The BEST O721 I have Caught in a While

One GP38-2, a covered hopper, centerbeam, gravel loads, and limerock empties. This is the mere shell of a classic O721 consist, in 2011. How nice for it to piece together my second to last BikeFanning Series from South Miami. (well, the handle is clearly visible) Why am I so up about the centerbeam? It's nostalgic. K&A Lumber used to receive it in hordes, and Stock too, with Stock getting similar Bulkhead Flats. I hope these two fallen soldiers will be active industries in the near future.

CSX O721 through Hialeah

These chases are FUN. A midnight chase through Hialeah where you're battling a speeding rock train. Nothing like it.

Speaking of Winter Break, I will also be working heavy-duty on the layout.

FEC and the Fort Lauderdale Airport Expansion

FEC big-wigs are currently negotiating a business contract to send trillions of tons of rock over from Medley to the future site of expanded Runway 9R/27L, an engineering feat, of Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Int'l (KFLL).

When I was on the mailing list, FEC fans and employees were talking about how the deal would work, and it was noted that Dave (ECH) put in that IF and WHEN the deal is done, that so-and-so figures of rock would be moved 6x a week for three years.

The current provisions are as follows:

• 300 carloads (30,000 tons) of rock to be moved
• 6x a week
• Would require two unit trains
• A spur track to be constructed in Fort Lauderdale 
• (Already) the double track is being expanded south of the airport

Why am I posting? To speak for the "IF" factor. Look at the numbers. 30,000 tons a day means that it would take, as cited by ECH, 1,000 dump trucks to do three round trips. For this, I simply do not understand why the deal is not done. It simply does not add up to know that businessmen are willing to fathom the clog-up of Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike, and the like with gas-guzzling dump trucks.

Locomotives can run much more efficiently than dump trucks as well. Simply even on diesel engines, the triple round trip is not needed, even though I could see the function for two unit trains of 150 cars. But trains are not stop and go, and have more efficiency simply on steel wheel on steel rail. I am here to question why it is still possible with such a consideration that trucks do the job. We have trains for decent physics properties that allow the pooling of bulk material. Rock is a bulk commodity and shipping trucks around does not do the job. But I hope as time progresses people understand that this is a job for the train to do. Motorists would be happier to be stopped at a railroad crossing, a traffic control device, than a "freeway" that allows "free" motion.

The Negative Relationship between a good Camcorder and Luck of the Draw

When I have the HDC-SD60 working and in great shape, my outings become a mecca for disappointment. I only get the basic trains, the givens, and whatever else that has flat consists and boring power. However, when I am down to using a smartphone to shoot my video, I get much better action.

I philosophize this theory with the way my trips to Central Florida have went. Well, here's the insult to injury. In July 2007, where a video camcorder was nonexistent, at least I SAW O719 holding out by Oleander, P097 in Orlando, Q791/A977 in downtown Orlando, and Q188 near where I caught Q235. Though, not all catches meant that I saw the power; though I could've chased them with today's standard of railfanning. In November I saw a NB Autorack train, Q238, and had a Handycam, but missed the power and my father refused to chase it. May of 2008, well nothing but the NB meteor but that didn't matter all too much, and November of 2008 we didn't go trackside. In March 2010, where my Handycam (a tape cam) was already customized to produce full color night shots, I just missed a Q188 with a GEVO leading and left CFL with only 3 full catches. And in March 2011, with the HDC-SD60, I finally start to get the trains, but they're all dash-8 consists. Though, in Plant City, I got a taste of AC power on Q188. But still, that doesn't quantify well especially with the summer disaster where I only see the three givens, X901, Q188, Q456, and only X901 has an interesting lashup and a loud horn on its SD70MAC. But SD70MACs were already numbered quite well in my channel, being like the fifth of the year that I see. Now for the teeth of this post. My camcorder craps out in Nov., refusing to turn on. (it will get repaired) We go for Veterans Day, to FOTM and scope out a couple of trains after. I get a total of seven, V165 (my first coal train), Q456, P092, Q177, Q188, A777, and Q235. Q188 had an all AC lashup and V165 had a very interesting lashup, an SD70MAC leading a CEFX SD40-2 and a ES44AH. Really, Train Gods? I appreciate the uncanny catches but why did the camera have to break just before the outing?

I think you can suppose psychology has to do with this. When you have great expectations, you get nothing and leave home wondering why you invested the time for nothing. And when conditions OR expectations are grim, you leave yearning that the camcorder was working.

It has also been the conduit for frustration as well. Other railbuffs get the luck of the draw almost all of the time. I get in the picture, with the picture quality I desire and they say they've probably received the lowest numbers yet. Yeah, my Spring 2011 trip was good but the pickings could've been better. I still have yet to see a Central Florida rock train and a unit Phosphate, no matter how many times I've hit the area. :/ At least there's some fun to the trips.

Almost the same happens on the Miami Sub. I at least started upping my game and got V149, the Miami Coal train, but still, the really fun stuff only happens when I'm not on a daytime outing. Even so, V149 was monitored meticulously on that stormy Saturday from my home until I knew it was on the line. My only K-rock train catch was a horrible chase as well. But before 2007, I remember seeing everything! Rock trains, Q-manifests, even foreign power on the Miami and Homestead Subs.

Maybe this will be a lesson for whenever my faithful Panny gets fixed. (that's a matter of if, I think). When I go to Tampa, FL for the annual Tampa Train Show, (GSE) I will try to go with ZERO expectation. Let's see what I score. :)

CSX Miami Sub Layout Update

Heading to Ready to roll today. I am very pleased as to how I am finally back to the model railroad scene tonight. On the 8th I picked up some cheap turnouts so for that I'm good. Finding a great deal is like a pot of gold. Each were running at least 30% off and I got 3 turnouts for the price of 2, 2 of which were #8s. This was from Warrick's. It's funny considering that I was going to buy them in the Summer at full price. Well thought out, eh?

I may pick up further accessories or rolling stock. As far as the engines go, I'm made; I have a GP39-2 and a SD70MAC, more than enough.

I'll be fanning the parallel mainlines today in search of Amtrak, FEC, CSX, and Tri-Rail action. I'll also be at IKEA picking up a correct FRAMSTA unit.

So a fun, busy day today!

New Cars from Atlas...

Coalveyors are being announced. I really dig how the DJJX and MWCX schemes often seen on 453 and 452 carrying scrap are being offered.

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOFreight/hocoalveyor6.htm

Meanwhile the coil cars are finally out!

Derailment and Ballast Train on the Miami Sub

The Miami Sub suffered hell as we know it on Wednesday when Train O720 picked a switch by the Dania middle and back tracks, MP SX 1015.0. Luckily I believe that since a yard derailment like that occurred and the train was operating at a low speed, there should have been no injuries nor casualties. This, for a whole day, held up Tri-Rail and Amtrak trains on Thursday, with P091 and P097 combining at West Palm.

Meanwhile, a W062-29 of sorts, a 37 car train of ballast, came through the area Friday Afternoon. Rudy and Doug, two local railfans, were there to catch it, both at locations 3.7 miles apart. Not to say the train wasn't a close call; they had no heads ups and Rudy just tipped Doug on the last minute, while Rudy found out the fun (or hard) way. (Is it the hard way when you chase a train the whole way?)

While Ted guessed on my mailing list it was for Fort Lauderdale, my belief was and is that it is for Miami Airport's upgraded Tri-Rail Station.

Here are their videos. Always nice to simply see SD50s in Miami.