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.

Amelia Island Trail (AIT) officially opened today in Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, FLA

The Amelia Island Trail (AIT) officially opened today in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Peter's Point Park in Fernandina Beach, Nassau County, FLA.  Phil Scanlan, head of the Amelia Island Trail team, hosted the 45-minute ceremony attended by federal, state and local officials and by area community leaders and volunteers who helped make the 6-mile long paved off road trail a reality. Mike Pikula, President of the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail and key member of the AIT team, also spoke. The grand opening of the AIT was well attended by several hundred cyclists, joggers, runners and walkers of all ages.  The event was capped off with Nassau County Commissioner and North Florida Transportation Planning Organization Chairperson Danny Leeper given the honors of cutting the ribbon. The AIT is also part of the larger East Coast Greenway, a multi-state, 3,000 mile trail that when fully completed will stretch from Maine to Key West. Construction will soon begin on the Big Talbot Island trail that will connect the AIT with the newly completed Little Talbot Island trail. For more info on the AIT, the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail, or the East Coast Greenway, check out the links below.
http://ameliaislandtrail.org/index.html
http://www.greenway.org/index.shtml

Nassau County Commissioner and North Florida TPO chairperson Danny Leeper cuts the ribbon at the official opening of the AIT as those who helped make the decade-long dream 

a reality stand beside him.

 Phil Scanlan, head of the AIT team,  hosts the opening ceremony held today at Peter's Point park in Fernandina Beach.

 Mike Pikula, President of the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail and key member of the AIT team, speaks to the crowd of several hundred cyclists, jogging and walking enthusiasts.

 The crowd, led by the cyclists, leave Peter's Point Park and head onto the AIT. Many of the biker riders were from the North Florida Bike Club.  Joggers and runners soon followed behind them onto the trail.  The AIT team are planning to erect a kiosk nearby to mark the northern entrance to this section.

The AIT was built on the state owned right of way of SR A1A by the Florida DOT with funds from the North Florida TPO. It runs from Peter's Point Park to Amelia Island State Park, a total of 6 miles.  It will be connected to the south by the Big and Little Talbot Island Trails. The AIT will also extend north through Fernandina Beach, connecting neaby schools, parks, and community centers along the way. A passenger ferry was to connect the AIT to Georgia and the northern part of the East Coast Greenway, but unfortunately the privately owned ferry is no longer in service.

 

Cyclists enjoy the shade of the tree-lines trail.  Although it parallels SR A1A for its entire length, the AIT weaves in and out of the canopy-lined road. Many parts of the trail are barely visible from SR A1A, especially the southern half, giving the trail a rural flavor.

 

 

A sign post shared by the AIT and East Coast Greenway logos marks the AIT's southern entrance at Amelia Island State Park.  Construction of the Big Talbot Island link will begin shortly and will allow riders to continue south into Duval County and the Talbot Islands State Park via the Crady Bridge spans the Nassau Sound.

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.

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.