Railfanning The Huntsville/Madison Area

Heading east out of Decatur on the NS, we encounter Madison then Huntsville. Madison includes a passing siding and a small storage track to aid in serving local industries, such as the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority Intermodal facility. Downtown Madison has some nice spots for photographing the NS.

At Huntsville there is a nicely restored station and small roundhouse facility which have been made into a museum.

  Useful Scanner Frequencies for The Huntsville/Madison Area

AAR Channel 56 - 160.950 NS Road (Channel 1)
AAR Channel 09 - 160.245 NS Dispatcher to Train (Channel 2)
AAR Channel 48 - 160.830 NS Train to Dispatcher (Channel 2)
AAR Channel 11 - 160.275 NS PBX Huntsville and Sheffield
AAR Channel 30 - 160.560 Huntsville, Madison County Railroad (added 4-2007)
For a full list of AAR Channels, see the Railfan Scanner Tips Page

  Latest Additions to The Huntsville/Madison Area Photo Gallery

Click here to view a gallery of all photos from The Huntsville/Madison Area!

jpeterson_1254430763.jpg

Westbound NS train 201 rolls past the Huntsville storage siding in Huntsville, AL.

File Size: 413 KBytes · Downloads: 271 · Uploaded: October 01,2009

jpeterson_1254429773.jpg

NS local train A85 rolls though Belle Mina, AL at a good clip with a single box car (probably to allow them to run track speed).

File Size: 320 KBytes · Downloads: 380 · Uploaded: October 01,2009

20080929_unk_huntsville.jpg

The Huntsville and Madison County Railroad keeps this switcher in reserve, probably as a backup for their main unit. It is usually stored near the corner of Bob Wallace and L&N Dr. on a small siding.

File Size: 344 KBytes · Downloads: 639 · Uploaded: October 06,2008

03302007_a85_madison.jpg

It's late afternoon as the crew of Norfolk Southern local freight A85 cruises across highway 20 with a lone SD40-2. This location is on the Madison branch line.

File Size: 201 KBytes · Downloads: 857 · Uploaded: January 14,2008

07042007_ns735_gurley.jpg

As we continue to follow NS empty coal train 735 eastbound, we catch them heading past this old barn in Gurley, AL just east of Huntsville.

File Size: 238 KBytes · Downloads: 958 · Uploaded: October 01,2007

07042007_ns735_paint_rock.jpg

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows as we continue to follow NS empty coal train westbound as they pass through Paint Rock, AL. This is one of my favorite shots of the day!

File Size: 268 KBytes · Downloads: 1158 · Uploaded: October 01,2007

08012007_951_madison14.jpg

Another shot of Norfolk Southern executive train 951 with a set F-units on the point as the train heads east through downtown Madison, AL!

File Size: 275 KBytes · Downloads: 1026 · Uploaded: August 27,2007

08012007_951_madison5.jpg

Bringing up the rear of NS executive train 951 is this theater car. The train is seen heading east through Madison, AL.

File Size: 239 KBytes · Downloads: 1072 · Uploaded: August 27,2007

08012007_951_madison.jpg

Norfolk Southern executive train 951 blasts through downtown Madison, AL with a set of beautifully restored F-units on the point!

File Size: 374 KBytes · Downloads: 1646 · Uploaded: August 27,2007

bnsf_9721.jpg

An eastbound Norfolk Southern loaded coal train bound for the Scherer Power Plant near Atlanta, GA passes through Huntsville, AL.

File Size: 161 KBytes · Downloads: 1088 · Uploaded: February 21,2007

hmcr_8933.jpg

The Huntsville and Madison County operates this switcher which is configured for remote control operation. It is seen here with a cut of cars heading south through Huntsville.

File Size: 266 KBytes · Downloads: 1087 · Uploaded: February 20,2007

ns_3318.jpg

A high-hood SD40-2 is the sole power for Norfolk Southern train A81 as it works the small yard in Huntsville, AL.

File Size: 275 KBytes · Downloads: 1045 · Uploaded: February 20,2007

ns_7122.jpg

Norfolk Southern intermodal train 222 heads east at Asa near Gurley, AL. The NS lengthened the siding here in about 2002-2003 to accommodate the longer coal trains to Atlanta, GA.

File Size: 173 KBytes · Downloads: 988 · Uploaded: February 20,2007

ns_8664.jpg

Norfolk Southern westbound train 225 puts on a good show as the crew accelerates past the Huntsville storage siding.

File Size: 354 KBytes · Downloads: 1094 · Uploaded: February 20,2007

bnsf_5657.jpg

Eastbound empty NS coal train 740 meets it's loaded eastbound counterpart, train 737 at Elko Siding in Huntsville, AL.

File Size: 362 KBytes · Downloads: 1137 · Uploaded: February 19,2007

Click here to view a gallery of all photos from The Huntsville/Madison Area!

  Latest Additions to The Huntsville/Madison Area Video Clip Gallery
07042007_ns735_paintrock_avi.flv

The late afternoon sun casts long shadows as we continue to follow NS empty coal train westbound as they pass through Paint Rock, AL.

Video Clip - File Size: 5261 KBytes · Downloads: 1915 · Uploaded: October 01,2007

08012007_ns951_madison.flv

NS executive train 951 blasts through Madison, AL with a set of beautifully restored F units!

Video Clip - File Size: 7845 KBytes · Downloads: 2701 · Uploaded: August 01,2007


All content ©1999-2010 John D. Peterson/AlabamaRailfan.com unless noted. These pages are in no way affiliated with any
railroad or other company mentioned in these pages. This information is provided for entertainment purposes only.