RPR Ep. 3 - Exploring Fostoria's Iron Triangle Rail Park

Located in Northern Ohio about 40 miles south of Toledo, the city of Fostoria is home to one of the best rail parks in the Midwest. Opened in 2013, the Iron Triangle Rail Park provides railfans with a 360-degree view of the action on all three of the rail lines that intersect in Fostoria. Open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and maintained by the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society, the 5.6-acre rail park provides visitors with non-stop access to one of the best places to watch trains in Ohio.
The three rail lines intersecting in Fostoria form what is known as the “Iron Triangle.” There are two CSX lines and one Norfolk Southern line. The busiest line is CSX’s Willard Subdivision. (This is the same east-west mainline that runs through Deshler, which is located just 30 miles west of Fostoria.) The north-south CSX line runs between Toledo and Columbus. The part of the line south of Fostoria is referred to as the Columbus Subdivision, and the part of the line north of Fostoria is known as the Pemberville Subdivision. The Norfolk Southern line is part of NS’s Fostoria District, which runs east-west between Bellevue, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
For more information about the rail park, visit the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society website: www.fostoriairontriangle.com/
The Iron Triangle Rail Park website has two live webcams where railfans can watch trains 24/7/365. (See links below)
Here is a link to the @VirtualRailfan webcam on KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z37KmX6VhLuNr80&ab_channel=VirtualRailfan
Here is a link to the @Railstream webcam: railstream.net/live-cameras/item/fostoria-oh-ptz-guest
Do you have a rail park you'd like me to review? Leave a comment below! Also, leave a comment to share about your experience at the Fostoria Iron Triangle Rail Park or your plans to visit the park in the future.
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Equipment:
Drone: DJI Mavic Pro
Video Camera: Canon VIXIA HF G50
Video Camera Microphone: Rode VideoMicro
Music:
- www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
- www.purple-planet.com

[@csxfreighttrainproductions1349]

I have been to the Fostoria Iron Triangle Railpark in Fostoria Ohio 4 Times in a row. I love going Railfanning there.

[@SignalMan9292]

Best part is that they honk the horns

[@robertdesmond6194]

A favorite to watch on KZbin

[@kylemaxton1770]

I’m thinking of taking a pre-birthday trip here, so thank you for this video!!

[@team464]

A great review. Very impressive place and since I live in California I use the two railfan cameras to view the action. Keep up the good work.

[@6777Productions]

I've been to Fostoria several times and have no complaints! The new webcams with people in chat and log have added a lot to the experience lately. Wonderful video and good insight!

[@railcamrailfanner]

Railstream cam is better

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Good overview of the park.

[@oceanbnd]

It figures to me (it’s wonderful to find out 🙂) that the author of all these LIVE cameras around the country is from OHIO, as I am. You’ve given me a new appreciation for our train system, with your interest in them. 🙂

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Ohio! The number 3 state in the U.S. in rail traffic/action. Behind only CA & IL. Pretty impressive!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Wow great spot will have to visit

[@keonikaig9247]

GREAT info...Thank you

[@dalefravel868]

Great information and video, thank you

[@uwlwsrpm]

Visiting in October, seems like another warehouse was built on top of the empty foundation. Hope the restrooms are open again soon. Looking forward to it!

[@AmtrakFlareon]

I was there about 2 months ago.

[@dlc54]

At 21:15 the empty area was the old Fostoria Stock Yards back 80 years ago. Plans were to put in a campground eventually. But the property sold last summer to Sunny Mill Mining (the building that Railstream cameras are mounted on) and a structure is now being built there.

[@logandetwiler4483]

I love Fostoria so much!! Been there so many times. The Pemberville/Columbus Sub cross at grade with the NS Fostoria District and The CSX Willard Sub

[@ellengatrell2604]

Thank you for visiting the City of Fostoria Rail Park. The city maintains the park, however, Fostoria Rail Preservation Society does as much as we can (volunteering) by cutting the grass, keeping the restrooms clean and picking up the litter. If one of our members is at the park we will gladly open up the caboose for you to view the interior.

[@caryn1128]

Is the live feed down?

[@RyanFRails]

Not exactly a rail park, but a couple suggestions I have are Santa Fe Junction in Kansas City and Tower 55 in Fort Worth

[@jeanrivest1778]

About those high table you mention, by my point of view, if they were lower, the handrail would be in the way, so using it like that, it like in a bar. I think these are cool 😎

[@DavidLauback]

Good point!

[@user-lp2er9bw5y]

Hi Cindy it's Steven from Toledo

[@fredholley6248]

was there back in June, very enjoyable and good amount of action with the three lines.

[@jefferywalsh5687]

Thanks for making this video, very helpful.

[@randomdude440]

You should go to Saint paul, MN Union depot rail view picnic area to do a review. That is a rail park.

[@JoeRailfan]

I visited Fostoria a lot in 2020 via the Railstream cameras (when pandemic lockdowns were making in-person railfanning difficult). Enjoyed your review of the Fostoria railpark very much, looking forward to a visit soon!

[@DavidLauback]

When you visit I'm sure you'll enjoy it! Fostoria is a great place to watch trains!

[@Memphisdoug]

You are allowed to spend the night in the park in your camper. No hookups but plenty of trains

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Been there 4 times in last year! 3 hour drive. Stayed over 3 times. 😎 Going to check out the CSX/Amtrak Station next time. I saw a guy flying a Drone in that big grass area last time. Good for that if no people on ground there. We stay in SUV. Listen on Scanner. Drive between NS and CSX Lines inside park. Quick Deployment!

[@algevo7682]

You should really review Pacific Missouri that is a railfanning hotspot for the St. Louis area

[@andailchanter545]

Do 'Macungie Train Watching Platform' in PA

[@jameswillard7509]

You mentioned the Best Western motel, about two miles from the park. It is on the expensive side, at over $100 a night, but it also has a fabulous pool and breakfast. I would advise everyone to avoid the Country Club Inn and Suites, down Route 12, headed toward Findley. CC is disgusting, to say the least. If you want to make a two day event out of both Fostoria and Deshler, or even if you want to do back to back days at Fostoria, your best bet for a motel might be 15 miles southwest on Route 12. Findley has a Red Roof and a Motel 6, along with a few other motels. They also have a better food selection than Fostoria, though Fostoria is not bad.

[@HitsTownUSA]

I went there several years ago and remember having a couple drinks at a bar next to the NS tracks just before the quad diamond. Is that bar still there?

[@DavidLauback]

I'm not sure if it's still there.

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

The new Mining Building took away the openness feeling and View SW for CSX. For shooting from Platform and for the VRF Cam too. 😞 I was told by VRF the Cam will be relocated to restore full viewing. They were Cagey about when. The Best Western is plenty good.

[@DavidLauback]

Yeah, it's too bad that our view is somewhat obstructed by the new building, but I'm glad to hear that they plan to move the Virtual Railfan camera sometime for a better view!

[@csxtrainman7603]

What camcorder are you recording with

[@DavidLauback]

Good question! It's a Canon VIXIA HF G50. I also use a Rode VideoMicro external microphone.

[@csxtrainman7603]

@@DavidLauback ok thanks and keep up the good work on showing different railroad parks

[@csxtrainman7603]

@@DavidLauback and I have a question and I don't know if you can help me but I have a Sony cx675 and when I watch my videos It always seems to studder on and of so I was wondering if you had any ideas for how to fix it or do I need to invest in a better camcorder thx again

[@DavidLauback]

I wish I could help, but unfortunately I'm not sure what would be causing that issue. I've never encountered anything quite like that before. I hope you're able to get it fixed!

[@csxtrainman7603]

@@DavidLauback ok thank you very much I appreciate it