Railfanning in Keen, Nassau County, FL

When it comes to railfan hot spots in Nassau County, FL, the now-vanished hamlet of Keen (or Keene) is not among them. Yet, the Thomas Creek Road/Ratliff Road grade crossing on the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) line just south of the Norris Siding at Keen does have its moments. Just today while traveling southbound on US 301 I spotted a southbound NS intermodal train crossing under the US 301 Viaduct at Crawford. It was doing below-average speed for an intermodal on a Friday so I veered left on Thomas Creek Road which parallels NS's Valdosta-Jacksonville line (it was built around 1900 as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad). It had already cleared the north end of Norris siding (not sure where that name came from) but by the time I made it to Keen, it had stopped just before the south end of the 2.3 mile long siding. I stopped next to the Thomas Creek Road grade crossing (at the intersection of Thomas Creek and Ratliff Roads) and got out. To my surprise the SB intermodal had not only stopped (intermodals are usually high balling to the ports or trying to make the Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) connection at Bowden Yard), it stopped on the main line and not on the siding.  I figured at first it was waiting on the okay to proceed onto the NS's Simpson Yard in Jacksonville then I noticed the bottom light of the NB track signal was yellow which indicated a NB train had to pass first. (The old NB track signal always had a bottom yellow-top red because of the sharp curve trains had to negotiate just before passing under the US 301 viaduct in Crawford. It only had a red bottom-red top signal when a SB train was on the line).  After about a 15 minute wait I heard the faint whistle of a northbound NS train blowing at the Acree Road grade crossing just to the south of the Duval-Nassau line. I took a pic of the train (pulled by NS locomotives 8842, 9365, and 9821)  as it dipped down and over the Thomas Creek trestle. I took some more as it blew its warning for the Larsen Road and Thomas Creek Roads grade crossings. The engineer waved as he slowed the locomotive down and entered the north end of Norris siding. I figured the dispatchers had him enter the siding (as opposed to having the other train wait on the siding) so that the NB could clear the main  line then wait on the siding for possibly another SB train.  I wanted to drive to Crawford and see if my hunch was right or if the NB slowly reentered the main line without stopping, but duty called and I had to go. However, thanks to my initial spotting of the SB intermodal, I was able to snap some good photos of the oncoming trains. Maybe I need to stop in Keen more often or split my rail fanning time between it and Crawford.

 A southbound Norfolk Southern (NS) intermodal waits on the main line of the old Georgia Southern and Florida RR's (GSF) Valdosta-Jacksonville line. The yellow light on the bottom signal of the new "Darth Vader" track signal means a northbound train will soon make its way from Jacksonville.

 A northbound NS trains blows its whistle as it approaches the Acree Road crossing in Duval County. The Thomas Creek trestle is at the bottom of the dip.

 

 After crossing the short bridge and passing the Larsen Road grade crossing, the Northbound manifest train blows it whistle for the Thomas Creek grade crossing as the crossing bell chimes its impending arrival.

 

 

Slowing down to a near crawl, the northbound train prepares to enter the north end of Norris siding. The middle light of the track signal changed to green for a brief moment then both middle and bottom lights changed to red after the train crosses the small creek bridge and passes the track sentinel.

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.

Double tracking continues on CSX's Callahan-Baldwin Sub

Looks like they are adding a cross-over at around mm 17.5 of the Callahan-Baldwin sub.  They have already reopened a now 4-track CR 108 grade crossing in Callahan at mm 20 at the point where it joins the CSX main line. A new over signal and a new tower signal (background) will guide trains through the junction and these crossovers. These shots are looking northbound toward Callahan from Sandy Ford Road grade crossing which is around mm 17.5 of the 20 mile long section from Callahan to Baldwin.

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.

Amelia Island Trail to open May 11

The Amelia Island Trail (AIT) will officially open on Saturday, May 11, at 8:30 AM at the north trail head at Peters Point. The 6.2 mile long paved pathway parallels SR A1A from the southern tip of Amelia Island to Peters Point.  Phil Scanlan, Mike Pikula, and others have been working for years with FDOT and other groups to see the bike trail to fruition. $3.2 million in funds to cover the cost of construction were provided by the North Florida Transportation Planning Office. The AIT will link with the newly open trail on Big and Little Talbot Islands to the south and tie into Eagan's Creek Greenway and pathways to American Beach and Fort Clinch. Various neighborhood schools and the local YNCA will also have links to this primary artery. The AIT is also an important segment in the larger East Coast Greenway that when completed will run 3,000 miles from Canada to Key West.  Mike and Phil and others have formed the nonprofit Friends of the Amelia Island Trail to help maintain and raise awareness to this new addition to biking in Nassau County.

The primary source for this info is from the Fernandina Beach News Leader.
http://www.fbnewsleader.com/articles/2013/03/21/around_town/00attrailtoopen.txt

For more info on the AIT go to
http://www.ameliaislandtrail.org/. 

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 continues improvements of Callahan-Baldwin sub turnout at Callahan Junction

Looking south at the Baldwin-Callahan sub from the CR 108 grade crossing in Callahan

 

CSX will keep the CR 108-River Road grade crossing closed for at least a 3rd week as they continue to double track the turnout off the main line into Florida in Callahan. They have added a second track which seems to be a construction track for their track laying equipment.  Looks like they are added an over head track signal for north bound trains on the main line entering this junction.  I will try to take pics of that as they progress.