Danville, KY - NS Central Division - CNO&TP

[LeftyGopher]

Danville, KY is the division point between the First and Second Districts of the CNO&TP. 50+ trains can be seen in a 24-hour period, making Danville a great place to catch some action. All trains will change crews here and most of them will also refuel.

Danville is about 30 miles south of Lexington, and the yard is relatively easy to find. From Lexington, take US 68 towards Harrodsburg and then turn left on to KY 33 after you cross the river. Turn right at the end of KY 33 and go past Centre College and then turn right onto Maple Ave. (Business 127). Make a left at Toliver Elementary which will put you on Perryville St. Follow Perryville down to the tracks and turn left into the large parking lot. This is a safe area, and you shouldn't have any problems with the law.

Coming from Harrodsburg, take US 127 to US 150 and turn left (at Boyle Co. High School). Cross the bridge over the yard and then turn left on to Maple Ave. The directions are the same from there on. On Saturdays, you can also park behind the Burkmann Feed mill, but I don't suggest doing this on a weekday.

Traffic can be very heavy at times, but it's also common to not see anything for an hour or more. The best time to be in Danville is in the morning when the southbound parade starts arriving. Traffic is usually pretty steady from there on, with a lull in the early afternoon. Action picks up again when eastbounds start coming off the Louisville District.

A good radio is a necessity to find out what's going on. Channels to monitor are the standard road channel (160.950 MHz - AAR 56) and channel 2 (160.245/160.830 - AAR 09/AAR 48). The Danville Yard channel (161.490 - AAR 92) will also clue you in as to what's going on, although there are several switching moves that will be using the road channel.

Southbounds will call the yard tower for yarding instructions and to inform the yardmaster of the train's EOT number and whatever supplies are needed (ice, water, etc...) when the train goes by CP Faulkner, about five miles north of the yard.. Northbounds will do the same at CP-Bowen, which is about five miles south of the yard. Trains coming off the Louisville District will inform the tower when the train is by Harrodsburg and then call again when they go by SJ Tower for instructions.

Defect detectors are located at Burgin (MP 109.0) and Junction City (MP 120.8). With a good radio, both should come in loud and clear.

Photography options are relatively limited in Danville without major trespassing. The 150 bridge over the yard does offer some nice views, such as these four photos.

NS 294 leaves the yard at around 2 am.


NS 116 leaves as 236 arrives.


NS 174 pulls out of East 6 and passes the depot


NS 215 gets underway after refueling.