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As we have chronicled in other Railfan Video of the Day episodes, cities, towns, and villages across the country have discovered the value of railroad parks. For the minimal investment in a small, otherwise-unusable plot of land near a rail junction, plus perhaps a small picnic shelter and restroom, a municipality can receive an endless supply of tourism revenue to local merchants and receipts in local tax dollars. In addition to revenue, these parks generate publicity and good will for a locality.

One of the first towns to realize that trains represented not just a nuisance to traffic and serenity, but also a source of revenue was Rochelle, Illinois. In fact, Rochelle bills itself as the first such railroad park in the United States, opening in 1998. The park features an elevated viewing platform, restrooms, vending machines, a gift shop, free wifi, radio scanners and even ATCS monitors, which show real-time track diagrams and train locations.

The railroad action is excellent as well, as the park is located adjacent to the crossing of Union Pacific’s former Chicago And North Western Geneva Subdivision and BNSF’s former Chicago, Burlington And Quincy Aurora Subdivision. On a given day, between 80 and 100 trains can be expected to pound the diamonds, with action ranging from intermodal freights to coal drags.

Videographer Transcon Railfan captured and shared this video of a seemingly endless parade of Union Pacific and BNSF trains.

Enjoy!

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More information about Rochelle Railroad Park



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