Monday, September 23, 2013

September Train Notes

Regularly, to my mailing list South FL Railfans, I post a notes sheet full of trains that ran, power that ran around in South Florida, and news that are usually BSed or overhyped. This month actually had enough good stuff to share here and to also start the tradition of posting monthly notes. Usually I post it at the first of the next month but I found the time now and will do so:

The data is usually jotted down with little structure. This is this month's edition, part 1 since I know something just might happen that is worth reporting within the next 8 days.

SEPTEMBER TRAIN NOTES
UNIT TRAINS:
Known rock trains to run include K996-K995, K950-K951, and K978-K977. K790-K791 ran recently. No words on the Gator country or Wildwood rock though, I don't think they ran at all.
V157 came in... but at the wrong time. Lots of us were stuck AWOL in Academia.
Fort Lauderdale Rock appears to be coming back to life; 985/986s caught by Tommy4Trains and also a 988 was heard at Lauderdale last night.

SPECIALS/Unusual trains:
Geometry Train on the FEC with the NS 5609 behind FEC 720.
Tri-Rail-CSX-FEC special. Responsive to the TIGER GRANT, will mention later. Funny how I imagined something similar on my Key West Extension route: http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?17876-FEC-Key-West-extension-modern-day&p=457306#post457306
P933 Service run on September 12 with #516, autorack.
P935 service run on September 21. #166, 2 cars

POWER:
CSXT 15/4565: Power came in on K995 around 9/12; ran the O721. Still in pool service here.
CSXT 5396/800: Came in unknown; caught on K977/K996 weekend of the 7th/8th; left on the 8th (Seen from distance)
CSXT 462/673: Came in on V157 9/16; still in circulation and caught on K791 9/21.
CSXT 7870/7737: Circulated on FRKX Rock Trains until 9/12; left on K978. K978 became K724, but it is unknown if they came back. Should/could have different power.
Another Dash 8 was reported by Ted Marshall to bring up a rock train 9/19.
CSXT 3021: Came in on Q453 9/11; Ran to FEC. Came back unknown, and probably is gone by now.
NS 5609: Rotated on FEC Geometry Train. Can't believe I chose to pass it up 9/12 but I guess it wasn't meant to be.
**If I am missing anything, it will be added to part 2**

NEWS:
Logistics and freight movement are showing little change on CSX. FEC is having another sweet month though.
Observations:
O722's delivery on 9/8 was more of the same; about 35 cars on it as seen from Lauderdale airport.
I haven't been out anywhere believe it or not except for as far as Sawgrass. 
O721 was only seen to haul the car for Probuild along with the CYDX empties. Also Y322 should have brought in coal ash at the top of the month, as seen on last month's Q453-30.
ROCK TRAINS ARE NOW FOLLOWING A NEW ADDED PATTERN. Without fail, the last three weekends produced rock jobs on the Homestead Sub on Saturday carrying the SB ID. The loads go out the next day, Sunday, in the afternoon, usually after P092 runs. However as a tradeoff, photo ops are slacking off south of Dyer since the sun is tracking towards the South. Your best bet is to be on the SXH For the southbound.
Lehigh Spur now back in action for Rock Trains One courtesy Tim earlier in Sept, and one on the 12th that I got. When K977/K725 comes back, one more hopefully.
FEC IS NOW RUNNING INTERMODAL TO THE PORT OF MIAMI. Courtesy of Jonathan Hollahan of the FEC, a yard job is added effective today (9/23) to run to the Port and back with push-pull operation.
Fort Lauderdale Airport Rock is back more or less as stated earlier. I will get a grasp of the schedule soon, but yesterday's night run should be a hint of it.
TIGER GRANT. $13.75M grant approved for rail links at Iris and Northwood, with presumed link at Pompano Beach. Also it seems like I'm starting to see more graphics and renders of the new Pompano Beach Tri-Rail Station. This will make the Miami Sub a true "SFL Four Pack" with the option of running FEC trains on it as well. Remember it's state owned so this is possible. Estimated legs to be built are on all four sides of Iris but the southwest side, as it's not needed. There was speculation this would pull CSX out of SFL but it's calmed down by FEC personnel who say only the maintenance and signal will go. It is believed with high conviction this will lure out FEC trains 202, 222, 335, 109, and 121 from the old Flagler mainline but keep 101, 210, 226, and 107 hell bent on the existing old mainline. Remember that this speculation is not limited to what comes out of POM. It will also make "Tri-Rail Coastal Link" a reality...  
NEW FEC PAINTS Two special schemes have been announced for FEC engines 425 and 436. The liveries are kept hush but I'm guessing it could be something big, something blue. Hopefully FEC revives the long-lost Speedway livery, which is one of my favorites on the GEEPs. Remember that all Speedway GP40-3s were sold. We'll find out before Part 2 of the September notes.
ADVERTISED ON FEC New trains 111, 212 are now fixed and adopted to the service plan. These are Bowden-City Pt and back. 109 also runs frequently as well. 
NEW BUSINESS FOR FEC Railex will now be shipping to Jacksonville.

1 comment: