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Rochelle, Illinois: Railroad Intersection, Hobo Fire Pit

A viewing platform, picnic tables, gift shops, restrooms -- and of course that Hobo Fire Pit -- so you can watch trains cross each other at a rare railroad intersection.

Rochelle Railroad Park

Address:
124 N. 9th St., Rochelle, IL
Directions:
Rochelle Railroad Park. South of Lincoln Ave. along N. 9th St. Park in the lot and walk to the west for viewing the crossing.
Hours:
Trains 24/7. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Admission:
Free.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About Railroad Intersection, Hobo Fire Pit

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Train viewing platform.

Railroad Intersection, Hobo Fire Pit

The viewing platform is a covered area to watch the trains, one track belonging to Union Pacific and one to BNSF. When I was there on a Saturday afternoon there were a few other train enthusiasts listening to the UP radio frequencies and knew when trains were expected and their destinations. Very interesting to watch and all were happy to answer my questions.

Worth stopping by to see if you are even a moderate train enthusiast. Gift shop and vending machines there.

[Clark W, 09/06/2021]
Railroad Intersection, Hobo Fire Pit

This is a fun little stop if you've got a train lover! We stayed about half an hour and saw two trains.

[Anne, 07/30/2018]

RR intersection.

Railroad Intersection, Hobo Fire Pit

Rochelle, IL is the home of the Rochelle Railroad Park. The Park sits in front of the country's only Quad Diamond rail intersection where the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Sante Fe Rail Lines intersect. On any given day over 150 trains cross this intersection. The park is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and features a pavilion with radio traffic of both lines pumped in on speakers so you can hear what train is next to come flying through this busy intersection. The pavilion is elevated so that when sitting on the picnic tables in the pavilion you are at eye level with the engineers running the trains as they go by. The park also features a Hobo Fire Pit that you can build fires in at night and watch trains go by. We are talking big trains that are typically over 100 cars long....

The park features a really nice gift shop as well as the cleanest public restrooms I have ever seen.

I went and did not know what to expect but after being at the Rochelle Railroad park I can say that it is quite exciting to watch huge trains navigate the quad diamonds of Rochelle...

[Bryan G. Hunt, 08/14/2007]

Honey, remember when I proposed to you... at the Hobo Fire Pit?

Lookout Platform where Train Tracks Intersect

This is a place where everyone from all parts of the world comes to see trains come through at a designated spot in the middle of town, where two separate railroad lines intersect to make an X. A train museum is operated here, and a large platform as well, for people to watch trains come through.

[Matt Rainwater, 01/12/2003]

We suppose part of the draw might be the chance visitors will see a horrendous train collision?


Nearby Offbeat Places

Mighty Mouse and ElephantMighty Mouse and Elephant, Malta, IL - 11 mi.
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Barbed Wire History Exhibit, Little HouseBarbed Wire History Exhibit, Little House, DeKalb, IL - 16 mi.
In the region:
Self-Made Man, Batavia, IL - 40 mi.

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