Railfanning in Hilliard, Nassau County, Florida

Hilliard has a good sight line for viewing the fast moving trains along the CSX mainline between Callahan and Folkston. Above a southbound CSX manifest train full of empty piggy back cars speeds past the water tower on its way to the Callahan junction.

Eagan's Creek Greenway Opens South Entrance off Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach

The southern entrance to the Eagan's Creek Greenway was formally opened today off 2301 Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach. City officials and local cyclists, hikers and nature lovers gathered at 4 PM to cut the ribbon to the boardwalk that connects the parking lot behind the Marriott Residence Inn to the 3.4 mile shaded pathway. The beautifully constructed raised walkway is several hundred yards long and winds from the east bank of the narrow waterway to the west bank. Grassy inclines on both ends help both walker and bicyclist alike with the transition from path to bridge. Beyond the north end of the bridge, the Greenway continues to the northern terminus on Atlantic Avenue, winding through 300+ acres of parkland filled with a variety of natural wildlife and vegetation. Here is a link to a website with a map: http://www.amelianow.com/fall00-egans.htm

Railfanning in Callahan FL

Friday April 2 was a good Friday (pardon the pun) to go train watching in Nassau County. The Callahan junction is always a good spot to set up camp and watch the trains go by. A Southbound intermodal approaches the Callahan Junction on its way to the intermodal yard in Jacksonville. A northbound manifest train from Baldwin enters the double track and weaves from the west track to the east track on its way north to Georgia.

2010 Railroad Days Festival in Callahan was great

Had great weather and great turnout for this year's 2010 Railroad Days Festival in Callahan. Good to see the community come out and support the West Nassau Historical Society and their efforts in preserving the historic Callahan Depot and the ACL caboose. Friday the theme was the afterschool fun time. Mrs Kate C highlighted the kids freindly music. Saturday's parade went off without a hitch. The crowd was fantastic.

2010 Railroad Days at Callahan Depot

The 2010 Callahan Railroad Days Festival is this March 26 and 27 on the grounds of the historic Callahan Depot. The West Nassau Historical Society hosts the 2 day fund raising event in order to raise funds for the upkeep of the 1881 Victorian style station. The group has been hard at work restoring the 1967 ACL caboose and will allow visitors inside for the first time in years. Email CallahanRRdays@aol.com for more info.

CSX work train at South Callahan Siding

A CSX work train unloads cross ties into cars sitting on the South Callahan siding just south of the US 301 viaduct in Callahan, FL. CSX has been upgrading most of their tracks in NE Florida, especially their main line into Florida (pictured) and their line paralleling US 17 between Jacksonville and Yulee. This is mainly due to the anticipated increase in rail traffic to and from the new container ports located along the north banks of the St. Johns River near where Route 9A crosses the busy waterway. To provide a second entrance to these new ports from the North (as opposed to the present south entrance which is a single line and runs though heavily urbanized areas of Northwest Jacksonville and crosses the decades old Trout River swing span bridge), talks have restarted about connecting the line beside US 17 with the main line next to US 1 somewhere in North Central Nassau County.

Amelia Island Trail

The Amelia Island Trail is a planned bikeway that will link 20 existing parks and beach access points on Amelia Island. It will run from the Grady Bridge on A1A on the Nassau Sound northward to the Marina at the foot of Centre Street in Downtown Fernandina. It wil also become a link to the larger East Coast Greenway network of trails that runs from the Northeast US to South Florida. Their link: http://www.ameliaislandassociation.com/ameliaislandtrail.htm