I know that most people who railfan in Georgia (USA) will go down to Folkston (Georgia, USA), where the Folkston Funnel is. However, for those who are traveling around Georgia looking for places to railfan in areas that are out-of-the-way, one of the best places is here in northwest Georgia (USA). There are several key locations between Atlanta, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee that provide a good amount of traffic. Before I continue, these locations are in cities located near Interstate 75, the main route between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Norfolk Southern and CSX each have routes traveling between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 41 and CSX criss-cross each other for most of the way from Atlanta and Chattanooga, with CSX leaving Interstate 75 just past the Tunnel Hill-Ringgold Interchange with U.S. Highway 41, and leaves U.S. Highway 41 in downtown Ringgold (See my "Car Problems when Chasing Trains" blog to find out the locations I'm talking about here). Norfolk Southern tends to stay in the 'backwoods,' away from major roads (i.e. U.S. Highway 41).
Kennesaw, Georgia is the most 'active' place between Atlanta and Chattanooga, where southern end of CSX's Etowah Subdivision (Running from Kennesaw to Knoxville, Tennessee) connects to CSX's Western and Atlantic Subdivsion (Running from Atlanta to Chattanooga). The old depot in downtown Kennesaw is where people tend to watch trains. However, just a few steps away, the Southeastern Civil War and Locomotive museum is located, where the Western & Atlantic's 4-4-0 'General,' made famous by the 'Great Locomotive Chase' is on display.
Dalton, Georgia is the only place between Atlanta and Chattanooga where CSX and Norfolk Southern pass through the same town and cross over each other. The two railroads travel side-by-side thru downtown Dalton, before splitting just north of the two railroads cross each other, on the north side of downtown Dalton. The visitor center is the old Southern freight station. Located next to the visitor center is the old Southern Railway passenger car Crescent City, used on Southern's Crescent Limited. The visitor center also has a scanner, but it's not very reliable, for it does not pick up all the frequencies used by CSX and Norfolk Southern between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Dalton has several places to eat downtown, such as the Oakwood Cafe, located within walking distance from the visitors center. On nearby Pentz street, there is a railway-themed coffee shop named Pentz Street Station. The old Western and Atlantic depot still stands, transformed into the Dalton Depot Trackside Cafe. South of downtown Dalton is a small transloading facility for transfering loads from rail to road. Dalton also has an interchange between CSX and Norfolk Southern. CSX runs a local running from Chattanooga and Dalton with a CABOOSE, because the train runs backwards from Chattanooga to Dalton. Norfolk Southern has its own local serving the industries in Dalton served by rail.
Tunnel Hill, Georgia, north of Dalton, has a passing siding just north of the only tunnel on CSX betwen Atlanta and Chattanooga. Located next to the tunnel in use is the old tunnel used by the Western and Atlantic tunnel during the Civil War.
Ringgold, Georgia has its own platfrom to watch CSX trains, but you don't get two-for-the-price-of-one like you do in Dalton (CSX and Norfolk Southern). However, the platform is located at the end of a passing siding in downtown Ringgold. If you are heading north on U.S. Highway 41 into Ringgold, just before Highway 41 ducks under CSX tracks, there is a road that branches off to the right. Take that road and it will follow the CSX tracks for several miles. If you go far enough, there will be stone marker on the left side of the road, which marks where the General ran out of fuel and ended the Great Locomotive Chase.
If you need more information, search around online for more information about railfanning in northwest Georgia.
Kennesaw, Georgia is the most 'active' place between Atlanta and Chattanooga, where southern end of CSX's Etowah Subdivision (Running from Kennesaw to Knoxville, Tennessee) connects to CSX's Western and Atlantic Subdivsion (Running from Atlanta to Chattanooga). The old depot in downtown Kennesaw is where people tend to watch trains. However, just a few steps away, the Southeastern Civil War and Locomotive museum is located, where the Western & Atlantic's 4-4-0 'General,' made famous by the 'Great Locomotive Chase' is on display.
Dalton, Georgia is the only place between Atlanta and Chattanooga where CSX and Norfolk Southern pass through the same town and cross over each other. The two railroads travel side-by-side thru downtown Dalton, before splitting just north of the two railroads cross each other, on the north side of downtown Dalton. The visitor center is the old Southern freight station. Located next to the visitor center is the old Southern Railway passenger car Crescent City, used on Southern's Crescent Limited. The visitor center also has a scanner, but it's not very reliable, for it does not pick up all the frequencies used by CSX and Norfolk Southern between Atlanta and Chattanooga. Dalton has several places to eat downtown, such as the Oakwood Cafe, located within walking distance from the visitors center. On nearby Pentz street, there is a railway-themed coffee shop named Pentz Street Station. The old Western and Atlantic depot still stands, transformed into the Dalton Depot Trackside Cafe. South of downtown Dalton is a small transloading facility for transfering loads from rail to road. Dalton also has an interchange between CSX and Norfolk Southern. CSX runs a local running from Chattanooga and Dalton with a CABOOSE, because the train runs backwards from Chattanooga to Dalton. Norfolk Southern has its own local serving the industries in Dalton served by rail.
Tunnel Hill, Georgia, north of Dalton, has a passing siding just north of the only tunnel on CSX betwen Atlanta and Chattanooga. Located next to the tunnel in use is the old tunnel used by the Western and Atlantic tunnel during the Civil War.
Ringgold, Georgia has its own platfrom to watch CSX trains, but you don't get two-for-the-price-of-one like you do in Dalton (CSX and Norfolk Southern). However, the platform is located at the end of a passing siding in downtown Ringgold. If you are heading north on U.S. Highway 41 into Ringgold, just before Highway 41 ducks under CSX tracks, there is a road that branches off to the right. Take that road and it will follow the CSX tracks for several miles. If you go far enough, there will be stone marker on the left side of the road, which marks where the General ran out of fuel and ended the Great Locomotive Chase.
If you need more information, search around online for more information about railfanning in northwest Georgia.