Here's a list of several good train spotting sites I've found in central Iowa;
First of all, let me say this, and most all train enthusiasts should know this. Always use a lot caution when train spotting. Stay off the tracks, keep a safe distance, use a zoom lens for good shots.. And Look, Listen and Live!
Area west of Nevada Iowa.
Hull Ave yard Des Moines IA
Snow plow.. Boone Iowa
Union Pacific RR Grand Junction IA
The list; Marshalltown Union Pacific Yard, White Pole Road Iowa (Interstate RR runs a long side White Pole rd), Grand Junction, Boone, Shortline junction in Des Moines and Hull Ave yard, Newton Iowa, Interstate RR yard and Nevada Iowa.
Iowa Interstate RR in West Des Moines IA
The following information is courtesy of Train enthusiast Mark Reno.
US30 from about Grand Junction to Ogden is good for railfanning. Especially as you can chase a train if you’re both going to same direction. Once you get to Ogden, you have to pull into town to follow the train further. Then near the Kate Shelley high bridge just west of Boone, there’s a humpback bridge on a gravel road that leads to the high bridge. You can stand on the humpback bridge and watch trains pass you underneath. Follow the gravel road that turns just before the humpback bridge, and you’ll find yourself heading downhill towards the high bridge, which is a sight to see. In Boone, there’s several places you could park and watch the UP mainline or even the Boone & Scenic Valley Railway on occasion. The same can be said for Ames and further east into Nevada where there are a few junctions and parts of the old Lincoln Highway follow near the mainline. Jumping back west, there is a golf course between Jefferson and Grand Junction that is right by the tracks with a paved road leading to the crossing. It looks like the track curves before crossing the road so I hope to get a nice photo of a train there one day. In Jefferson itself, one could find several places to railfan from, as with most any rail town. Going west from Jefferson, the track and US30 separates a bit, but you can take old highway to see any rail activity better. In Scranton, there is a park right by the mainline, or you could park in their business district near a crossing. I’ve had people look at me or even stop and ask questions there but they’re friendly. If you turn west at the Casey’s onto a gravel road, there is a crossing where I’ve parked and watched trains several times. Possibly another nice photo to be had there as the track curves and it’s in the middle of some fields. If you keep heading west on US30 to Carroll, you’ll spot some trains if you’re lucky, though the road and the rail isn’t always the closest. Continuing past Carroll and towards Denison, there’s a good amount of trackage right by the road. My memory is a little fuzzy beyond that, but I’ve taken a few road trips to North Platte, Nebraska, utilizing the old Lincoln Highway/US30 instead of I-80. It takes a lot longer but you’ll see more than enough trains to make up for it as you’re driving right by the rail for most of the trip.
Other spots of interest;
Newton Iowa; Iowa Interstate Yard.
Minburn Iowa; Restored Train depot turned restaurant, really good food there.
Perry Iowa; Hotel Pattee, Railroad themed restaurant, really good food.
Dows Iowa; Old Rock Island station, very rustic and run down. But worth seeing.
Murray Iowa; Very rural area, active BNSF freight line.
Atlantic Iowa; Along the White Pole Road, Iowa Interstate Railroad, yards and other activity.
