Bote's National Capital Area Train Chaser's Guide

CSX

Radio Frequencies

In a populous metropolitan area like D.C., a good receiver is essential to minimize interference and maximize reception of the desired radio signal. Scanners are mostly useless near strong transmitters, such as paging, taxi, and business two-way users. Some amateur radio transceivers make fair railroad receivers, but the best bet is commercial grade two-way L.M.R. (Land Mobile Radio) equipment. It's expensive, but worth it.

CSX Radio Frequencies

Subdivision	Dispatcher desk	Frequency	AAR Ch.	Use
Capitol	BC AU	160.23	08	road channel
		160.32	14	dispatcher channel (Baltimore, MD)
Landover	BC NI	161.07	64	road channel (Benning yard)
		161.34	82	dispatcher channel (Baltimore, MD)
Metropolitan	BC AU	160.23	08	road channel
		160.32	14	dispatcher channel (Baltimore, MD)
RF&P	BD CQ	161.55	96	road channel
		160.41	20	dispatcher channel (Baltimore, MD)
Amtrak		160.68	38	Auto Train yard crews (Lorton, VA)
		161.1	66	Auto Train road crews in yard (Lorton, VA)
		160.845	49	Amtrak on-board chat, Lorton Auto Train mechanical dept.
		160.92	54	Amtrak Northeast Corridor home
		452.9375		head-of-train transponder
		457.9375		end-of-train transponder

Hulcher on-the-spot wreck cleaners — 43.04 MHz nationwide

Defect Detectors

After the “redman” e.o.t. data frequencies, the defect detector is the railfan's best friend, alerting you of approaching trains and even telling you the length or axle count.

These d.d.s on CSX can be heard suprisingly well around town:

Metropolitan subdivision:

BA2.6 “Corridor Integrity Monitor” — announces whether a MetroRail train has violated sacred CSX space, and vice-versa; near Riggs Rd. and South Dakota Ave. N.E. where the Motorola shop used to be.

BA8.4 — Yet another Corridor Integrity Monitor. It is very necessary to monitor integrity in the Nation's Capital.

BA11.6 “Kensington” — just northwest of Connecticut Ave. near a color position lamp signal.

BA22.6 “Gaithersburg” — Gophersburg, moved from Clopper

BA72.1 “Catoctin” — just west of Lander Road and Point o' Rocks, MD.

Capitol subdivision:

CFP120.5 “Tanglewood” high car detector — on the Alexandria extension, a.k.a. 'The Branch'; should change with double-tracking project.

CFP120.4 “Tanglewood” dragging equipment detector — on the Alexandria extension; should change with double-tracking project.

BAA33.7 “Hyattsville” — just south of JD tower and the wye.

BAA21.7 “Contee” — near the Contee Weather Station.

RF&P subdivision:

CFP110.1 (QL138.9) “Rosslyn” — detects high & wide loads before they tear up or get torn up through the tunnel in D.C. There is also an A.E.I. car scanner here. Long Bridge Park affords views of passing trains.

CFP106.5 “Slater's” — Slater's Lane, Alexandria; triple track through here, can you believe it?! OOOOOOOOOOVER!