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Austell — CSX/NS Junction (Howells)

Safety: cautionjunction

Austell, GA

CSXNorfolk Southern

Access & safety

Public access

Multiple public road overpasses near the CSX W&A subdivision and NS lines around Howells Yard.

Safety notes

Urban environment, watch for vehicle traffic at overpasses. Yard property is private — stay on public sidewalks/roads.

Parking

Park on the public side streets only — do not block residential driveways.

Best time of day

Late afternoon for both lines lit from the west.

Train frequency

Very heavy: CSX W&A + NS S-line + Atlanta-area locals all converge.

Nearby

Food + gas on Veterans Memorial Hwy a short drive away.

Log a sighting here

Bringing a non-railfan?

For the parent, spouse, or friend along for the ride — restrooms, food, and what to do while your railfan watches trains.

Within walking distance (from OpenStreetMap)

POI data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Verify hours/access before driving.

Plan your visit

Hotels and rail experiences nearby. Links earn us a small referral — we only surface partners we'd use ourselves.

Rail tours and experiences

Our curated picks on Viator — museums, heritage rides, scenic rail trips, depot tours.

Affiliate · Viator

Gear up

The starter kit serious railfans wish they'd bought day one. Each link earns us a small Amazon Associates referral — we only list gear we'd actually carry.

Uniden BC125AT handheld scanner

The no-setup railfan scanner. Comes pre-loaded with AAR railroad band channels — hear road comms, dispatchers, defect-detector calls. Knowing a train is 20 minutes out beats staring at the horizon. ($110-$130)

Affiliate · Amazon

Compact folding tripod stool

Six hours waiting for a heritage unit goes much better with a seat. Folds to 15in, weighs ~1 lb, slings off a camera bag strap. Worth the closet space. ($15-$25)

Affiliate · Amazon

SPV's Comprehensive Railroad Atlas

The definitive volume of US railroad maps — every mainline, every branch, every connection, with mile markers and dispatcher territories. You will memorize this. Multiple regional volumes; pick the one for where you railfan. ($30-$50 per volume)

Affiliate · Amazon

Recent sightings here (last 24 hours)

No recent sightings

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