. That was a fun trip.

[@thomasmackowiak]

I just watched this video on 15 October 2021 after watching you latest railfanning adventure in this area. Your comments about beeing able to see things in this video that no longer exist was spot on. The Austell, Georgia railfan pavilion is no more. You caught a patch Chicago & North Western Railroad GE unit as power on one of the Union Pacific powered coal trains. You also caught a number of patched Conrail blue engines on trains. Thank you for mentioning this 20 year old video in your comments on your 2021 viceo!

[@sarge4455]

Graduated high school in Austell, great place back in the 70’s and 80’s

[@smisky1086]

I visited Austell back in the mid 1990s and it was awesome back then as well. Great narration as always! The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw is awesome, I think I was the General Museum back in the 90s, they had/have still? a great video presentation on the history of the "Great train Chase"..

[@MacDaddyRico]

When I first moved to Georgia in 1972, the only four lane road was Highway 41, nicknamed by the local Mayrettan's (sic) as The Four Lane... All secondary roads were just two lanes... I've seen the Metropolitan Atlanta area grow so much it's crazy... But Austell and other area towns handled this well and maintains the small-town feeling...

[@rsandrews8115]

Love the bullet hole in the front window of the restaurant. Adds county style class to the joint!

[@SEABOARDSYSTEMfan]

Can't believe how much has changed in a few years. Absolutely amazing footage! Can't wait for part 2.

[@rsandrews8115]

I have a friend who lives in Austell. We wee Civil War reenactors, he got me a brick from inside of the tunnel of "Tunnel Hill" fame. Now I have to make a trip to see him.

[@distantsignal]

@murjax I hope that Austell can put up another railfan viewing platform someday. Maybe down the hill south of the Junction. DH

[@buckeyerails15]

The first train was an AMAZING catch!

[@heyitshuttz3705]

Yea lol

[@distantsignal]

Thanks everyone! Yes it's a real shame that NS made them tear down that gazebo. I was stunned when I went by there this past Christmas and found it gone. Part 2 of the video should be along soon.

[@murjax]

Excellent video! I never knew Austell had a gazebo. I swear Georgia loves their railfan spots. This is the 3rd dedicated spot I've seen there with Folkston and Jesup having the other two. I hope Austell gets to rebuild this someday because they deserve it.

[@tommythomason6187]

Austell was a rural farming community up through maybe the early 70s, and my Grandpa had a farm not far from the old Seaboard Birmingham mainline (now pulled up and called, "The Silver Comet Trail.") When I was a kid, black Seaboard Airline F units were commonly seen on freights, and once saw a rag-tag Silver Comet speed through there - one white E unit and four Budd silver cars. And, that Austell/Mableton mainline of the Southern Railway (looks like it in the opening sequence) hosted lots of their passenger trains.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

Absolutely amazing catch on that CNW Patch. That unit #6706 is the last remaining CNW Patch engine and is still around today

[@mr.j2776]

"Oh the perils of group chasing"..... that is great!

[@robertromaine6225]

Sadly, that pavilion had to be removed :( Still a great spot to railfan! I was out there just this last Saturday!

[@danielchou9802]

Robert Romaine what happened to the pavilion?

[@jaredklock8754]

@@danielchou9802 Yes what happened to it? It would be awesome to have one there!

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

@@jaredklock8754 Too close to the tracks and NS had them close it.

[@jaredklock8754]

@@JessicaKasumi1990 Oh that's too bad.

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

It also didn't help matters that it also posed a vision risk to the crossing.

[@distantsignal]

This video was shot with a SONY PD-150. That was a mini-DV cam I bought in 2002. I just shot my last video with it a couple of months ago. I finally moved up to HD with a Canon XF-100.

[@keonisan]

That spot in Austell has changed so much, I was just there last weekend and that sign is gone. as are the trees and grass.

[@nikosjk1]

Great video Danny, so many things have changed in these last few years. No more gazebo, no more UP power on the Scherer coal trains (the BNSF power is an improvement though) , and the depot in Rockmart is gone as well.

[@clevelandarearailfan]

12 years later, a virtual railfan railcam is operating there

[@erniebennett4650]

Great video, the trains are great, but what's even more fun is seeing the area as this is where I grew up. Living in the country, we would go to Austell once a week for groceries, and various other tasks. I saw many a train come through Austell. A lot being pulled by EMD F7's. And I know where Woody's secret spot is, but I won't divulge it. As teenagers, we spent a lot of nights parked around there doing questionable activities. Keep up the great work!

[@distantsignal]

+Ernie Bennett Ha! Thanks! Yeah I love it up there. Great territory and great people.

[@TheUnknownAvenger]

Nice job Danny! You visited all the spots that I have visited in my numerous trips to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area!

[@TommyPicklesFan]

12:51, You can see The Kennesaw Civil War Museum was still going on massive expansion and It was later reopened as the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in March 2003.

[@terrysmith7076]

Hello Danny another great video Dallas Ga.

[@maxm2317]

I’m gonna have to head down there from Reading, Pennsylvania one of these days, but I’d best do my research on the area first so I’m prepared. Also loved the preview for “The Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast” at the end. Fantastic video as always, Danny! God bless.

[@CSXCO1122]

I’ll be going to Austell on March 31st! You should join us!

[@TolgaEastCoast]

Awesome video, Danny! I have really been interested in railfanning in Austell and when the 2013 NMRA show hits Atlanta, you bet I'll be there. That is just such a great rail funnel. I really liked seeing that vintage HLCX unit as well on Q141.

[@distantsignal]

Did anyone notice that Conrail C-39 Dash 8 passing the gazebo? I didn't know what a rarity that was until editing this video. DH

[@MasaShiranuiVideoProductions]

Distant Signal I used to see C39-8s all the time on the Winston Salem Division.

[@railfanmaximstill7279]

Another Rarity UP 6706

[@ACs_Trains]

13:58 great catch in that ultra rare SD9M!

[@snoboard91503]

Came to Atlanta for a wedding last weekend. Saw this video and had to check out Austell! Definitely changed since your visit, but it was definitely worth the visit! Thank you for all your videos!

[@CSXBOY187]

Outstanding video MR. Harmon, really love the NS action. Favorite and 2 thumbs up

[@mspenrice]

I'm always impressed by how the US contingent has taken trainspotting, seen as a very geeky and introverted, downtrodden kind of pastime in Britain, and turned it into both a mass-participation and spectator sport... :) 11:42 ... so that's what those machines are called ... literally "railgrinders". I've had them noisily creep their way past my bedroom window at oh-god-o'clock of the morning a few times before and, well, the name is entirely apt... 5:20 ... what a fantastic idea for more efficient intermodal trains, both in the running and in the speed of conversion between road and rail. Hopefully it can catch on in other countries. I particularly would appreciate having the container trains that rumble past being a little lighter on the rails, so quieter and a bit lower on the richter scale... Plus it'd save quite a bit of length vs the low-loader trucks our limited-load-gauge trains have to use to fit container trailers on (certainly no double deckers in these parts!), with length being a very limiting factor on our lines, so they could fit more containers per train that way...

[@distantsignal]

Yes, as you probably know, Americans will take anything and make it into a spectator sport. Trainspotting, or railfanning as we call it here, has grown exponentially in the 20 years since I've been doing it actively.

[@mspenrice]

Can't you just :D ... but, hey, we love you for it really.

[@theoutdoorrailfan]

Just railfan up in august and had a great time saw some UP and NS SD70ACe on triple crown

[@dmorgan28]

Another awesome video. These trains keep you guys scrambling to get there and be in position. Great job. I really enjoyed it. Thanks 👍👍👍❤️

[@tnaviation562]

I passed through Austell and saw the sign you shot and the tracks. Good video! Shot there in 2012.

[@NS3210]

Fantastic!! Alot of locomotive power and trains has changed in the last 10 years!

[@chipper30000]

That was so interesting. Growing up in Smyrna and passing by that Austell line so many times, it was neat to see some more information. I'll look for more videos.

[@aemfan7k]

My grandad lives in Austell. He tells me all about the trains here. 😊

[@maestrojong1990]

1:06 - thats a Scherer Coal Train from Macon (Georgia Power Scherer Coal Plant) and its going back to the mines in Wyoming: Black--something-- Thorn maybe? can't remember.

[@mjbr1010]

Sure has changed but thanks for sharing I would have loved to see it back in 2011. Great always Mr, Harmon..

[@redrock717]

I love mountain railroading. The w&a has a nice mixture of mountain and flat land railroading. Believe or not from cartersville to Atlanta is the busiest peace of railroad in America. Danny you've got to one day come up and check out the Nashville division. We have as far as I know the steepest pusher district in the southeast. Also several shorelines and many csx hot spots.

[@redrock717]

+Distant Signal personally I'd start with Radnor yard in Nashville and if you wanna add extra value to your trip head west to belle meade that's where Dutch mans curve is. The worst train wreck in American history happened. Go south from Nashville to murphresboro to check out the locals. You can get cool shots in Normandy on the hills. Then go on to tullahoma we have a switcher there. Then go to Cowan and Sherwood where the pusher district starts and ends

[@redrock717]

+Distant Signal then dip on down into Alabama and go see the historic Spanish style station that's now a museum in Stevenson, al also csx and ns merge onto csx track the last forty miles to Chattanooga. In Chattanooga you got wahautchie yard(csx) and debutts yard(ns). Debutts yard is one of ns's biggest terminals.

[@csxnstrainman]

Cool Video!!! Nice power you caught there back in 2002!

[@dennispatterson4378]

Love to get up there when I can. Always lots of action

[@CRQ5508]

Very nice, Danny. Thanks for the railfanning ideas!

[@cflRailfan]

Great piece once again Danny! I always look forward to your next video.

[@amjkodaz]

Man that camera quality, and HD was 5 years later.Those were the days. Some nice catches Danny, take care :)

[@davidg5369]

Nice Danny, Tho I don't remember ever hearing/seeing Austell I do know of Braswell, & Cartersville due to family in Calhoun. Wish I'd seen this way younder years ago, I mightof got the railfanning fever! TY!

[@donovanjreed]

I think the real catch of the day would of been that HLCX C30-7! It would of been really nice to see that paint job on an old Dash-7 locomotive in person.

[@rufec12]

Great video, Danny! I want to visit Austell one day! Really enjoyed it!

[@jacobdubielak2699]

Same

[@SturtevantRails]

it’s amazing because i’m getting sad about things you caught. I wondered when this was. Then i realized this was 2 months before i was born... damn

[@SpectrumSkate]

I lived next to the box factory. Used to sneak in there and roam around at night. Also worked at the bk when I was a late teen across from the station.

[@WorldOfNothin]

Funny hearing him say this was the first time for him to see helper service! I often see it where I live, but its less common with these newer engines! Still interesting when you hear someone say that and your like, "What? His first time? Talk about missing out on something amazing" lol but I can say, I haven't seen CSX using helpers as they take a route that doesn't have as bad a grade as the NS grade out of Cincinnati!

[@kenjr29mfl]

Excellent video, Danny.

[@mjbr1010]

As Always you rule Mr. Harmon

[@iceclimberGD]

All of these places you're visiting have been my railfanning spots for my entire life!! I love Kennesaw and Cartersville! Have you ever been to Acworth?

[@ekwilcox2456]

Super informative video !!

[@distantsignal]

@ollieahokas Thanks Ollie. Much appreciated. DH

[@AGSGuy]

I am just speechless exept AWESOME VIDEO!!!!!!

[@ShelbyBanditNFS]

Danny when ever you get a chance to come by to ga once again. Check out on the northeast side of Ga. From Dacula to Bogart, ga on hwy 8. You get a pretty good shots from the side of the road. Not sure how it is now since I moved out of Auburn to Union Point but been driving by there whenever I go with my sis down that hwy. CSX still runs through my town but I like train sims more nowadays. Get to drive it myself and its pretty fun!

[@SkyKitten1]

this and marietta square are epic railfanning spots. ive lived here

[@oceano336]

Great video Danny!

[@maestrojong1990]

The best spot in Atlanta!!!

[@distantsignal]

@TheCarandTrainman Now, if I did that, it wouldn't be a secret anymore. :-)) Nope. When we were at McPherson Siding, Woody made me promise.

[@stevenmichael2845]

I really enjoyed this!

[@GenericRailfan]

Great shot!

[@McMike321]

awesome vid as always!

[@darrylnelson6264]

My parents lived in Hiram. I also saw the intermodal yard in Austell.

[@skeetjeffcitysub86]

Great videos keep them coming from Brent St.Louis,Mo

[@interstate1335]

0:09 thanks for mentioning Las Vegas

[@traindude32]

If im correct,there's a video of a NS northbound stopping for lunch break in Austell

[@brandysigmon9066]

8:53, great shot

[@zimmerybrown]

Where can I find the video for the The Atlanta Birmingham and Coast line? I’m from Douglas Ga which the line passed right through and would love to see it

[@GTRailroadVideos]

Austell? Where is that? lol. Just kidding, 95% of my videos are from there. Awesome stuff, and some old footage as well!!! I was actually thinking of hosting something like that in Austell also, too bad they tore that gazebo down, thanks to NS and the FRA.

[@KDubielak]

We all railfans should take a trip to astril georgia

[@KDubielak]

Man that is a lot of engines

[@billm001]

Awesome Awesome Awesome!

[@SCLModeler]

Another great job Danny! Too bad the gazebo is gone, I would've like to have seen it. Do they still do the train fest up there?

[@christophercoleman1895]

gotta love them conrail engines

[@MBTAMoreRailfan]

Seems like a lot of original NS logos. New power there now?

[@davidburke1794]

Carney's point NJ has really odd line that cuts through the town to the pennsville power plant. It zigzags thru the grid layout of the town, then a small rail yard for the coal cars waiting to be emptied or taken back.

[@rardiehl2302]

What do with Snakes say, on Brazzwell Mt. ?

[@distantsignal]

No offense taken. But honestly.... you knew those trains were there before you moved in, didn't you? That railroad's been there over a hundred years.

[@brownbrownson]

Distant Signal just like people when they move near an airport that’s been there for ages and yet still have the nerve to be upset about airplane noise.

[@keonisan]

That Gazebo is gone, as are the trees and I don't remember seeing Fat cats there after the bridge.

[@soundguyjr]

+keonisan Fat Cats went out of business, a new bar has the property but are not really "railfan" friendly.

[@keonisan]

That explains it, I'm going to be up in Austell on the 27th and was going to look for Fat cats.

[@norfolksouthernrailfan2006]

Virtual Railfan has a camera there now!

[@TheTrainChasingPoet1999]

What did you think about the C&NW unit on the Union Pacific coal train?

[@northalabamarailphotograph7063]

I wish Decatur Alabama had this

[@distantsignal]

I hear Decatur has some killer railfanning spots. A friend was raving about Decatur last weekend at Folkston.

[@northalabamarailphotograph7063]

Distant Signal Vine Street gets about 50 trains a day at the crossing, where the depot is at.

[@BrxndoFrmDaHill]

McCormick Rail-fanning Productions hahaha alright you should see the side with less white people

[@northalabamarailphotograph7063]

holy crap! You talking about between McEntire and Vine, than i have seen it but i rarely, or never record there.

[@soulfultenor]

Hello, Danny I see U not far from that line I was telling you bout sometime ago, the Old Train Depot, Jonesboro (Texarkana) Smokey & The Bandit

[@UPCaliente]

Quick question, what type of camera do you use because it has good quality and good sound.

[@guitars14]

Things sure arent what they used to be in Austell. BTW, in Kennesaw, the northbound was going downhill and the southbound was working up the grade.

[@danherrmann8755]

Thanks far the video. Coal train pass through Evansville Indiana everyday. 100,000. Ton per car hopper. I have been told. Can you find out the weight for sure. In winter time when the ground is frozen . There is mini earthquakes when the train passes through. Later

[@billbaber6653]

Coming south dad was hoping to get into Inman yard quickly from Austell some not so quickly, SR conductor.

[@mspenrice]

2:08 ... is that an 8-locomotive train?!

[@distantsignal]

Where there are that many, anything beyond the first three are rarely operating. US locomotives are extremely powerful.

[@mspenrice]

Well yeah, that's why I was impressed. I guess the train is going to be broken up into (8?!) sections further down the line each going off in different directions with one or two locos at the head of each? Would they have to take the crews with them, if so, or would they only turn up at the split points?

[@salrailfan]

Unfortunately the gazeebo is gone. NS said it was too close to the tracks.

[@robertromaine6225]

It wasn't that is was too close to the tracks, it was that it blocked the view of the crossing. If a car had gotten stuck on the crossing the crew wouldnt be able to see it

[@snoboard91503]

Ugh I hate when safety issues ruin our rainfanning fun! Lol

[@dd.greenefilms2598]

nice video i want more

[@BostonByRails]

Great video! I visited Austell the other day and saw 0 coal trains all day. Has the coal demand in metro Atlanta dwindled since 2002, or was I just not there at the right time?

[@distantsignal]

The coal demand has dwindled everywhere. Killed by low-priced natural gas and government intervention.

[@BostonByRails]

@@distantsignal fascinating

[@amtraklover]

I still see coal come through, usually see it on the weekends when I'm not working

[@KDubielak]

They know it's you my railfan friend

[@Jemalacane0]

RWSX=Robert W. Scherer which is the largest coal-fired power plant in the United States at 3,600 megawatts. It burns about 36,000 tons of coal per day.

[@matthewrinehart9514]

3 43 former c&nw ge. One of the last purchases before the UP merger. Grew up on the c&nw mainline between Chicago and Omaha

[@distantsignal]

Thanks Matt. Hope you're doing well.