Trains and Trails of Nassau County FLA: April 2010

Friday, April 2, 2010

Railfanning in Callahan FL

Friday April 2 was a good Friday (pardon the pun) to go train watching in Nassau County. The Callahan junction is always a good spot to set up camp and watch the trains go by. A Southbound intermodal approaches the Callahan Junction on its way to the intermodal yard in Jacksonville. A northbound manifest train from Baldwin enters the double track and weaves from the west track to the east track on its way north to Georgia.

2010 Railroad Days Festival in Callahan was great

Had great weather and great turnout for this year's 2010 Railroad Days Festival in Callahan. Good to see the community come out and support the West Nassau Historical Society and their efforts in preserving the historic Callahan Depot and the ACL caboose. Friday the theme was the afterschool fun time. Mrs Kate C highlighted the kids freindly music. Saturday's parade went off without a hitch. The crowd was fantastic.

Amelia Island Swing Span Bridge and Trestle

The Amelia Island Swing Span connects Amelia Island with mainland Nassau County. Once owned and used by CSX, it is now in the hands of First Coast Railroad. The first bridge, a mammoth 6000+ feet wooden trestle and draw bridge, was built by McDowell and Callahan for David Yulee's Florida Railroad in 1855. The wood trestle has long since been shortened and replaced with concrete pilings. The metal span pictured was once the span of the Florida East Coast's bridge over the St. Johns River in Palatka. When they dismantled the bridge, they placed the swing span upon a barge and shipped it here where it still plays a vital role in Nassau's rail network.