Florida (Please stick to Topic - Big Pics)

[motorbreath]

I would like to see shots of Florida routes. I know there are a few of you out there who model FL, and here is a spot to post some pics. I have recently started a freelanced Western Florida inspired route, but I would also like to see other people's interpretations of my beloved home state. I guess a year in Georgia has got me a little homesick. Georgia is a beautiful place, and there are plenty of train related inspiring things here, but I want to focus on what I have seen my whole life. My route shots will most likely contain CSX trains since that is what runs in my home town. Bone Valley Phosphate trains, the Juice, locals, mixed, auto, intermodal, and Amtrak are the trains I've seen around Tampa and Central Florida.

Anyone is welcome to post pics, questions, or advise here. Just try to keep it about Florida. Any era, any road. And if anyone knows of any phosphate equipment for Trainz, let me know.

 

[brickbuilder711]

BAM!!! CSXT Y120 does the treacherous switching move at Ferrous Processing&Technology. I know a guy that works one block away. Claims he led a move to move the Metrorail extension over to the Miami Sub. These are slated to be taken in the Melrose Community.

 

[motorbreath]

I'll have to study up a bit on that. I haven't seen East Coast action in Florida in years. When I was driving over the road I saw the commuter trains in and around Miami. When I was a kid we had family friends in Palm Bay, and their neighborhood was right on the tracks. I watched a lot of trains from the little wooded area between the neighborhood and the tracks. I don't remember for sure, but I imagine it was FEC since they had concrete ties.

 

[Isaacg]

Okay, you asked for it! :hehe:

I love Florida(native from Clearwater here)! Anyways, here's my screenshots. Most of the routes are freelanced(since I can't be trusted with reliability in terms of finishing off REAL routes because there's already a set start and finish point).

 

[motorbreath]

Nice, Isaac. I don't have the mind set to model prototype routes my self. Luckily, one Floridian is already doing that. I would just obsess over every building etc. I am already concerned about what kind of industries to add to my FL route. I am hoping I can find enough pre-existing structures to simulate some phosphate facilities. Do you see many trainz on the Pinellas Co side these days? I look on Google maps and see cars spotted, but I have never see any in action over there.

 

[AlexUK]

Your route's superb pal. I love a highspeed route and yours looks brilliant. Is it a semi fictional route?

 

[motorbreath]

You must mean Isaac's concerning high speed. It appears to be Florida themed, but he did say he doesn't try to model exact prototypes.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Your route's superb pal. I love a highspeed route and yours looks brilliant. Is it a semi fictional route?

I saw his screens earlier and the HSR is a mock up of the Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, real business.

 

[motorbreath]

I saw his screens earlier and the HSR is a mock up of the Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando, real business.

I didn't catch that at first, but now looking again, it all makes sense.

On another note, Brickbuilder (gotta 1st name? Jimi here) I found this interesting pic and description while digging for inspiration... FEC points west!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=283723

 

[simulatortrain]

I know you said about commissioning the phosphate cars Jimi, but what era were you talking about? Every phosphate car I've ever seen looked awesome. I'd just make some but I don't have much use for them I don't think. Are they confined fairly close to areas where phosphate is mined, or do they get around? If they actually do get around then maybe I'll make one, but I'm pretty sure at least I've never seen one up here in PA.

 

[brickbuilder711]

I didn't catch that at first, but now looking again, it all makes sense.

On another note, Tolga, I found this interesting pic and description while digging for inspiration... FEC points west!
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=283723

Yeah, that's a CSX K712, carrying the consist of 240 from Medley, FL near Hialeah to Palmetto. Runs twice a month.

 

[motorbreath]

I know you said about commissioning the phosphate cars Jimi, but what era were you talking about? Every phosphate car I've ever seen looked awesome. I'd just make some but I don't have much use for them I don't think. Are they confined fairly close to areas where phosphate is mined, or do they get around? If they actually do get around then maybe I'll make one, but I'm pretty sure at least I've never seen one up here in PA.

Believe me, if I wasn't in my current predicament, you would already be commissioned for it. Most of the more unique cars run wet rock to processing plants, and finished dry rock to Rockport in Tampa. Many are pretty old. As soon as I find more information and pics, I'll put some links here. I would actually go present day for these, but as I said, many of these cars are pushing 50 years old any ways. It would be a matter of putting ACL, SAL, SCL, or CSX on them to represent different eras. That and roller bearing or journal bearings.

 

[motorbreath]

Yeah, that's a CSX K712, carrying the consist of 240 from Medley, FL near Hialeah to Palmetto. Runs twice a month.

What's the load? Mixed or unit? If it has anything to do with phosphate, only wet rock is transported in open hoppers. That looks to white in the pic to be wet rock.

 

[motorbreath]

This guy is great for Florida railfans.
http://www.youtube.com/user/distantsignal

A nice variety of dry rock cars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK48tDJQzT0

 

[Isaacg]

Thanks for teh compliments guys!

There are 2 FHSR routes, one is a more urban, tropical route. The other actually was an attempt at the FHSR(the one thats more wooded; that's near Kathleen Road/I-4 Interchange). The other route, the one with the FEC E units is a Key West-esque route, I haven't a name for it at the moment, it's about 5 baseboards and theyre about 40% full. It was originally a single-track test route where I can pick a train in surveyor and see if it appears in Trainz without loading an actual route and waiting longer durations of time!

Jimi,

A CSX train does crawl through in the mornings around 7 or 8ish, I know, because the train blares it's horn through the Bay Dr/Seminole Bl crossing near my school in Largo.

Cheers
Isaac

 

[motorbreath]

Jimi,

A CSX train does crawl through in the mornings around 7 or 8ish, I know, because the train blares it's horn through the Bay Dr/Seminole Bl crossing near my school in Largo.

Cheers
Isaac

Cool. My sister lives there, but she has only been there since I have been in GA, so I haven't spent much time there yet. Last time I went down there I was at her house for a day, but saw nothing.

 

[brickbuilder711]

What's the load? Mixed or unit? If it has anything to do with phosphate, only wet rock is transported in open hoppers. That looks to white in the pic to be wet rock.

Unit aggregate stone for building stuff. It's not the train Isaac keenly hears, which is O701, Yelvington and St Pete Times switcher for St. Pete.

 

[Isaacg]

Cool. My sister lives there, but she has only been there since I have been in GA, so I haven't spent much time there yet. Last time I went down there I was at her house for a day, but saw nothing.

Yeah, its very slow arond here. Although, I do know that the corridor is proposed for light rail service(TBARTA)

 

[motorbreath]

Yeah, its very slow arond here. Although, I do know that the corridor is proposed for light rail service(TBARTA)

That's interesting. There is a pretty long stretch of street running too around St. Pete, right? I have never caught the street running on the Tampa side of the Bay either, except on Youtube.

 

[Isaacg]

That's interesting. There is a pretty long stretch of street running too around St. Pete, right? I have never caught the street running on the Tampa side of the Bay either, except on Youtube.

Yeah, that would actually be Clearwater maybe? I haven't seen any railway lines streetrunning in St. Petersburg. I do know that CSX darts right through the CDB/Downtown Cleveland St. District on East Avenue. They're taking out the Southbound lane on East Avenue and replacing it with the Pinellas Trail. Maybe someday they will double-track it(because a northbound one-way single lane East Avenue is not exactly useful). I do know that the BRT maps on the PinCo MPO website locate a new transit station along East Avenue just south of Muni Svc. Building and the DT Police Precinct.