Any abandoned train yards around?

[Lucky63]

Hey guys,

I am wanting to do some interesting industrial looking BW and possibly color pictures with some kids but I couldn't think of a place like that around here. Does anyone know of a train yard or some kinda plant around the DFW area?

If you don't know of anything for that, any suggestions for a more country themed area? I was thinking of using the porch at the Cracker Barrel but if you have any other suggestions it is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[CaptainTom]

Photographing on or near railroad tracks is not only illegal, but dangerous.

Any time you are photographing on private property make sure you have permission to do what you are doing.

Experience and reading what others have encountered on this forum would keep me from photographing children anywhere near railroad tracks, etc.

That said:
There are tracks in the stockyards in Ft. Worth that would probably work very well for what you want. It has an old west flavor and wouldn't garner much concern from others since it is very public.

[Lucky63]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Photographing on or near railroad tracks is not only illegal, but dangerous.

Any time you are photographing on private property make sure you have permission to do what you are doing.

Experience and reading what others have encountered on this forum would keep me from photographing children anywhere near railroad tracks, etc.

That said:
There are tracks in the stockyards in Ft. Worth that would probably work very well for what you want. It has an old west flavor and wouldn't garner much concern from others since it is very public.

that is a great suggestion! Thanks! I guess I should also say "kids" is a loose term since they are older but that sounds like a great idea!

Do you happen to know if there are any old boxcars there?

[toverman]

Downtown Grapevine is another good place, and there are static displays of locomotives and cars on sidetracks that aren't used (except for parking trains and cars) across from the old train depot. The rest of the historic part of downtown up the street is quaint and offers myriad opportunities.

There is also the train museum at Fair Park in Dallas, but I don't know if they would charge you to shoot there professionally or if there are restrictions. Probably a contact number on its Web site, though.

[Lucky63]

Originally Posted by toverman

Downtown Grapevine is another good place, and there are static displays of locomotives and cars on sidetracks that aren't used (except for parking trains and cars) across from the old train depot. The rest of the historic part of downtown up the street is quaint and offers myriad opportunities.

There is also the train museum at Fair Park in Dallas, but I don't know if they would charge you to shoot there professionally or if there are restrictions. Probably a contact number on its Web site, though.

thanks for the suggestion! I didn't know that much about downtown Grapevine but that sounds like it is worth the trip to go scope it out!

[kenw]

I would definitely recommend a museum instead of “real” tracks for most certainly the safety reasons stated above, but also for the fact that the railroads are apparently stepping up security trackside in Texas due to some recent incidents of children playing around trains and getting hurt. (Last week in Houston a child was playing near a train and lost both legs. Quite an emotional story, and true to form, some of the media portrayed it as the RR’s fault….).

The museum is going to have a lot more older pieces with much more character.

[Lucky63]

Originally Posted by kenw

I would definitely recommend a museum instead of “real” tracks for most certainly the safety reasons stated above, but also for the fact that the railroads are apparently stepping up security trackside in Texas due to some recent incidents of children playing around trains and getting hurt. (Last week in Houston a child was playing near a train and lost both legs. Quite an emotional story, and true to form, some of the media portrayed it as the RR’s fault….).

The museum is going to have a lot more older pieces with much more character.

I had initially thought about a museaum but i had quickly dismissed the idea because I was sure that they wouldn't let you take pictures on the older looking boxcars.

To be perfectly honest I'm wanting to do a picture with three boys sitting inside a boxcar. The problem is I get these ideas for pictures in my head and then have no clue how im going to make them happen

thanks for the help!

[kenw]

If you want pics of kids IN a boxcar, the ONLY way to get it is going to be in a museum. Can't speak for the Grapevine museum, but the Galveston museum has tons of stuff that is perfect for just this type of shot, and yes, getting onto and into some of the cars is just fine. Whether it has been cleaned up from Ike is unknown (and immaterial to you), but my point is that having kids in an environment other than a museum is a huge risk.

I think it sounds like a great pic, but please don't take any unnecessary risks.

FWIW, the Dallas Fair Park museum has recently (or will soon) relocated to Frisco. An out-of-town spot that is extremely camera-friendly is the Texas State railroad in Palestine and Rusk. It is a state park.

[tomdrink]

I was at the Fair Park train museum in May. I know they had an old locomotive that you could go into, but I do not remember if they had any open boxcars. They have a very colorful old red caboose (sorry, not the greatest pic)!
You might call them and ask if they have any boxcars open. The gentleman running the place was very courteous to me when I visited.
Tom in TX

[Texasdave]

Old Farmers Branch city park has an old Railroad station that you could use if you are looking for that. No trains though. There are several old houses etc there too.

[Jeff_Green]

Geeze, keep the kids fingers off the triggers, don't let them wear angel wings or caution tape... what else??

I guess I'm the only one who read the title "ABANDONED TRAIN YARDS"

I think the guy on "Office Space" had it right when he came up with the Jump To Conclusions game.

[kenw]

Jeff: "ABANDONED TRAIN YARDS" is an oxymoron if you want a boxcar in it (per the op). There just ain't no such thing.

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by kenw

Jeff: "ABANDONED TRAIN YARDS" is an oxymoron if you want a boxcar in it (per the op). There just ain't no such thing.

If by abandoned, the original poster meant one that isn't active then it isn't.

[StevenGWebb]

Downtown Dension has old siding tracks behind the restored KATY depot. There are several train related things. I don't recall a specific boxcar. The scenery is classic Early Delapidated. Its not overly maintained (just less than abandoned).

[Imagebuffet]

Downtown Garland has a passenger car from 1910 or so on a short section of track in front of a restored train depot. I looked inside the windows of the car, seeing the inside in the middle of restoration. A sign on the window indicated something about restoration volunteers. Perhaps your boys would like to get a hands-on experience?

Frisco is getting the train museum from Dallas. It already has some stuff set up in the restored buildings near City Hall. Also, there is a static train display a few miles up the street, but the equipment is behind a fence.