Second turnout added to CSX mainline at Callahan Junction, FL

Railroad workers labor beyond both the new and old track signals as they prepare the track for the new southbound turnout onto the Callahan-Baldwin sub.  This shot is looking north at the CR 108/River Road grade crossing at mm 624.37 on the A line and mm SM 19.97 on the Callahan-Baldwin sub.

The new second turnout has been added to the CSX mainline. It begins on the western track just south of the Alligator Creek trestle in between the mainline crossovers. Once it is opened, the old turnout (foreground) will be upgraded.

Looking south along the Callahan-Baldwin sub. The new second track has concrete cross ties. CSX has parked about two dozen hopper cars (in the distance) on the new track as they prepare to build the bed underneath. Workers were also preparing to activate the new track signals at mm SM 18.2 where a new cross over will be located just north of the Sandy Ford grade crossing.  There is a grade difference of about 35-40 feet within the 2 mile stretch from Callahan to Sandy Ford Road. This is a great view of north bound trains coming from Baldwin as they slowing roll down the gentle grade.

New signal upgrades for NS and CSX at Crawford Diamond

Both Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX are getting darth vader signal upgrades at the Crawford Diamond 4 miles south of Callahan. This will help guard the soon-to-be busier crossing once CSX double tracks the line from Callahan to the north to the Crawford siding to the south. The new NS signal pictured in the foreground above and the CSX signal just beyond the metal control box in the background will soon direct the southbound trains for both railroads through the diamond.

 

 
A new darth vader signal for northbound NS (old Georgia Southern and Florida, GS&F) trains stands covered beside the concrete pilings for the new US 301 4-lane bridge. The new signal is located at the switch to the nearly 3-mile long Norris* siding, a major waiting point for NS trains entering their Simpson yard in Jacksonville. It is unclear what is to become of NS's overhead signals located just beyond the old two-lane viaduct.  It may still be used to control traffic of trains approaching the diamond or just entering the main from the siding. There is also a small 3rd track that measures about 1000 feet just to the east of the overhead signals that is served by a ground-level signal. Once the new bridge is built, the old viaduct will be dismantled. The 200+ feet of concrete railing seen on the bridge will be removed and reset at the historic Callahan Train Depot. 
* I have no idea where the name Norris comes from but I will investigate.

Looking south down the CSX Callahan-Baldwin sub from the Crawford diamond, a new signal awaits activation at the north end of Crawford Siding. A southbound CSX train waits in the background for a NB train to come up from Baldwin. Soon this siding will become part of the double track that will stretch from Callahan to hear in preparation of the funneling of more trains off the CSX A-line from  Jax to Orlando that parallels US 17 to their S-line that runs parallel to US 301 form Callahan to Zephyrhills. This is partly in response to the State's purchase and conversion of CSX's line that runs through metro Orlando for a commuter line. The spur pictured above that veers off the main line runs to a large mulch manufacturing plant. There also was a spur that ran off the siding to the right side of the photo that once served a large saw mill.  Looks like there is a ground level signal at this siding as well.

New overhead signals added to callahan junction

Looking northbound at the CSX's main line at Callahan Junction. the Callahan-Baldwin is in the background. The existing signal is giving a green light to a north bound amtrak that came barrelling by from Jacksonville a few minutes after this picture is taken.

Soon the overhead signals will be activated to guard this major junction in CSX's system.

 

 

Looking south down the Callahan- Baldwin Sub (MM 20) at  a northbound manifest train waiting patiently for a northbound amtrak to clear the juntion.  Soon an overhead signal will replace the antiquated one standing in front of it.  The grade increases around where the locomotive is sitting from about 22 feet in Callahan to 60 feet at the Sandy Ford Road grade crossing (mm18) to about 80 at the Crawford diamond (m m15.9)

 

 

As part of the major upgrade to the Callahan- Baldwin sub, CSX is adding overhead signals to go along with the double tracking of the turnout to Baldwin. The CR 108 River Road grade crossing is in its 3rd week of being closed so CSX can add a second track on the Callahan-Baldwin sub.  The addition will allow more freight trains coming into Florida to take the S-line which parallels US 301 to Orlando, Tampa, and Miami.  CSX has sold its track on its A-line from Sanford to Kissimmee to the State of Florida so the Sun-rail commuter line can be built.

5 trains in 55 minutes for Cinco de Mayo in Callahan, Nassau County, Florida

Train 1: SB CSX intermodal pulled by engine 5313 approaches CR 108 grade crossing

Train 2: Another CSX intermodal pulled by engine 5103 races SB toward Jacksonville

Train 3: NB manifest train pulled by 7840 rounds the curve and toward the main line

Train 4:  Another NB manifest pulled by 7695 from Baldwin approaches the CR 108 grade

Train 5: A loaded coat train veers southward onto the Baldwin-Callahan line on its way to Baldwin

Train 3 chugs across the CR 108 grade and toward the switch on the main line

Train 3 enters the west track of the main line and prepares to crossover to the vacant east track

Train 4 passes the last signal tower before it enters the main line

Train 4 enters the mainline and approaches the crossover to the east track

Train 5 loaded with coal thunders across the CR 108 grade crossing

I was running some errands today in Callahan when I noticed off in the distance a Northbound CSX train parked on the Callahan-Baldwin line. That usually means it is waiting for a Southbound train to clear the mainline so I drove to the Callahan Junction (the bottom of the Florida Funnel) and grabbed my camera.  As I walked closer I glanced northward on the mainline and saw a Southbound CSX train waiting at the Old Dixie Highway grade crossing. I asked myself why 2 trains were stopped in Callahan and before I had time to answer, the gates at Old Dixie came down.  I grabbed my camera and caught a CSX intermodal racing across the CR 108 grade crossing headed for the Jacksonville port. I waited for the train on the Baldwin- Callahan line to move toward me and the main line. After about 15 minutes another Southbound intermodal raced around the SB train parked at Old Dixie and barrelled across CR 108 on its way to Jacksonville.  Finally the NB train whistled its approach and entered the main line. But too my surprise another NB train appeared on the Baldwin-Callahan line and inched down the Crawford grade toward the Callahan junction. In no time it too entered the mainline and disappeared behind the parked SB manifest at Old Dixie.  In no time the SB manifest whistled its approach.  I stepped across the tracks to get another angle and noticed it was a coal train. It gathered speed as it veered off the main line and onto the Baldwin-Callahan line on its way to the Baldwin yard. Five trains in 55 minutes made for some great pictures and for a great Cinco ee Mayo surprise.  On a scale of 1 to 10, it was a 5 (times 2)

Railfanning in Crawford FL

The rains has stopped in Nassau County, FL long enough to rail fan in Crawford, FL. The once thriving sawmill town 4 miles southwest of Callahan was founded around 1900 at the crossing of the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western RR with the Florida Central and Peninsular RR. Two years later the AV&W was bought by Southern Rwy and renamed the Georgia Southern and Florida RR and used as Southern's entry to Jacksonville, FL and its ports. Today's rail traffic include car carriers and intermodals to Jacksonville with connections to South Florida via the Florida East Coast RR. It is single tracked from Macon to Jacksonville with a 2 mile long siding stretching from Crawford southward to Keene. The FC&P line was once know as the Florida Railroad. It was built through the area in 1856 as the Sunshine State's first cross peninsular railroad. It became Seaboard Air Line's main line into Florida in 1902. The most common rail traffic on this CSX sub line is manifest and coal. It is single tracked from Callahan to Baldwin with two sidings beginning just south of the diamond: One siding is used as a waiting place for many North bounds to enter the double tracked line in Callahan and the other is used for dropping cars off at the Mulch Manufacturing Plant. Crawford is one of only a few places that CSX and NS intersect in Florida and is a good place to rail fan.

Trains and Trails of Nassau County Florida is a blog dedicated to sharing the many train hot spots and various trails of Florida's Crown of the First Coast, Nassau County, Florida.