Floridarailmaster
New member
Hey guys, I live in boynton beach on Hypoluxo and I-95, right behind the wendys
Florida Trainzers Check in here!!!!
- Thread starter 22alpha
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You should have been here in the late 60's when the Union was blowing up bridges, and rail police cars preceeded each train looking for sabotage. Last I heard, the strike was never settled. When the American Freedom train (SP 4-8-4) visited West Palm Beach, it had to come down via the Seaboard/Coastline tracks paralleling the beeline highway. The train crew would not cross the picket line (even tho the union chapters that originally went on strike no longer existed). Been some talk lately about restoring passenger service on the FEC but methinks they will have to deal with the parent Union first.
I know where that curve is. Good seafood joint close by and yes, you can really hear the squeeling wheels.
Ben
I know where that curve is. Good seafood joint close by and yes, you can really hear the squeeling wheels.
Ben
FECrailway_Richard
Member
Did you see the trainz thread about the Tropicana cars that the FEC pulls from the plant in Fort Pierce? I am going to be following that one. I could definitely use them in FEC 2020.
Floridarailmaster is only a "stone's throw" away from my house. That's why I have so many rocks in my yard. Here comes another one, INCOMING!
Actually I do have about thirty cubic yards of Pearock in my yard as ballast for the 1 1/2" scale railroad I have going around my house. The curves in my yard are tight (twenty-five foot radius) so I can just manage my six foot long, 550 pound, SW9 (modeled after FEC #221) around the tracks. I am in the process of refurbishing my ride-on railroad after the two years of hurricane damage that we had.
I belong to the Florida Live Steamers which has track layouts at various locations throughout the state, like Largo which is near our fellow Trainzer in Tampa.
I arrived in South Florida from upstate New York shortly after the FEC strike began. The FBI was ignoring the sabotage on the FEC line until President Johnson was in the area when a train derailed. Then the full force of the government was ordered in to investigate.
I was looking at pictures and bookets from the American Freedom Train just the other day. I drove down to Miami to see it and talk with the engineer, so long ago.
Recently, I have been attending the public meetings for the South Florida East Coast Corridor Study. Scott Seeburger who heads this study is from the Florida Department of Transportation.
The mission is to propose a commuter transit system that will run from Ben's place in Tequesta all the way south to Miami. The public forum was designed to provide input from the residents of South Florida.
I have attended these meetings from the very beginning. The public has been able to voice concerns on various issues (traffic congestion, noise, safety). Unfortunately, I feel that most members of this study have had one design in mind from the start. Negative issues that have been raised by the public have been largely ignored, in my opinion.
When a compromise is suggested that provides a quick, seamless, and cost effective form of transportaion while dealing with the concerns of the public, then I will be a groups' biggest supporter.
But when I see obvious pitfalls being glossed over, or totally ignored, I can instead become a major thorn in the butt. I would like to see the FEC play a major part in this proposed commuter system. But I also want it to be a plan that will actually succeed for the sake of the Florida Commuter and taxpayer.
Richard
Floridarailmaster is only a "stone's throw" away from my house. That's why I have so many rocks in my yard. Here comes another one, INCOMING!
Actually I do have about thirty cubic yards of Pearock in my yard as ballast for the 1 1/2" scale railroad I have going around my house. The curves in my yard are tight (twenty-five foot radius) so I can just manage my six foot long, 550 pound, SW9 (modeled after FEC #221) around the tracks. I am in the process of refurbishing my ride-on railroad after the two years of hurricane damage that we had.
I belong to the Florida Live Steamers which has track layouts at various locations throughout the state, like Largo which is near our fellow Trainzer in Tampa.
I arrived in South Florida from upstate New York shortly after the FEC strike began. The FBI was ignoring the sabotage on the FEC line until President Johnson was in the area when a train derailed. Then the full force of the government was ordered in to investigate.
I was looking at pictures and bookets from the American Freedom Train just the other day. I drove down to Miami to see it and talk with the engineer, so long ago.
Recently, I have been attending the public meetings for the South Florida East Coast Corridor Study. Scott Seeburger who heads this study is from the Florida Department of Transportation.
The mission is to propose a commuter transit system that will run from Ben's place in Tequesta all the way south to Miami. The public forum was designed to provide input from the residents of South Florida.
I have attended these meetings from the very beginning. The public has been able to voice concerns on various issues (traffic congestion, noise, safety). Unfortunately, I feel that most members of this study have had one design in mind from the start. Negative issues that have been raised by the public have been largely ignored, in my opinion.
When a compromise is suggested that provides a quick, seamless, and cost effective form of transportaion while dealing with the concerns of the public, then I will be a groups' biggest supporter.
But when I see obvious pitfalls being glossed over, or totally ignored, I can instead become a major thorn in the butt. I would like to see the FEC play a major part in this proposed commuter system. But I also want it to be a plan that will actually succeed for the sake of the Florida Commuter and taxpayer.
Richard
FEC tracks are being upgraded to 2-tracks. Last I heard tho it wasn't going to come this far. Tri-rail (local commuter) service not interfering with the FEC trains was the reason. It could go as far as Stuart but the bridge up there is single track (and at least 1000 ft long). Tequesta bridge is 2-track (tho one set of rails is missing) so it wouldn't take much to up-grade it.
I used to belong to a model railroad club with Chester Holly and William J. Lenoir. Long term Model RR's may regognize the names. Chesters hobby shop was right by the SAL tracks to port Tampa. About one phosphate train an hour went by. Phosphate is naturally radioactive. Always wondered it the cars glowed in the dark, ha ha.
I heard that SP 4-8-4 was damaged on the way back to Seattle (or wherever they borrowed it from). Something about being mis-routed thru a 20 mph crossover at 60 mph. Didn't derail but creacked the (cast) frame. Anyone ever hear anything along those lines? Beautiful engine. My kidz had never seen a steam engine bigger then HO scale. They just couldn't believe how big a real one was.
Ben
I used to belong to a model railroad club with Chester Holly and William J. Lenoir. Long term Model RR's may regognize the names. Chesters hobby shop was right by the SAL tracks to port Tampa. About one phosphate train an hour went by. Phosphate is naturally radioactive. Always wondered it the cars glowed in the dark, ha ha.
I heard that SP 4-8-4 was damaged on the way back to Seattle (or wherever they borrowed it from). Something about being mis-routed thru a 20 mph crossover at 60 mph. Didn't derail but creacked the (cast) frame. Anyone ever hear anything along those lines? Beautiful engine. My kidz had never seen a steam engine bigger then HO scale. They just couldn't believe how big a real one was.
Ben
FECrailway_Richard
Member
The quickest and cheapest way to test the market for commuter rail service in northen Palm Beach County would be to upgrade the interchange between the CSX and the FEC near 25th street in West Palm Beach.
The CSX has a reversing wye on their end located just south of Tri-rail's most northern station (Magnolia Park). On the FEC's end of the interchange, there is only a curved leg to the south location in the West Palm Beach yard.
If this trackage was upgraded with reversing wyes on both ends, Tri-Rail trains could move back and forth from the CSX to the FEC at this point.
This would allow Tri-Rail to extend its reach north through the coastal communities.
For those folks not familiar with this area, Tri-Rail stops just north of West Palm Beach because the CSX tracks turn west toward the center of the state beyond this point.
This interchange could extend passenger service north for the least cost.
The SFECC group is proposing repeating all of Tri-Rail on the FEC mainline. But one Billion dollars was spent to acquire the rights for TRi-Rail to operate on the CSX track. Then four hundreds million dollars was spent to double-track the line. Plus there was the cost of all brand new stations.
Moving all of Tri-Rail to the FEC would require losing the investment already made on the CSX, and facing a now higher priced investment on the FEC. For this investment we will have moved Tri-Rail service one or two miles to the east; but along with it noise, traffic gridlock, and safety problems.
Since I-95 is next to the Tri-Rail tracks, most major roads overpass the rail line. In Boynton Beach alone, the four major east-west roads pass over Tri-Rail traffic. At the FEC mainline NONE of these (or any other roads) pass over the FEC. The FEC route from Tequesta to Miami has nearly four hundred crossing grades; and then we are talking about tripling the number of trains on this route during morning and evening rush hours.
It's time to "think outside the boxcar."
As part of the public record to the DOT I suggested other options. As part of my public statement I said "I am not here representing the Florida East Coast Railway, but rather the residents of South Florida. It is my opinion the FEC may be willing to share its right of way, but not its mainline. Trackage for any commuter service will have to be added. It is my belief that the Florida East Coast Railway will NEVER risk the promises made to its customers, on the success or failure of this project."
In the Trainz route FEC2020 I created commuter service along the FEC route based on some of the alternatives that I offered the DOT in my report.
Any improvements to the line at this time, are strictly to improve efficiency within the current and anticipated freight volume.
Richard
The CSX has a reversing wye on their end located just south of Tri-rail's most northern station (Magnolia Park). On the FEC's end of the interchange, there is only a curved leg to the south location in the West Palm Beach yard.
If this trackage was upgraded with reversing wyes on both ends, Tri-Rail trains could move back and forth from the CSX to the FEC at this point.
This would allow Tri-Rail to extend its reach north through the coastal communities.
For those folks not familiar with this area, Tri-Rail stops just north of West Palm Beach because the CSX tracks turn west toward the center of the state beyond this point.
This interchange could extend passenger service north for the least cost.
The SFECC group is proposing repeating all of Tri-Rail on the FEC mainline. But one Billion dollars was spent to acquire the rights for TRi-Rail to operate on the CSX track. Then four hundreds million dollars was spent to double-track the line. Plus there was the cost of all brand new stations.
Moving all of Tri-Rail to the FEC would require losing the investment already made on the CSX, and facing a now higher priced investment on the FEC. For this investment we will have moved Tri-Rail service one or two miles to the east; but along with it noise, traffic gridlock, and safety problems.
Since I-95 is next to the Tri-Rail tracks, most major roads overpass the rail line. In Boynton Beach alone, the four major east-west roads pass over Tri-Rail traffic. At the FEC mainline NONE of these (or any other roads) pass over the FEC. The FEC route from Tequesta to Miami has nearly four hundred crossing grades; and then we are talking about tripling the number of trains on this route during morning and evening rush hours.
It's time to "think outside the boxcar."
As part of the public record to the DOT I suggested other options. As part of my public statement I said "I am not here representing the Florida East Coast Railway, but rather the residents of South Florida. It is my opinion the FEC may be willing to share its right of way, but not its mainline. Trackage for any commuter service will have to be added. It is my belief that the Florida East Coast Railway will NEVER risk the promises made to its customers, on the success or failure of this project."
In the Trainz route FEC2020 I created commuter service along the FEC route based on some of the alternatives that I offered the DOT in my report.
Any improvements to the line at this time, are strictly to improve efficiency within the current and anticipated freight volume.
Richard
Well the FEC gave up on passenger service years and years ago. I agree that they might be willing to share the right of way but with a very few short sections (like over the Stuart Bridge), not the track. It would be too disruptive (from thier standpoint). Theres a lot of trains going by. That hot dog joint originally had a deal that if you were sitting at the counter (not at a table) and a train went by you got a free beer. (Really---this is not BS). Didn't take them very long to realize there were too darn many trains going by. I know as I was always there, ha ha. Got 7 beers one day (hic). For years afterwards, all the old timers would holler out "Train-beer" when one went by (didn't work tho darn). 150 car long marl (rock) trains plus the usual containerized freight. When one stops it can block all 6 crossings in the Jupiter/Tequesta area at the same time.
I've sen 2 derailments on the Tequesta bridge. In both cases the guard rails and timbers did thier job of keeping things on the bridge. Cars didn't leave the tracks until they got off the bridge (missed Mrs. Murphys donut shop by 3 feet). Years earlier a steam loco did go off the bridge (but the water is only about 4 ft deep). There was a photo of it in the local newspaper about a year ago.
Ben
I've sen 2 derailments on the Tequesta bridge. In both cases the guard rails and timbers did thier job of keeping things on the bridge. Cars didn't leave the tracks until they got off the bridge (missed Mrs. Murphys donut shop by 3 feet). Years earlier a steam loco did go off the bridge (but the water is only about 4 ft deep). There was a photo of it in the local newspaper about a year ago.
Ben
FECrailway_Richard
Member
A freind of mine used to be the FEC bridge tender there near the Jupiter Lighthouse. He now lives within view of the tracks at MP 289 in Palm Beach Gardens.
One of the options I presented to allow the room for passenger service on the FEC mainline was to offer the FEC through freights an alternate route.
Heading west out of FEC Hialeah yard is a branch line known as the Medley Lead. The Medley lead is where all of those massive rock trains originate. The track ends out by these rock pits near US 27.
If a sixty mile leg was built, starting at the west end of the medley lead, following US 27 north, and connecting into a revesing wye just west of South Bay, the FEC would have its western route alternative.
The FEC owns the Medley lead and it also owns the K Branch which is the route that heads southwest out from Fort Pierce yard, through South Bay, and ends at Lake Harbour.
You would think that this route would be much longer than the eastern route that trains currently takes to Fort Pierce. In reality it is less than ten mile longer; plus it eliminates over four hundred crossing grades.
The crossing grade at Ocean Avenue in Lantana (MP 308) is the most eastern point on the FEC. Trains heading north out of Hialeah actually move east as the travel northward until they finally reach Lantana. From that point, they start moving back west as they continue traveling northbound. Therefore the two routes are close in length.
Local freights would still have to take the eastern route to service local industries. But the elimination of the long and heavy through freights traveling through the heart of the coastal cities would provide the capacity for commuter service where it is needed.
Because the western route follows US 27 with very few crossing grades, Favorable speed limitations would allow through freights to arrive sooner than if they had taken the eastern route.
The creation of this sixty mile connecting trackage would cost less than simply trying to make room for commuter on the FEC right of way, and adding massive traffic congestion on the major east/west roads.
The FEC is already upgrading the K Branch due to the delivery needs that will be generated by FPL's proposed coal burning plant in the glades. The Port of Palm Beach has run out of room to expand, and plans to build a centralized storage facility. Where? South Bay.
There has been talk about finally building the glades area air freight facility that has been proposed for decades. Where? Perhaps you should check out South Bay.
This was just one of the alternatives that I proposed to the DOT.
Yes, I have already created this western route in FEC 2020 with the facilities mentioned above.
Richard
One of the options I presented to allow the room for passenger service on the FEC mainline was to offer the FEC through freights an alternate route.
Heading west out of FEC Hialeah yard is a branch line known as the Medley Lead. The Medley lead is where all of those massive rock trains originate. The track ends out by these rock pits near US 27.
If a sixty mile leg was built, starting at the west end of the medley lead, following US 27 north, and connecting into a revesing wye just west of South Bay, the FEC would have its western route alternative.
The FEC owns the Medley lead and it also owns the K Branch which is the route that heads southwest out from Fort Pierce yard, through South Bay, and ends at Lake Harbour.
You would think that this route would be much longer than the eastern route that trains currently takes to Fort Pierce. In reality it is less than ten mile longer; plus it eliminates over four hundred crossing grades.
The crossing grade at Ocean Avenue in Lantana (MP 308) is the most eastern point on the FEC. Trains heading north out of Hialeah actually move east as the travel northward until they finally reach Lantana. From that point, they start moving back west as they continue traveling northbound. Therefore the two routes are close in length.
Local freights would still have to take the eastern route to service local industries. But the elimination of the long and heavy through freights traveling through the heart of the coastal cities would provide the capacity for commuter service where it is needed.
Because the western route follows US 27 with very few crossing grades, Favorable speed limitations would allow through freights to arrive sooner than if they had taken the eastern route.
The creation of this sixty mile connecting trackage would cost less than simply trying to make room for commuter on the FEC right of way, and adding massive traffic congestion on the major east/west roads.
The FEC is already upgrading the K Branch due to the delivery needs that will be generated by FPL's proposed coal burning plant in the glades. The Port of Palm Beach has run out of room to expand, and plans to build a centralized storage facility. Where? South Bay.
There has been talk about finally building the glades area air freight facility that has been proposed for decades. Where? Perhaps you should check out South Bay.
This was just one of the alternatives that I proposed to the DOT.
Yes, I have already created this western route in FEC 2020 with the facilities mentioned above.
Richard
If there's ever a trainz show please let me know ... I've done trainz show for Auran back in the good old days ...
Anyhow, here's something simple ...
http://wileystrainz.proboards32.com/...d=1176 897111
Hope you guys like it ...
Ishie
Anyhow, here's something simple ...
http://wileystrainz.proboards32.com/...d=1176 897111
Hope you guys like it ...
Ishie
give us more info please! :wave:
Hi Guys:
Don't mean to hijack this thread (well not by too much, ha ha), but does anyone know how many degrees the track curved on the Pigeon Key section of the 7-mile bridge? I know how it was made but my book doesn't say how much it curved. The other parts are all made and tested.
Thanks,
Ben
Don't mean to hijack this thread (well not by too much, ha ha), but does anyone know how many degrees the track curved on the Pigeon Key section of the 7-mile bridge? I know how it was made but my book doesn't say how much it curved. The other parts are all made and tested.
Thanks,
Ben
traingamefamily
New member
Polk County
Hi! I'm new to the forum and this thread caught my eye. I live in Lakeland! I'm not as much of a train fanatic, more of a supporter. My 5year old loves trains and we visit stations and museums whenever we can. We just moved here from Deland and we were regulars at the Deland station. It was small but very quaint and charming. My husband used to take the kids there every Saturday, and eventually the train driver would get off and say hello to the kids, everyone knew them. We don't like the Lakeland station as much, it is so modern looking, not very interesting, and not nearly as friendly. I'm always looking for train events in the area of Polk County. A few years ago we visited the Strasburg Railroad in PA and Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and it was the best vacation I have ever experienced. What a beautiful train ride! They are trying to build a new CSX in the Lakeland/Winter Haven area and the residents are having a fit. I haven't been following the story too closely but it is starting to get interesting. We are probably the only people in Polk County who would love to see a new train pass through.
Hi! I'm new to the forum and this thread caught my eye. I live in Lakeland! I'm not as much of a train fanatic, more of a supporter. My 5year old loves trains and we visit stations and museums whenever we can. We just moved here from Deland and we were regulars at the Deland station. It was small but very quaint and charming. My husband used to take the kids there every Saturday, and eventually the train driver would get off and say hello to the kids, everyone knew them. We don't like the Lakeland station as much, it is so modern looking, not very interesting, and not nearly as friendly. I'm always looking for train events in the area of Polk County. A few years ago we visited the Strasburg Railroad in PA and Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and it was the best vacation I have ever experienced. What a beautiful train ride! They are trying to build a new CSX in the Lakeland/Winter Haven area and the residents are having a fit. I haven't been following the story too closely but it is starting to get interesting. We are probably the only people in Polk County who would love to see a new train pass through.
traingamefamily
New member
I went to UCF and I used to live in that area.
Northfln8tive78
crew chief
I live in Davenport, I grew up watching FEC trains in Jax just south of Bowden Yard.