Located just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, along the banks of the Ohio River hides a town called Ludlow, Kentucky. Local train buffs can be found in the Ludlow Railfan Tower tucked around the corner from the Cincinnati Southern Railroad Bridge.
Cincinnati Southern Bridge
The original 519-foot trestle bridge was built in the mid-1870s and was modernized in the early 1920s from a swing span with a vertical lift while raising the overall bridge’s height. Looking close at the bridge you can see the original bridge piers. In 1976 the vertical lift was left in its close position not to be open again and the lifting machinery removed, Today this double-lined bridge remains the busiest railroad bridge in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, New Orleans, & Texas Pacific Railway (Southern’s Rat Hole)
This route runs south 337 miles from Cincinnati, Ohio to Chattanooga, TN. Built in the 1870s by the city of Cincinnati and still the only long-distance railway owned municipality in the United States. The city is currently leasing this line to Norfolk Southern and sees upwards to 50 freight trains daily.
Ludlow Railfanning Tower
This railfanning tower was opened in 2018. You can take the stairs or the elevator up to the spacious, covered viewing level complete with benches. The viewing level has a great view from all directions including a view of the Cincinnati Southern Bridge. The park is complete with the recently restored red Southern Railways Bay Window Caboose X544. Once the weather gets warmer I hope to spend some time railfanning up in the tower.
Address
49 Elm St, Ludlow, KY 41016
Scanner Frequencies
160.9500 – AAR 056 – First District Road (Cincinnati to Blanchet)
160.2450 – AAR 009 – Cincinnati Dispatcher (Cincinnati to Blanchet)
