Page 18 of new May 2005 Trains shows CSX in Fernandina Beach. I’m somewhat familiar with the area, but cannot place the track that the train is on. I can see the port in the backgorund and also a cruise ship. The tracks run basically north and south parallel to the port down to the yard. Can anyone place the track that he is on? The rails look like they have not seen a train for a while.
Hi GSJ30. I live in Fernandina, maybe i can help. The tracks on the island serve two paper mills, one is north of the port and one is south of it. I believe there is a small yard here also. I havent seen the new trains mag yet but i know that Rail Link ( a division of the Genesse & Wyoming ) will be taking over switching operations at the mills and the line from Fernandina to Yulee and up to Kingsland Georgia on April 9th. I know this because i was just hired by Rail Link to work as a switchman in Fernandina. I start training monday at the Tallyrand terminal in Jacksonville[:D]
After i start working here in town i will definatly know alot more about the operation than i do now. If you want to stay in touch maybe we can swap emails. Right now don’t know any other railfans in the area.
John Day
Well I am probably 150 miles south of you in Palm Beach County. Good luck on your new position. [:)][:p]
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Originally posted by gordondude
Do U live in Florida? I live in Palm Beach County[:p][:o)]
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Originally posted by GSJ30
Gordondude: Thanks for the reply. I know where the teo mills are. When you see the picture you’ll have a better idea of what I am talking about. The photo would have to be just south of the north mill looking back to the north. The train is turning to the east???
on rusty rails. It looks like in the background that it may be going over a set of diamonds. It is in an area with no buildings and grass. I’m thinking that it would be in the area of North Front and Franklin. But the angle of the crane and ship in the background don’t jive. Give me a shout when you get the magazine. Good luck with your new job. Sounds like a great deal. It’s hard to believe that there is not enough traffic on that line for CSX to give up on it. Let us me know how it works out. Gary
My old Seaboard System timetable no 5 lists this line as the Fernandina Subdivision of the Savannah Division. My parents live in Fernandina Beach and they are a short walk away from this line.
The CSX Local freight usually comes into town in the morning switchs out the yard, works the mill and leaves town in the afternoon.
When I was a kid and Seaboard System was formed you would get motive power painted in SBD, Family Lines, SCL and L&N; power was usually GE U18B’s U23B’s and GP38’s
Gordondude, On the First Coast Railroad in Yulee FL were is the best place to take pictures of trains. Is that dirt road running parallel to the track in yulee public road, from the fire station to the FCR office.
the rails going into fernandina Beach are those of new shortline first coast railway. a subsidiary of genenssee valley transportation the main source of traffic is from a smurfit paper mill in fernandina beach. it also connects with the st marys railroad