The Midwest is one of the best places for train watching in the U.S. according to railway shop that has a video series, Trains Across the Midwest. When I saw an article about a man in Berkely, California who was killed while waiting to cross a train track because he was distracted by talking on his cell phone, I thought about the people who show up in Berea, Ohio to watch the trains pass through town.
Thinking about these people got me thinking about other places to watch trains in the U.S. Here’s another spot where train watching is a bonified tourist attraction. The Folkston Funnel, in Folkston, Georgia is a place where up to 60 trains pass in a 24-hour day. The variety of trains that pass by make Folkson notable. Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains with a variety of goods offer the excitment. There’s even a covered train viewing platform and a train scanner where people can hear the train engineers talk as the train passes. If you have a laptop, the platform is Wi Fi accessible.
There’s also barbeque grills and picnic tables and restrooms to make a longer stay enjoyable. If you want to really make train watching a bigger event, stay at the Folkston Inn. Next time you’re heading to Florida, take a detour here. This might be as memorable as Walt Disney World.
My husband would certainly think so. He grew up in Berea and likes to walk along the train tracks there. Luckily, he does not have a cell phone. He likes them as much as he likes Disney.