Cincinnati Radio Frequencies

Cincinnati Radio Frequencies

Railroad	Frequency	AAR Ch.	Usage
CSX Transportation	160.230	08	Primary road channel for the terminal, Toledo Sub, Indiana Sub, Indianapolis Sub, and Cincinnati Sub..
CSX Transportation	161.100	66	LC Dispatcher, controls the terminal
CSX Transportation	161.370	84	a.k.a. "L&N" or "Seaboard" channel, used in the yard. Primary road channel for the CC Sub and LCL sub.
CSX Transportation	161.520	94	Dispatcher for Cincinnati Subdivision
CSX Transportation	160.590	32	Dispatcher for CC sub
CSX Transportation	160.320	14	Dispatcher for Indiana sub and Indianapolis sub.
CSX Transportation	161.310	80	Dispatcher for LCL Subdivision
CSX Transportation	160.290	12	Dispatcher for Toledo sub north of Hamilton.
CSX Transportation	161.340	82	Queensgate Yard car department, air brake tests performed in this frequency.
CSX Transportation	160.530	28	CSX intermodal ramp
CSX Transportation	161.550	96	Industrial Yard and jobs based from there (Y190, Y290)
CSX Transportation	160.785	45	Engineering Department
CSX Transportation	160.770	44	Queensgate Hump
CSX Transportation	160.425	21	Trim 1
CSX Transportation	160.605	33	Trim 2
CSX Transportation	160.635	35	Trim 3
CSX Transportation	161.280	78	Trim 4
CSX Transportation	160.410 / 161.340	20 / 82	Car Inspectors repeater (input / output)
Norfolk Southern	160.950	56	Primary road channel for 1st District CNO&TP and Gest Street Yard
Norfolk Southern	160.245	09	Ch. 2, used by dispatcher to pass track warrants, etc.
Norfolk Southern	160.440	22	Primary road channel for Lake Division (New Castle Dist. & Cincinnati Dist.)
Norfolk Southern	160.980	58	Primary road channel for Dayton District east of Sharonville
Norfolk Southern	161.250	76	Gest Street Yard switching
Norfolk Southern	161.190	72	NS Intermodal Yard switching
Norfolk Southern	161.070	64	Sharon & Moraine Yard switching
Norfolk Southern	161.205	73	Railroad Police
Indiana & Ohio	161.385	85	Primary road frequency for McCullough Yard, Oasis Sub, Blue Ash Sub, Mason Sub, and Brookville Sub.
Indiana & Ohio	161.220	74	Primary road frequency for Midland and DT&I Subdivisions
Indiana & Ohio	160.545	29	Primary road frequency for CIND sub
Great Miami	160.905	53	Primary channel
Proctor & Gamble	457.5625	n/a	Intra-plant switching
Newport Steel	156.500	n/a	Intra-plant switching
AK Steel	153.290	n/a	Intra-plant switching
AK Steel	855.6375	n/a	Intra-plant switching
AK Steel	810.6375	n/a	Intra-plant switching

Listening notes

CSX Transportation: If you are watching trains in the immediate Cincinnati area, it is essential to have 160.230 in your scanner. All signals are called on this frequency. In addition, trains arriving and departing Queensgate Yard are required to inform the proper office in the yard that they are doing so on 161.370. Whenever a move is to be made outside of the yard itself, trains must inform the "CK" Dispatcher in Jacksonville, unless the trainmaster at Queensgate has already done so via telephone. If done by radio, it will be heard on 161.100, another essential channel.

Norfolk Southern: NS is relatively easy to keep an ear on. All trains arriving at Gest Street yard must call "DI" Tower on 160.950 or 160.440. 160.950 is the main channel south of the Ohio River and in the yard. 160.440 is used on the New Castle District and the Cincinnati District, while 160.980 is used on the former Conrail Cincinnati Line east of Sharonville.

Indiana & Ohio / Central RR of Indiana: Operations are conducted on 161.385 and 160.545. Dispatching and most switching is handled on these frequencies.

Top Twelve "Must have frequencies" for railfanning Cincinnati:

CSX 160.230

CSX 161.100

CSX 161.370

CSX 160.320

CSX 161.520

CSX 160.590

CSX 160.290

NS 160.950

NS 160.440

NS 160.980

I&O 161.385

CIND 160.545