Work Continues on Callahan-Baldwin sub in Baldwin

Some railfan trips are eventful; others aren't so much.  I started out following a SB CSX manifest train as it entered the Callahan- Baldwin Sub (milepost 20).  I took a pic at mm 16 north of the Crawford diamond, but by the time I had reached Dahoma (around mm 13), the train had pulled onto the Crawford siding south of the NS diamond.  I  waited a bit for it or a Northbound train to come, but was denied, so I drove to Baldwin at milepost zero of the Callahan-Baldwin sub.  It is in Duval County but it plays an important part the CSX network.  CSX is busy double tracking the southern end of the 20-mile long Callahan-Baldwin Sub.  They had closed the busy US 90/301 grade crossing to vehicular traffic, much to the frustration and display of Memorial Day weekend travelers driving on US 301.  I think they are double tracking the sub up to the Fouraker siding (milepost 5) in Bryceville, Nassau County, FLA. 

Looking south toward the Baldwin yard and US 301/90 grade crossing from where the Baldwin-Jax rail trail crosses at milepost 0.75. The much used Baldwin-Jax rail trail follows the old Jax and Southwestern Railroad line (J&SWRR ) from the westside of Jacksonville through Baldwin to SR 121 near Brandy Branch, Nassau County, FLA. The J&SWRR opened in 1896 and ran from the Cummer Logging Mill on the St. Johns River in Panama Park, Jax, to Newberry, FL, and the Cummer land holdings.  The Atlantic Coast Line RR took over the line in 1902 and turned it into their second line from Jax to Tampa to take traffic off of their A-Line that ran from Jax to Orlando and on to Tampa. Today the trail is heavily used by cyclists, walkers and equestrians alike. One day Nassau County will connect into this very popular path.

A southbound CSX manifest train heads slowly down the Callahan-Baldwin Sub at mm 16 just north of the Crawford diamond.  The new track signals added in Callahan are now operational.

Looking at the US 90/301 grade crossing where CSX is adding another track. In the background are the Baldwin yard towers and I 10 overpass.

This single track grade crossing (mm 0.15 on the Callahan-Baldwin sub) was notorious for being blocked by slow moving CSX trains leaving and entering the Baldwin yard.  Traffic on US 90 had the alternative of using I 10 but those traveling US 301 had little choice but to sit and count the cars as they slowly crawled by. CSX has replaced the old gates and signals with new ones, complete with crossing arms in the median.  The new signs state that there now are 3 tracks instead of one.  On my next trip to Baldwin I will investigate this new configuration further south at the Oliver Street grade crossing just north of the diamond with CSX's Jax-New Orleans line.