Tuesday, July 31, 2012

South Florida Four Pack Blitz Part II

After running shopping errands in Dania we trekked up I-95 over to Deerfield Beach to intercept FEC 101. It went in the ATCS dark for a while but popped up again at Villa Rica once we hit Pompano. This catch was then ensured to be a no brainer and it rolled by 10 min. after 8.

We had our usual dinner in Boca Raton and then coffee at the Mizner Park Starbucks. This was kind of a time kill for Q453 to make it and gain on us. With the 10pm closure I was basically stuck waiting at Deerfield Beach for some 25min for the train to advance. I saw the same railfan mom-and-son that I saw August 17 and chatted it up while waiting on 453. Anyway as I arrived a "crazy" woman was lying there in the lot attracting the attention of Coconut Creek PD and G4S. I tried to steer clear of this odd event and waited until I was in the clear to meet the people  at the south end of the platform.

Q453 rolled by 10:40 PM with its average sized 41 car train.

336 was lined and I headed south to Griffin, then Old Griffin Road to see it. Even more interestingly it had a close call with a biker.

After that I was able to squeeze in Q452, at 77 cars, to cap the day. Compared to the equivalent 8/17 trip this had better car numbers in Q453 and Q452.

On my way home I got to see 226 from the highway but do nothing else with it. I was already exhausted and enjoyed my day out in the Tri-County area.


Monday, July 30, 2012

South Florida Four Pack Blitz Part I

Sometimes it takes a day to do both railfanning and needed shopping in areas around Broward. Hence I took Thursday July 26.

As always the outing started with BK Joe (now Seattle's Best coffee). After which I made the usual trek around Hialeah but instead flew through the area since the yard area was dead.

Following a business engagement we had time to rush over and get FEC 965 which did double duty - Fort Lauderdale manifest empties and Airport rock empties.


I continued beating a path through the city and wound up skipping Ready  to Roll trains and hit up the RaceTrac in Hallandale. After which I toured Golden Glades around Hardy and found the Sysco Lead overgrown. The middle lead had its usual influx of tankers and at the time O722 was doubling back after a setout.


***that light in the background is Amtrak P092. I got him on freehand video by me soon after.

For the formal video of O722, I raced to Hollywood to get a hold of him. Meanwhile I was surprised to find P623 with a Hyundai-Rotem cabcar. TRCX only has two of these in service.



O722 finally rolled by on T-1 making this pooched shot happen.


I tracked up to Copans to scout on O717, which had already finished its pickup moves at Home Depot and Grace Construction. At Publix was when I found the train, which had just set out one covered hopper of pellets. As you will see, I was cautious not to trespass or risk falling in the deep ditch.



After a pit stop at BK which was not for lunch this afternoon but instead a smoothie stop, I found Dave Shelley gaining on me on FEC 202. He was already around Wilton Manors when I left the Deerfield Beach area BK. I made it just in time to Pompano Airpark to see him. This was my first time seeing him in 11 months and 9 days and his S&HC and wave was missed.


I had lunch at the Deerfield Beach proper Subway and skirted around Military to find O717 at the Boise lead. This train was handling 6 loads for delivery, 2 loads for Fast-Dry, and empties from both and/or Keeman Brick.



--INTERMISSION--
After another refreshment, this time at Mickey D's "McCafe", I did the usual westward round to Sawgrass. Bought LEGO elements for this project I am doing plus other miscellaneous endeavors.

Having finished after P091 and P097 were able to pass (Well I could've gone for P091 but tough luck when a drawbridge goes off), I ran to Croissant Park for 222.


Always its interesting looking rock & all FECIM train, 222 rolled by to finish off what the point and shoot could take. This would be the last train photographed on this outing.

I did compile some video footage during this outing of the misc trains I caught. Enjoy!



Part II will entail all of the night trains I got to videotape and see in person.















Thursday, July 26, 2012

News: Homestead Sub Hasn't Kicked out a Rock Train in Four Days

I hope I didn't jinx it but there hasn't been an outbound rock drag since Sunday. I wonder if they're running at random times and heading north at night. Maybe the local O721 is only relegated to local hauls now and these things run out of nowhere. Last Sat. there was a run in the daytime to produce K996. Things have been slow and bust this week on the sub and today all 3 sets of rock train power were in Miami. Maybe I'll get lucky as I railfan today (Thurs.). I'll wait and see.

Monday, July 23, 2012

A Good Day on the Homestead Sub

I like it when O721 has freight for more than one customer. It gives the train variety and connotes a good sign to the economy. While these cars don't reflect the Homestead area proper, they do represent customers on the upper end. It was a pleasant surprise to see plastics hoppers on this one as I don't usually get to see them the days they work Seal-Tite.
Yesterday the train was fronted by 26 and 817 with 2 from Seal-Tite, 3 hoppers and one tank for Orr (my first catch of tanks on the road), TEN cement hoppers for Yelvington, and the rest empty rock.

In  the video as well before O721 is Friday's FEC 101. This train had 11,350' and a bunch of empty rock on the bottom. That is long for its size but its average is only 8950'. More on the FEC in a later entry.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Trip Report - O721 Chase - July 19

I may be blogging trip reports here for the future. Why? Well, this is a blog - a web log. Everything that tells a story, shares an experience, and brings a lesson (trips do that!) belongs here. Expect a few more blog adjustments soon to this site.

While for some trips a friend of mine, Paul does the write ups, I will form a version separate for entry to this blog. Yes, we tell the same story but our eyes may just see different things.

Anyway - time to cut to the chase here.

I don't fancy chasing O721 in the weekdays but today was the exception to the rule. For the first time this week, with my night owl sleeping (Hello Summer!) I woke up to see clear sunny skies. Well, I have woken up at 3pm (probably to uphold future trips with the SFRM Gang which entail all nighters) and of course been greeted by very happy thunderstorms. Yet I look outside, don't hear thunder... yes, it's going to be a hot one but at least the trains will look pretty! Pretty... they sure were.

My mother had expressed an interest in going to Dadeland for some shopping. I find it a cool mall but a great excuse to run around and chase O721 at times, and it has been done that way a few times. On this day I would continue that trend as I timed O721's departure to when I would leave.

Nonetheless at 6:08 PM the lights are given and it leaves 5 minutes later. I leave when it leaves and manage to bear the level of traffic needed to match it up on the dot at Flagler St.

Looking north as the gates activate when I cross, I noticed a YN2 leader. I expected engines 939 & 9014 to run, 939 pointing South, but it turned out that 636 and 593, the other pair was leading. A happy camper, I would finally be able to see pure AC power on a SFL freight haul that is not coal.

We managed to beat it across SW 16 ST and turn to a couple back streets to access the winding SW 75 AV. As the train picked up speed I found it imperative to hold on to the west side so that if any shot had to be taken in any case, it could be done beautifully. We turned on to SW 21 ST which gave the train its leeway to activate SW 21 ST once we got there.

I made almost last minute plans to film at SW 24 ST. This was my target when I passed it at Flagler. I got off as the engines were already in plain view, with almost no time to set up. I still managed to get the telephoto as the train was creeping, though.

636 led 593 with 1 Centerbeam Flatcar and about 50-60 empty hoppers of aggregate. Only 636 did any work.


636 up close.

An up close of 593.

Something that has increased in 2012 was centerbeam traffic to Probuild. A sign of hope in this economy.
The actual purpose was to shoot this train in Kendall, but to avoid waiting I wanted to get this very trademark Coral Way shot. We headed south on the 826/874 overtaking the train slowly but surely (25mph for them) and got out as planned. I had enough time to take pose at my favorite spot on the Homestead.

The wide open pasture of SW 88 ST makes for a beautiful shot in the late afternoons which is when Homestead Sub receives any traffic nowadays.
With this I finished my CSX safari. 3 sights, 3 bolts, 2 engines, 2 video shots, and 1 train in 1 hour.



Thursday, July 19, 2012

[HD|SRS'12] CSX O721-16 Flags Malfunctioning Bird Rd Crossing with Beast...

Definitely something not seen every day, flagging occurs when the crossing doesn't work like it should. Sometimes EC-1s give in 10 mph speed restrictions when a crossing activates too much, like Hollywood Blvd. I had a double opportunity this past Monday, lol... Get a shot of a train slowing down close and personal to hold traffic and shoot fusees, and get a heck of a lot of that beautiful sounding K5HLL. Welcome to Miami, railfans... enjoy!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Economy

First of all, a very happy Fourth of July!

Just sitting in front of the TV yesterday an interesting news report on CNN HLN showed up. They apparently surveyed the future of the economy in the eyes of the public. Not surprisingly, 60% said that the 2013 economy should be stronger than things are now. Last year, the numbers were flopped and the remaining 39% (Apparently not 40) said that it would recover. This good news has made me want to discuss it and the railroad in general.

I have also noticed a commercial providing support for coal. I hope this will encourage and facilitate more coal transport in the future. More on that soon.

I am not a TV guy. I must have happened to sit in front of one at the right time. I suppose this was a graceful reminder of the many improvements that are happening in society.

Lehigh Spur would be first. We are still without unit rock trains. These have stopped service since 2011; but I do not think it was entirely for economical reasons but for legal reasons. A court ordered moratorium redirected Florida Rock orders to the Cemex facility down south. Apparently while a blast has happened in March, only one train has run, taking away the last of any hoppers from the facility. However, the Cemex Miami Cement Plant shows a piece of improvement. Y220 was the serving local and was seen on the spur with deliveries no more than once a week except when coal trains (V148, V157) came in. The recent schedule change lets Y322, a Graveyard Shift local, work the spur. It has been dedicated for two rounds a week, which shows a bit of confidence and hope of increased activity and the will to continue to develop the Lehigh Spur. The East Rail work is also dedicated now on 5 days to a week, on the infamous Y121 job.

Well, to slow some horses down about new jobs and the like, rock business is not moving here on CSX. Still we have the average 2 to 3 trains a week, and sadly one set of power. Maybe it is the season after all; this winter and spring we were treated to two sets. Though, to cheer that up Q453 and Q452 have handled significantly more lumber, gypsum, and rebar lately.

The Orlando area has begun to receive coal again. After some lag in the coal industry, recent ORLs have frequently reported coal. Recent IDs are N152, N172, and T173. I can bet that this has something to do with the Coal "clean fuel" campaign that I briefed earlier, and I am very happy. Things cycle up and down but to see coal truly recover is wonderful. Miami has benefited with the second coal train in 3 weeks, V157-19. Indiantown is back to being a bustling spot with almost weekly drags.

But the big winner, oh boy... our next door neighbor, the FEC. They are striking and penning deal after deal. The Miami Port lead is almost completely restored and intermodal grade. Just last week contracts have been finally signed for two DEDICATED rock trains per day, Monday-Saturday to serve the Fort Lauderdale Airport's runway expansion. All About Florida is finally about to happen. Just recently for Miami, it was announced that this is about to happen. Similar stuff is planned for the City of WPB, and other places are slowly getting their stations funded. I cannot wait to see the FEC by 2020; it'll have a lot of charisma. In a smaller scale, Allied Chemical now has shop in Jacksonville (Bowden), reported by a couple of railfans.

Though, not to spoil any optimism, but I passed by Homestead and it was desolate. Both warehouse spaces, one connected and one disconnected to the old time SAL track have For Lease signs up. AFEC and the old lumber/scrap track are empty. While it would take quite a spark to make the area a true rail hub, there is hope that before long these spots will take in cars and help in the mission of making goods move efficiently. I don't know about anyone's thoughts but something tells me that place will be about as active as the Tompkins area as blogged previously; just give it 10 years.