BeachLady Loc: Surfside Beach, SC

Isn't there an app where I can find out when a train will cross a trestle for a photo opp? Thanks in advance guys!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Not sure if this can help . . .

https://heritageunits.com/

David283 Loc: Duluth,GA

In my research there is not an app. Railroads do not publish schedules for security reasons. But, many railroads now adhere to PSR (Precision schedule railroading) for the benefit of shippers and receivers. These trains run at times that are more predicable. I am about a mile from a Norfolk Southern mainline. Manifest trains seem to run on no real schedule, but container trains speed by between 5 & 6 pm headed south. Northbound container trains between 9 and noon.

Referring to next post. Yes, passenger trains run on a schedule.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Actually, commuter trains DO publish schedules, because how else would passengers know when their trains will arrive? It's the freights that are difficult to know their schedules. In MY area, all I know is that they run north on Mondays and Wednesdays, and south on Tuesdays and Thursdays (or the other way around, I forget). On rare occasions I'll catch one coming through on Sunday. But exact times, I don't know.

Quixdraw Loc: x

You might try posting your question here https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-131-1.html with specific location added.

JamesCurran Loc: Trenton ,NJ

I know of no app that will tell you when a train will be at a certain trestle.

But every train line will have an app (also on their website), which will time you what time a train will be at a STATION. And it should be simple to interpolate from the time of the stop before the trestle and the stop after it to approximate the time it will be at the trestle. (NOTE: On NJ Transit, and I assume many other lines, in the mornings when they are picking up people, the train will not leave the station before its scheduled time. However, in the evening, when they are mostly dropping off people, it will leave the terminal on time but will run thereafter without much concern for the scheduled times, to get people home as soon as possible, so they might be at a station a few minutes early.)

JustJill Loc: Iowa

I don't know of an app. But if you have a scanner and find the fight channel you can hear communications.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Your request is a little bit vague in terms of what kind of train you are wanting to capture on your chosen trestle or bridge.

It is true that commuter trains run against published schedules. Because their operating distances are comparatively short and because they usually operate on tight headway, those schedules are pretty good predictors of when each train will depart the stations in each direction from your location. From that information you can make a pretty good estimate of when each train will pass your location. But commuter trains are generally considered to be the least desirable subject content by those interested in railroads.

AMTRAK passenger trains also run according to published schedules, but they are quite notorious for running late...sometimes very late. So even with good schedule information, there will be a lot of uncertainty.

High-priority freight trains also may be targeted to leave their initial departure point at a specific time. Other "important" freight trains may operate on a somewhat consistent basis, but this is usually more a matter of habit or custom. The bulk of freight trains depart when the route is clear after they are ready to go.

As has been suggested, a scanner may help, but most railroads have converted to a digital transmission mode that requires a special, generally expensive receiver to pick up. Some even use new digital modes to transmit important communication in a format more like email or texting.

So the best and most workable solution is to do what due diligence that you can, pick your spot, arrive early, and be ready and persistent.

Good luck.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

While passenger trains have a set schedule, freight and extra trains do not.
AMTRAK publishes their schedules online as do many commuter railroads.
The web site for Horseshoe Curve (near Altoona, Pa.) offers a time frame when rail traffic is generally at it’s heaviest.

All I can suggest is determine which railroad controls the trestle you are considering and contact them for suggestions.

sourdough58 Loc: Maine

If you have or can borrow a trail camera "Plot watcher" Day-7 is what I would recommend, it does not need to be a certain distance away to work you can have it a mile away and if it has a clear view of the Tressel you will know when the train is there, be sure to set the internal clock and from that point, it will take a picture every few seconds, Yes hundreds a day all with a timestamp. and you can scan them all in minutes. I have loaded them into the video editor and made short videos. Mine will capture 7 days of pictures.

TerryVS

Having spend hours riding with railroad cops I can tell trains are very unpredictable. There are groups of folks that watch (and photograph) trains called railfans. Watching some of their boards in your area might give up a heads up depending on your response time to the trussel. Some even have fixed live cameras looking at the rail. Another indicator are the signal lights along the rail. If you're looking at a red light (in the Union Pacific world) it means a train is in the circuit which is usually close and it would typically mean a train is coming from that direction. Those signals are usually dark until a train gets into the area. Best of luck!

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Commuter trains times are all published. You may have to extrapolate the exact time knowing how far from the last stop the trestle is. As for cargo I'd bet they are out there but harder to find.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

There is no such app. Our train system is notoriously unpredictable.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are groups that gather across the country to photograph trains at various locations.
I was staying at the historic La Posada and this bunch were there for some night shots of a specific train going by the hotel.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Use the trick that the old train robbers used by putting their ears on the tracks. It worked for them, however just be sure to get out of the way when you hear the horn blasting and you feel the ground shaking.😜