With our train enthusiast grandsons in tow and their parents we stopped by to watch the trains today on our way home through Illinois. We arrived about 11:15 and one train was just sailing through and about that quick another train came from the other direction. Perhaps Sundays is a slow train day as we waited for 30 more minutes before we had to get back on the road. The little guys were excited and to see trains this close up enough to read advertisements was fascinating. It's a very nice clean park with picnic shelter, tables grill & water hydrant and comfy benches alongside tracks to watch the trains go by. Nice clean newer rest rooms and a small playground for toddlers. If it had been open we would have enjoyed the gift shop today, too. Will probably hear the grandsons asking to go back to watch more trains another time. I don't think they understood what an opportunity this park truly is. read more

A formers paradise for rail fans. The park has streets all around it so the horns tell you where it's coming from so you can't miss a shot. If you are into pictures or video this is a great place for you. Free wifi was an extra great feature of the park. There is a speaker that has some radio from rail operations but my scanner picked up much more so don't forget to bring yours. There is a built in grill if you want to have a cook out. The open air building had padded deck chairs and picnic tables and some built ins. There is a burn pit but I don't know if you can use it. Rail related items are on the property like trains. There is what looked like a gift shop by I didn't check it out. You can make a great family outing with the youngsters if you want. This is a great place for rail fans. read more

See all

This is a great little treasure. Located about 75 miles west of Chicago (a straight shot out I-88), The Rochelle Railroad Park has been built next to a railroad diamond crossing. It is a great spot to bring a lunch and hang out on a nice day if you happen to be train fans like we are. The warning bells ring, and the excitement builds, as the train whistle blows in the distance. As they pass, the ground shakes. It is impressive, even to a crusty old fart like me. The train engineers are really good about waving to kids (and adults) as the trains pass the viewing platform You can also hear radio communications between the trains and the dispatch center. All so cool!!!! On our first trip out to Rochelle, we went to meet up with one of our hobo friends. Since then we have returned just for the pure pleasure of train watching and sharing the experience with the folks who gather. There are usually some regulars who can fill you in on what is happening and then there are families. It is fun to see the thrill the kids experience as the trains roll by. Pack a picnic lunch and head out to the country for a really fun and unique experience!!!! read more

Rochelle Railroad Park - August 2010 - Parks Near Me - Rochelle, Illinois

If you like trains, this is a place to visit. I have been taking my Nieces and Nephews here for years and they love it. On average you will see a train every 15 minutes. There is a covered shelter with tables. Nice place for lunch. They also have a pretty good size parking lot. The reason there are so many trains is because the Union Pacific & BNSF railroads major lines cross at a railroad diamond. The only disappointing thing is the store. It used to be really nice and have all kinds of books and train related products. It now only has simple T-Shirts and other items that have the Rochelle Railroad Park writing. Don't let this stop you from coming here. The highlight is what goes on outside on the tracks. If you like trains or have family that does this is a don't miss location. read more

Rochelle Railroad Park - Union Pacific "Heritage Series" Engine in Chicago & Northwestern paint colors - Parks Near Me - Rochelle, Illinois

Really nice park! Saw the UP Big Boy go through which was awesome! I recommend this park to rail fans as it has a gift shop, a pavilion, and 2 Whitcomb locomotives with a great view of the BNSF and UP diamond. A variety of trains come through here besides the 2 main ones, NS foreign power comes through on the BNSF commonly. (You could see an NS heritage unit) and CSX foreign power is common on the UP. read more

This is a neat little place to stop and check out some trains, and of course the X in the track. We only saw two trains go by, we were there a short time, but it was so much fun to hang out and check it out. Quite a few awesome photo opportunities as well! read more

Amazing, that's all I gotta say about it. If you are any kind of railfan at all(even one who may not be hard-core as others), you must go here at least once in your life. Beg someone to drive you here, hitchhike, sneak off with a friend's car, just do whatever you can to to come out here and see it at least once. It is that great. The action started as soon as I got here, since once we drove to a parking lot, a train almost immediately came on the UP line after parking in the lot. Don't think the gift shop was as bad as Tom said, there were more things in there than I thought there'd be. And if nothing else, the person in the gift shop does keep a computer on, so that whoever is working in the shop always is in the know how close(or far away) trains are currently on either the UP(runs northeast to southwest, and eventually east through DeKalb, Elburn, Geneva, etc.) or BNSF(runs northwest to southeast, and eventually east to Aurora. this is a branch line from the main BNSF line that Metra/Amtrak trains run on.) lines that run through here. And btw, the UP line is a lot busier than the BNSF line is. I cherished my visit here even more on the way back to Chicago, when I admired all the waiting trains on the UP line east of I-39, glancing every so often south of Illinois Highway 38 at the line of waiting trains to pass through Rochelle. Can't wait to come back here one of these days, and hopefully next time, go to some independently-owned restaurant or bar in Rochelle's downtown area. read more

My family and I have been here about a dozen times in the last two years, and will continue to visit. I bring two toddlers, both of whom love sitting and waiting for the trains. They have a spot for fires, a small grill, and plenty of seating. Things I'd like to see in the future if they are able to would include a small play structure for kids to be entertained with as they wait. I'd also like to see installed radios and/or electronic maps that track the various trains so we can see when they are coming, and what direction they're headed. read more

If train spotting moves you, then by all means set aside some time and spot by. There are two displays of Whitcomb engines and a building which houses bathrooms and a store. There are a number of street crossings in the area so one can get photos with better lighting as the sun moves across the sky. Simply a WONDERFUL park which gives the visitor excellent long views of the trains as they pass by. read more

See all

Found this gem of a place by stumbling onto it on a Saturday . My kids had a blast watching the trains . Very helpful visitors helped explain the types of trains and why they were special . The visitor center has vending machines , only reason for the 4 star is they didn't other hotdogs or other items to make the experience easier . Had to leave to purchase lunch elsewhere. Would highly recommend to those that have kids interested in trains . read more

Really cool place to go trainspotting. You can see anything from a short freight train to a long one that has tractors on it to new cars. And all in a beautiful little country town. I love this area. Such a wonderful place to go and I go out here often just to relax and get away from it all read more

I went to The Rochelle Railroad Park 4 Months Ago and with 2 of my friends and it was on a Saturday and we went there on a sunny day and it was about 10:45 A.M. and we were there for 45 minutes and there was no trains and we went to lunch and after we got back I just missed a train. Then we saw the first train and it was a westbound Union Pacific and then we saw a eastbound Union Pacific and then we saw a westbound Union Pacific and I waived to the conductor and he waived back to me. I wished I saw The Burlington Northern Santa Fe and I will definitely be back there again and I got my fix there and especially and when the railroad crossing gates go down and when the bells go off and that brings music to my ears. I thought it was cool to see all those trains there and that's definitely a place to go to. read more

Great little place to watch the trains. Large gazebo with plenty of picnic tables and train radio receivers to listen to as you sit there.

The place is clean good for a picnic with someone the age of 12. Unfortunately I'm 60 work in Dekalb an see to many trains. I thought we would see the trains being loaded and unloaded in the train yard ? Not from here read more

This is one of the Best Places in Northwest Illinois to watch trains. Nice little Gift Ship, Pavilion for Picnics, a Grill for cookouts. Outlets for your computer. WIFI for anyone who uses ATCS to Monitor Train Movements. Just an all around great train watching Location. I stop by here three or four times a year. BNSF Twin Cities Main Line and the Union Pacific Omaha Line intersect here. Dozens upon dozens of train movements through here each day. read more

Found out about RTP and I love the park I've loved trains my whole life and I'm thinking about becoming an engineer some day

First discovered this place while watching a program on tv. It can be hard to find a good place to watch trains since many spots will get you in trouble with local law enforcement. Not here, there is an ample amount of parking spaces available, a shelter with outlets and wifi, a gift shop, a old Whitcombe locomotive on display on more. The Union Pacific mainline, the busier of the two intersects with a BNSF line. Union Pacific has a yard nearby so it will be plenty busy. The BNSF line may not see as much traffic but there are many that come through as it is part of the BNSF northern transcontinental railroad. It's elevated so you can see the trains pretty clearly plus being in the middle of a town the noise reflects so you can easily tell when a train is coming. Expect to spend a few hours here if you are really into trains, there are plenty of seating areas under the shelter to rest or eat your lunch. read more

Really nice little park in town. Glad to see family spending time together. Free wifi also. Nice store for model trains or just about anything railroad. Very neat. read more