Hey, first, I would like to introduce myself. I am a 13 year old O gauge model railroader and railfan. I live near Savannah, Georgia, and in my town is the Nahunta Sub wich goes to Florida.
So, has anybody been to folkston? How many trains did you see? I have heard they’res up to 75 trains a day, is this true?
Grayson
yes up to 75 including 8 amtk. very nice place.okeefanokeee resturant has great buffet,in downtown,library n of town. cookie and cricket main characters there.great place 2nd only to rochelle and galesburg ill.
It can up yo 75 which I haven’t seen. I have seen 61 in 24 hours last June. There is resturants all around the platform. McDonalds, DQ, BK, Sonic, and even the Okeefanokee Resturant. There was 8 Amtrak at one time before The Palmetto (PO89-90) was taken off the FL Funnel. Now it is 6(PO52-3, 91-2, 97-8). Cricket is always stopping by sometimes twice(look for blue scooter) and Cookie is seen driving around.
Kevin
I went between this past Christmas and New Year’s. I saw 4 or 5 trains the first hour or so, then nothing for a couple of hours. Regulars there said the 2-hour lull was unusual for that time of day; I was there roughly between noon and 3:00 PM. It’s a great safe out-of-the-weather way to watch trains.
Wish the folks in Waycross would put up a trainwatching platform - they don’t have as many trains as Folkston, but it’s a lot closer to my hometown.
Been there four times and planning a 5th trip in the near future. It’s the best place I’ve ever railfanned. Weather is not a problem because of the covered platform and all of the people are very friendly. All kind of motive power comes though and almost every kind of trian under the sun. There is a dead time between 11:45ish and 2:30ish in the afternoon. After the sun goes down the floodlights come on and can watch 'em pass through all night long. There are some locals around there that have grew up around this line and can tell you anything you want to know about the line. Folkston is number one in my book. Hope you have a great trip down there. By the way, the busiest time of the week is probably Saturday morning. Once I saw 7 trains in about an hour and 5 minutes.
I have been there four times also and agree with all of the above.I have never been there at night.Usually from 9AMto 4PM.The average has been,for me,about three an hour.Amtrak is very early or late in the day.Have seen Amtrak once when it was five hours late.
Have fun.Take bug spray.
Morning to mid-day is best for photos - later in the afternoon the sun will be behind the trains (although you can shoot from a street on the west side of the tracks - use the crossings!)
There is a scanner on the platform and a couple of defect detectors in the area, but because of the two lines involved, it can get a tad confusing due to the milepost configurations. Check out the map and listen to the regulars.
If things are slow, there’s a little museum or something just north of the platform, and across the tracks.
I’ve only been there once, and don’t have a lot of reasons (other than trainwatching) to visit the area, but I don’t regret my visit one bit! We had about 10 trains (including the northbound Auto-Train) in about three hours.
AMEN!!!
Any hotel recommendations? We are planning on going to the Western Motel there, anybody else been?
I have also heard that the Relax Inn isnt really nice…
Grayson
Yep take the Western and ask for the Railfan Discount.
Kevin
Yep, Western is the best one in town.
BTW, Oskar check your private messages.
Thanks, we made the reservations. Staying 1 night, next Sunday.
Thanks,
Grayson
Hope you get some good pics to share with us. Have a good trip.
Please look up the below link to see my pix from Folkston 2 years ago
Just got back from Folkston Monday. Wonderful time! Went to the Okee. Restaurant, very good!!! Here are some pics:
Grayson
I just got back from Folkston about 1 am this morning. Stayed from Fri. 3p.m. to Sat 4p.m. Saw 71 trains.
Well we got there at 1:44 Sunday, got to the platform at 2, and saw 10 trains between then and 9 that night. The next day we got there at 11 and saw 6 trains until 2. Very good time. I have some video, but dont have a photobucket account and have no idea how to download it.
Well jeez Lance must have been busy as it has known to be. Anything Interesting or pictures? I would love to be there then but Georgia Summers kill me. The temp in the truck said 103 when coming back from Hamlet today. Too hot to trot.
Kevin
Today it was 100 in Savannah.
High humidity and high temperatures makes a bad combonation. [swg]
WE USUALLY GO IN SEPT,OCT WHEN TEMPS ARE LESS HOOT. I THINK THERE IS A WIRELESS CONNECTION AT THE PLATFORM IF YA HAVE A LAP TOP !!!