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.

Second Track Being Laid on the Sandy Ford-Crawford Section of the CSX's Callahan-Baldwin Sub Between Crawford and Callahan

It's been a month since I have been able to take pictures of the progress of the double-tracking of the CSX's Callahan-Baldwin sub.  A month ago they had just cleared and graded the path for the west track between Sandy Ford grade crossing (mp 18.2) and the Crawford siding south of the Crawford diamond with Norfolk Southern. Today I drove down to the same area and noticed they have the track down from Crawford Road grade crossing south to the Crawford diamond. I was unable to go to the actual diamond to see if they have installed the second diamond but hopefully will do so in the future.  I did drive to Bryceville (mp 6) but did not see any work done on clearing a path for the west track as of yet. The Callahan- Baldwin sub is part of 40-mile long Gross sub that veered off the S-line just south of the Florida-Georgia line near the I 95/US 17 interchange.  It is also part of David Yulee's original Florida Railroad, the Sunshine State's first cross peninsular railroad built by Daniel Callahan and crew in 1856.

 Looking south from Crawford Road grade crossing (mp 15.9) toward the Crawford diamond (mp 15.46). The concrete ties and tracks are laid and are awaiting the ballast and final alignment.

 Looking north from the Crawford Road grade crossing (mp 15.9) toward Sandy Ford grade crossing and Callahan (mp 20.0). The grade has been cleared and a section of new track lies on the east embankment next to the concrete milepost 16, waiting to be installed.

 Looking south from the Sandy Ford grade crossing as a northbound CSX grain train slows as it approaches the newly installed Sandy Ford cross over just north of this grade crossing.

 CSX locomotive 5496 leads a tandem with locomotive 143 as they pull a CSX grain train northbound toward Callahan. They are slowing down while they glide through the grade crossing and approach the Sandy Ford cross over. A track side signal shines a red top-blinking green bottom, directing them to veer onto the newer west track that is now open from the cross over to the Callahan junction with CSX's A-line (mp 624).

The new east track side signal at Sandy Ford cross over changed from red top-blinking green bottom to red top-red bottom as the line of grain cars rumble off the original east track to the newly built west track.

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.

New track signals added on CSX's Callahan-Baldwin sub at milepost 18.2

New "Darth Vader" signals have been added to guard the south end of the new crossover being added on the Callahan-Baldwin sub at milepost 18.2 just north of the Sandy Ford Road grade crossing.  The crossover and signals are part of the double tracking of the CSX S-line between Callahan (mp 20) and the Crawford siding (mp 15.5). Once in operation, the newly expanded tracks will handle the increase in rail traffic funneled off the CSX mainline at  the Callahan Junction.  CSX has sold their A-line through Orlando to the State of Florida for the new Sunrail commuter train. Since they will not be able to use this main artery during the day, CSX will divert much of their southbound freight trains to the S-line in Callahan which parallels US 301 to Zephyrhills. The red construction cars in the foreground are parked on what will be the new west track of the  S-line.

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 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.

CSX widens Callahan-Baldwin sub for double track

 

 

CSX is busy clearing land for a second track from Milepost 20 (at the junction with the main line in Callahan) to Milepost 15.6 (just southwest of the Norfolk Southern diamond) Crawford. If you look close enough you can see the new southbound signal in the distance.There wasn't one there before.  This project is because more CSX trains entering Florida will have to take the Callahan-Baldwin sub in order to bypass Orlando. The State of Florida has purchased CSX's tracks through the town that Mickey build so they can run the Sun Rail commuter transit line from Sanford to Kissimmee.

Arizona Eastern 2170 does duty on the First Coast Railroad (FCRD) in Fernandina Beach

 Looking north toward the port of Fernandina.

 Looking south into the First Coast Railroad's Fernandina yard.

I went to a lecture in Fernandina a couple Fridays ago and caught a blue Arizona Eastern (AZER) engine pulling duty at the First Coast Railroad's Fernandina yard. AZER 2170 was pulling a manifest train from the Rock Tenn and Fernandina port that is north of the yard into the Fernandina yard.  The slow-moving southbound train disappears in the yard between graffitied box cars which once was the northern terminus of the Florida Railroad.

New prefab track arrives in Callahan bound for Callahan-Baldwin Sub

Semi tractors with stretch flatbeds escorted by beacon-mounted escort cars arrived in Callahan today. Their cargo was prefab railroad track measuring about 60 feet. I am assuming they are for the new rural grade crossings that dot the first 4 miles (MM 16-MM 20) of the Calahan-Baldwin sub. Work as kicked into high gear on upgrading the 20- mile line and turnout on CSX's main line into Florida. A new darth-vader signal has been added about 1/2 mile north of Sandy Ford Road grade crossing (about MM 18) which will replace the older, south-facing signal at MM 19.9 near the turnout onto the main line.  With cooler weather coming, I will be able to better monitor the construction. The upgrade follows CSX decision to sell their track in the Orlando area to the State of Florida for their Sunrail commuter line.  Since they will not be able to send trains through Orlando during the day,  CSX will funnel more train traffic coming into Florida onto their secondary line that parallels US 301 from Callahan to Zephyrhills near Tampa, thus bypassing the A-line that runs beside US 17 from Jacksonville and Orlando.

Track Upgrade kicks in high gear on callahan-baldwin sub

While i was on my way to work today, i saw this unusual train today heading south on the CSX main line. It slowly exited onto the Baldwin-Callahan sub (MP 20).  I drove down to Sandy Ford Road grade crossing (MP 18) and noticed a lot of CSX workers removing the old track. They also installed new train signals with Darth Vader shields several hundred yards north of Sandy Ford. I then drove to the Crawford Road grade crossing at MP 16 and took some pictures of this unusual work train spraying some kind of liquid on the tracks. (upon further research it was a LORAM rail grinder train) Rumor has it that CSX is getting ready to double track some of this 20-mile stretch of important stretch of track. (If you look close enough in the bottom picture, there is a NB manifest waiting in the distance on the Crawford siding for this LORAM to pass)

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)