CSX Working in Bryceville, Nassau County, FLA, on Final Section of Double Tracking Callahan- Baldwin Sub

With the Sun Rail Commuter Trains up and running on the CSX's former S-line through Orlando and the Metro-Mickey area, more and more trains are being diverted in Callahan, Nassau County, FLA, from the A-line to the S-line. (To recap, several years ago CSX sold its main line through Orlando to the State of Florida for use for a much-needed commuter rail line, Sun Rail. This has caused CSX to funnel more trains entering Florida off of their main track A-line to their S-line. The A-line (A for Atlantic Coast Line main line) runs from parallels US 1 from Hilliard, Nassau County, FLA, to Jacskonville then shadows US 17 from Jacksonville to Orlando and US 92 from Orlando to Tampa. Their new main line is their S-line (S for Seaboard Air Line main line) that parallels US 301 from Callahan, Nassau County, FLA,  through Ocala to Zephyrhills and Central Florida.)  In February 2014 CSX began double tracking the 20-mile section of the Callahan-Baldwin sub which was once the southern half of the former 40-mile long Gross, Nassau County, FLA, cut-off built by the SAL in 1923-25 so their Florida-bound trains could bypass Jacksonville and the then-congested Union Station there. Since they began the widening, the east coast railroad giant has opened three sections of the now busy double track corridor, creating rail fan's heaven in Callahan, Crawford, and Baldwin.  The only part of the old single track left to replace is the roughly 5 1/2 mile piece between the Dahoma, Nassau County, FLA, train signal (SM 10.97) and the north end of the old Fouraker Siding south of Bryceville, Nassau County, FLA (SM 5.5).  

Looking north from the CR 119 grade crossing toward Dahoma at milepost SM 6.97

The new track on the left has not been set but a new double track grade crossing has been added. There were at least 3 wooden trestles to widen/replace between SM 7.0 and SM 11.0, the longest being about 100 foot in length. It has now been replaced with a concrete span complete

 with metal railings seen in the far background of this pic.

Looking south from the CR 119 grade crossing toward Bryceville and Baldwin.  The unlaid track on the right stops at a point where workers with the aid of a large crane are widening a 120-foot trestle. The same creek that flows from west to east under the 100 foot trestle mentioned in the first photo caption has made a U-turn and is now flowing east to west under this bridge toward the Brandy Branch swamp.

The historic Bryce House (1902) and water tower once used for steam trains that stopped here. This is located on the west side of the tracks on private property so please do not trepass.

 Looking south from the end of the county-maintain Church Ave. located at the private crossing of the historic Bryce family house built in 1902 and home to George Bryce and his two train engineer sons who played a hero's roll in the 1923 Rosewood riots. (Note: The crossing, house, and land beyond Church Ave. are private property so please do not trespass). A north bound CSX train waits patiently at the north end of what was once known as Fouraker Siding (SM 5.5) but is now double tracked southward to the Baldwin Yard (SM 0.0). Fouraker is the name of a pioneering family of the Brandy Branch/Bryceville area. Once this final 5.5 mile long segment is double tracked, time-consuming waits shown above become a thing of the past.

Once moving, the train will cross two trestles, the longer 150-foot span seen above in middle ground. The old concrete Milepost 6 separates it from a shorter 50-feet bridge. Swampy water fills the ditches on both sides of the track for nearly 1/2 mile. The trestles span Brandy Branch that begins east of Baldwin and flows northward to Bryceville. It joins another prong of Brandy Branch coming in from the east at the junction of US 301 and Otis Road. Once united the brandy-colored water veers west and transitions as it moves under the trestles into the murkey, snake infested Brandy Branch swamp. 

 Looking north from Church Ave. to the constructor equipment located 

between it and Otis Road grade crossing.

 This is the reason the northbound CSX train was waiting at Fouraker:
 Two southbound locomotives pulling a long line of car haulers plows its way

 past the trestle construction site north of the Church Ave. grade crossing.

 As the train moves closer the lead locomotive CSX 109 is seen leading a DME locomotive 6367.

It slows down as it prepares to cross the Brandy Branch trestles and pass the CSX northbound manifest waiting patiently at the Fouraker track signal. By Christmas the last link in the 20-mile long double tracking of the 159 year old rail line (part of the historic Florida Railroad,

 the state's first cross peninsular line) should be complete.

CSX Callahan Sub Double-Track Update: Crawford Now has a Double-Diamond with NS, Train Stacking North of Baldwin Yard

It is hard to believe that I haven't written in this blog since December but I have a couple of updates on CSX's double tracking of the 20-mile long Callahan Sub from the main A-line in Callahan south to the Baldwin yard. To refresh, CSX sold their rail line in Orlando to the State of Florida for a commuter rail service called Sunrail. Sunrail has since opened (road trip!) meaning a great deal of CSX's Florida-bound trains are being diverted from their main A-line in Callahan (MM A624.2) onto the Callahan Sub (SM 20.0) so they can take the S-line that parallels US 301 to the Zephyrhills split where they travel on to Orlando, Tampa, or Miami. To meet the higher volume of train traffic, CSX began in February 2013 double-tracking the 20 mile sub to the Baldwin yard where it picks up the S-line. 16 months later- 3 of the 4 segments  have been completed and open to rail traffic. The leaves the final link ti be completed:  a 4-mile section from the south turnout of the newly extended South Crawford-Dahoma siding to the north end of the Fouraker siding (SM 4.0)south of Bryceville, Nassau County, FLA.

Thee first three pics are southbound trains passing each other as they jockey for position to enter the Baldwin yard at SM 0.0. The crossing of the Baldwin-Jax Rail Trail (SM 1.8) is a good spot to rail fain because the trail head is close by but don't leave any valuables visible in your vehicle and always be mindful of cyclists on the trail.

 

A south bound auto-carrier train sneaks past a parked mixed manifest train (SM 2.0) on its way to the Baldwin yard. 

Mist and Rain from a Memorial-Day thunder shower begin to move in on once was a hot May day in Baldwin.

 The Baldwin-jax rail trail crossing is a nice venue for slow trains entering the leaving Baldwin yard.

 The CSX-NS crossing at Crawford (SM 16.46) is now double and are guarded by state-of-the-art darth-vader shield track signals. The old diamond has been discarded and the southern switch of the South Crawford sidling has been abandoned. The nearest cross overs are the newly added ones north at Sandy Ford (+/-SM 18.2) and south at Dahoma (+/-SM 11.0). I waited for a train but after 30-minutes I had to leave. I will catch one in the near future.

 Looking north east at the new CSX-NS Crawford double-diamond with the new US 301 viaduct nearing completion in the upper right corner background. The old diamond is sitting beside the NS track (MM 244.4) just east of the new diamond. The new NS track signal is in place with an accompanying track side stating "Begin 261-End 271". With the MM being 244.4, I can only guess that this means changing of dispatch channels or maybe changing dispatch zones.

 Looking north (above) past the Crawford Road grade crossing (SM 16.1) toward Callahan 4.5 miles away. There is a 60+ foot change in elevation between Crawford (84') and Callahan (22'). Looking south and the remnant of the north turnout of the South Crawford siding (SM 46.3) and the turnout to the busy Mulch Plant (SM 16.1).
                                      

Passing CSX trains reflect Florida as a consumer state at Callahan Junction, FLA

Although we export citrus and import tourism, some can argue that Florida is a consumer state, especally after watching these two trains that passed each other at the Callahan Junction. A CSX SB train with empty coal cars clambers past a CSX SB tanker train full of  corn syrup heading toward Baldwin.

An Afternoon Delight of trains on the Callahan-Baldwin Sub

 While on my way to work in the late afternoon, I snapped this pic at the Callahan Junction of a lone CSX company passenger car being pulled by a single locomotive chugging southbound on the A-Line toward Jacksonville.  Perhaps it was full of company execs?
                                     
Shortly thereafter, CSX locomotive 3096 leads a quartet of engines pulling a northbound manifest train around the final curve of the Callahan sub (milepost 9.98) and onto the A line (milepost 624.37)

Bathed in the light of the low winter sun, CSX 3096 crosses the CR 108 grade crossing at the Callahan Junction of the A line and the Callahan-Baldwin Sub.

The next day aound 3 pm, I found myself at the Baldwin diamond of the Callahan-Baldwin sub (milepost 0.14). Northbound CSX locomotive 8848 leads another quartet of engines and a manifest out of the Baldwin yard and through the new Darth-Vader signal towers that guard the newly expanded double diamond with the Tallahassee sub.

CSX engines 8848 and 8817 clamber loudly across the new double diamond  as they pull a manifest northbound on the Callahan-Baldwin sub toward Callahan. Trains from enter the northbound sub from 3 directions now: either from the Baldwin yard on the newly added double track, west from Tallahassee on the upgraded single turnout (foreground) or east from Jacksonville on the rebuilt 100-degree single turnout.

After the CSX 8848-led train clears the US 90 grade crossing in Baldwin, I drive through Bryceville to Crawford. [no evidence of construction of the 2nd track through Bryceville (mm 16) yet, possibly because they want to compete the 2nd double-track link from Sandy Ford crossing (mm 18) to south of Brooks Road crossing (mm 13) first].  The second track is down but not firmly ballasted yet nor have they attempted to add the 2nd diamond at the NS Valdosta line (mm 15.64). It wont be long before the upgrade the Crawford Road grade crossing (mm 16.08) to handle two tracks.

 After  I take a pic in Crawford, I drive northward to the Callahan Junction and caught CSX 8848 as it crosses the CR 108 grade crossing (mm 19.96) and heads toward the west track on the A line (mm 20). As I cross the US 301 viaduct over the A-line, I look to my left and notice a green light on the south facing signal tower of the main line. I knew that a NB train would be coming from Jax but did not know when.

After I took the final pic of 8848, I heard the familiar rumbling of the other train as it approached Callahan Junction from the south. I took a pic of the northbound inter modal led by CSX 3050 as it crossed the grade crossing and paralleled the first manifest train. 3050 probably caught the slower moving 8848 somewhere north of the Old Dixie Highway grade crossing (often referred to on the scanners as the "school house" crossing because of its proximity with Callahan Middle School).

CSX now working on double tracking another segment of the Callahan-Baldwin sub

 Looking south from Sandy Ford Rd. grade crossing (about MM 18.4). The newly opened crossover is just behind the photographer  The two tracks are open from this point north to the Callahan Junction (MM 20.0) with the main line at MM 624.4

                                Looking north from Crawford Road grade crossing at MM 15.9.

                Looking south from the Crawford Road grade crossing toward the Norfolk Southern diamond (MM 15.46) and the beginning of the extended Crawford siding. (MM 15.3).

                     A Norfolk Southern Triple Crown trailer train plows southward through what will become a double diamond with the CSX's Callahan-Baldwin sub.

Action at the Callahan Junction, Callahan, Nassau County, FLA: July 1-6, 2013

 

CSX 7841 and CSX 7746 pulling a northbound manifest blasts from under the US 301 viaduct and through the new tower signal guarding the newly constructed Callahan Junction 

 4 CSX engines with CSX locomotive 340 acting as the northern bookend sit idling on the west track of the A-line waiting for the new Darth-Vader track signals just north of Callahan Junction.

A trio of locomotives lead by CSX 5348 pulls a southbound manifest train from the A-line onto the newly upgraded double turnout to the Callahan- Baldwin sub (SM). The double tracking is complete from the Callahan Junction at Milepost SM-20 to the new crossover just north of the Sandy Ford grade crossing at SM 18.1. CSX is already funnelling more trains onto the Callahan-Baldwin sub. Preparations are underway to extend the new double track southward to the Crawford Siding just south of the Crawford diamond (with NS) at SM 15.46.

CSX's Callahan-Baldwin sub update from MM 0.0 to MM 20.0: May 31, 2013

Pre-fab tracks sitting at the Oliver Street grade crossing in Baldwin (MM 0.05) are waiting to be used somewhere along the 20 mile upgrade of the Callahan-Baldwin sub. In the foreground is the Callahan-Baldwin sub looking south toward the diamond with CSX's western line from Jacksonville to New Orleans. This diamond (built in late 1856 when the Atlantic and Gulf Central RR on its westward course crossed the Florida Railroad and its freshly built, southward pointing grade) use to be a single track Seaboard Air Line diamond with matching connecting tracks in all four corners. Over time the junction as changed. The turnout in the northeast corner has been removed and the turnout in the southeast corner has been double tracked to handle trains bypassing the Baldwin yard such as Amtrak. Part of the Callahan-Baldwin sub upgrade is the addition of a new connection track in the SE corner as seen in the recent update to google maps satellite view. (the existing inner turnout will be removed, leaving only 2 connection turnouts connecting the Wildwood and Jax subs) A 3-mile section of track east of Baldwin toward Jacksonville has been double tracked with a double crossover and the turnout in the southwest corner parallels the main line westward for 1.5 miles with a double crossover. The northwest turnout has remained the same for years but the prefab track in the foreground might mean they may double track this turn out. (I have found out since that the NW connection track will remain single. The prefab track will be used somewhere on the Callahan Sub) With more trains being funneled from CSX's A-line which parallels US 17 from Jax to Tampa onto their S-line that parallels US 301 from Callahan to Zephyrhills, this turnout needed to be upgraded.

 Looking south from Oliver Street (mm 0.05) toward the US 90/301 grade crossing (mm 0.18). The old abandoned turnout in the northeast corner of the Baldwin diamond is just out of the right frame of the pic. Evidence of the raised bed of this turnout still can be seen where it once crossed Oliver Street.  The clearing of trees and brush in the right of the picture may be evidence that CSX may reconstruct the northeast turn out again.

 Looking south from the US 90/301 grade crossing (mm 0.18) in Baldwin. The crossing was just reopened an hour or two before this picture was taken for vehicular traffic. The original single track and unchanged northwest turnout to the CSX Tallahasse sub is to the right. The Baldwin diamond and yard are in the background. It appears that the new track to the far left might be the beginnings of the relaying of the northeast turnout. The middle track may either go into the Baldwin yard or connect to the bypass turnout in the southeast corner of the diamond so through trains from Callahan can bypass the yard.

A CSX manifest train with engine 461 at the point pulling engine 4314 and various freight cars through the newly reopened US 90/301 grade crossing in Baldwin.  Each side has new overhead signals with digital lights that stretch over the traffic lanes. A new signal with crossing arm was added in the median so traffic is now stopped by matching crossing arms. The was already a grassy median on the eastern side but a concrete median with a matching crossing arm signal was added on the western side of the crossing.

Looking north from the US 301/90 grade crossing as the southbound freight (pictured in the previous photo) approaches from its run from Callahan. The third track (pictured in the second photo above this one) has merged into the  new track shown to the right of the mainline. A new double cross over has also been added so I am sure track signals are soon to be added here.

Looking south from the Jax to Baldwin Rail Trail grade crossing (mm 0.75) toward the US 90/301 grade crossing.  The grade has been widened and cleared for the second track.

Looking north from the Jax to Baldwin Rail Trail grade crossing (mm 0.75) at a new signal. The grade has been widened and cleared for the second track. This section will soon be double track to the south end of the Fouraker Siding (mm 3.6)

 Looking south toward the new tri-lighted track signals (background) have been added and are in operation at the north end of the Fouraker Siding (mm 5.7).  The siding, named for a pioneering family that settled the area, is relatively short by today's standards, measuring about 7500 feet. In the middle ground are the twin Brandy Branch trestles that will need to be widened if CSX is planning to double track the entire 20 mile section.

 Looking north at the CR 119 grade crossing (mm 7.1) in Bryceville, Nassau County, FLA. The trestle in the foreground matches another trestle that lies in between the grade crossing and the track signals in the back ground (mm 8.7).  At present there are no visible upgrades until you reach the new extension of the Crawford siding at mm 10.1 now visible in google maps.

 Looking south on the Brooks Road grade crossing (mm 13.3) in Dahoma, Nassau County, FLA, at the double track extension of the Crawford siding. The new southern end of the "siding" is at now at mm 11.5, making the new double tracked section 4 miles in length.  CSX has added flashing signals (with the new LED warning lights) with crossing arms at this grade crossing which is a dirt road that serves about 2 dozen families who live on the western side of the tracks.

 Looking north from the Brooks Road grade crossing (mm 13.1) in Dahoma, Nassau County, FLA. The south end of the old Crawford siding ended about 1/2 mile from this crossing. The busy siding was used for southbound trains waiting to enter the Baldwin Yard and northbound trains waiting to enter CSX's A-line, the main artery out of Florida.  As part of the sub upgrade, the old south end has been converted into a double crossover (mm 13.6). This section of CSX track was part of the old Florida Railroad, the Sunshine State's first trans-peninsular railroad.  The 155-mile long railroad ran from Fernandina, Nassau County, FLA, (mm 0) to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico (mm 155).  Callahan was mm 27 and Dahoma at this curve was mm 33.  Once the railroad weaved through all the swamps and creeks in Nassau County, FLA, it was able to turn southwest and make a bee line inland. This Dahoma curve is the last curve on the Florida Railroad (and Seaboard Air Line RR) until the railroad reached Waldo at mm 83.

Looking south from the Crawford Diamond, the new track signals are in operation and old ones removed at the northern end of Crawford Siding at mm 15.5, making the new double-tracked section 4 miles in length. Plans are to extend these two tracks northward to Callahan and complete the connection.  The old south end of the Crawford Siding (just beyond the parked train and before the curve in the far distance) is now a double crossover, but looking at the updated satellite views on Google maps, they may be adding a third track to the west of these two existing ones.  Terra Pointe's plans for building the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park in the northwest corner of the Crawford Diamond are hitting high gear therefore they may be added a new siding to this growing area of Nassau County. Link to Terra Pointe's Crawford Diamond info. http://www.terrapointeserviceslandsales.com/ViewProperty.aspx?propertyID=110

 Looking east toward the Crawford Diamond, both CSX and Norfork Southern (NS) have turned on their new track signals and are removing the old ones, including these NS (foreground) and CSX (background) signals pictured here.

 The new track signals are in operation at the new double crossover just north of Sandy Ford grade crossing (mm 18.5). The tracks pictured here will be extended southward and connect with the old north end of Crawford Siding, creating a double diamond at Crawford junction with Norfork  Southern mm 15.7).

                                 
Looking south, new signals guard the double crossovers on the main CSX line (mm 624) just above the double turnouts to the Callahan-Baldwin sub at mm 20.0. Notice in the background there is a shy CSX northbound engine parked underneath the US 301 viaduct. It is very unusull for a train to be parked there. In fact, the engineer was backing the train up about 5 minutes before I took this photo.