Amtrac on the Florida East Coast Railroad

[bendorsey]

My wife and I were at the local joint having hotdogs-n-sudz today and an Amtrac passenger train went by going south. I can't ever remember seeing any passenger service on the FEC and I've on this side of the state since 1966. I had heard they were thinking about it as using the Seaboard Coastline tracks is rather out of the way (middle of the state rather then right down the east coast) Much more sensible route.

Anyone know anything about this (where are you FEC Railway Richard, lol).

Ben

 

[RRSignal]

They had talked about that when I was in school in Daytona Beach in the late 90's. It seems to have gone through fits and starts, but I am not aware that there was ever any passenger service. Perhaps a train was diverted? Perhaps a test run?

FYI, there's some info here relating to this subject.
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=70482

Edited to add: Picked this up on the FEC section of railroad.net.

 

[bendorsey]

No Idea if it was schedualed train or a test run. Was quite short (4 or 5 cars) and the last one was an observation car. Was definately surprise as I usually watch the trains go by (and count the cars, lol).

In the mid 60's the FEC told the union to take a hike and there was sabatage and other nastyness going on. An automobile on flanged wheels would precede each and every train looking for it. Strike went on for years. I think it was finally settled tho don't know exactly when.

I came over to the east coast in 1966 and I don't remember seeing any passenger trains on it then. Long ago they went all the way to Keywest. Some of my wifes family worked on building the 7-mile bridge.

Ben

 

[brickbuilder711]

My wife and I were at the local joint having hotdogs-n-sudz today and an Amtrac passenger train went by going south. I can't ever remember seeing any passenger service on the FEC and I've on this side of the state since 1966. I had heard they were thinking about it as using the Seaboard Coastline tracks is rather out of the way (middle of the state rather then right down the east coast) Much more sensible route.

Anyone know anything about this (where are you FEC Railway Richard, lol).

Ben

Oh, I should have kept you in the loop. It was the FEC Inspection train from Jax to Miami, ran about 300feet from me at one point interchanging to CSX to lay over, but unfortunately, my catch was blown off since I was at the post office, though ambitious and hopeful. I can say for sure that our friend Richard Shores is busy working and doing other stuffs, one day I gotta show up at Delray and talk with him. The Amtrak train was run by "Amtrak Matt" and on the fireman's seat, but as a "pilot engineer" was David M. Shelley (dashell264) on the boards here, showing a fellow railfangineer ( or something combining a railfan and an engineer at the same time :hehe: ) around the FEC. I have spoken with both engineers in person at one occasion respectively, Dave at Delray and Matt at Plant City once while railfanning out there some time ago. I wish I could've caught them. Would've been a blast.
Lucky dog.

 

[Klinger]

the last one was an observation car.
Ben

Rounded like an Amfleet car? If so, that's the Track Inspection Car Beech Grove. Perhaps they are thinking of bringing passenger service to the area. Or Amtrak Executives were just on their way to a meeting or something.

There is a lot of talk of expanding Amtrak. Were suppose to get another twice daily train here in Denver, giving us two trains a day in each direction at different times. I am looking forward to it. Really really hoping they go North through and into Wyoming rather then split off in Salt Lake

 

[bendorsey]

I was too busy bringing my jaw back up from the ground at seeing an Amtrac passenger train go by I didn't notice the shape of the observation cars back end, lol.

Amtrac on the FEC route makes a lot of sense. Heavily populated area all the way from Jacksonville to Miami. As it is now there is no Amtrac service on the east coast between West Palm Beach and Jacksonville. Be a good move I'd think (might even pay for itself).

Wonder what the Amtrac guys thought when they went over the Stuart bridge (after all - it is a long wooden pile trestle, lol).

Ben

 

[brickbuilder711]

The last car was the Beech Grove.

 

[K4driver]

Pennsylvania is supposed to get a TON of Amtrak and Railroad in general improvements.

 

[Isaacg]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/02/1608679/special-amtrak-train-rolls-from.html