As I mentioned in my other thread, I am in Tampa on business.
I have been walking from my hotel in Ybor City to the Tampa convention center. There is some awesome street running here, about half way between the two points. There is a CSX line that goes right by my hotel. I know it has Amtrak on it, as well as freight traffic. Following it, it goes down town for about 6 blocks of street running. At one point, it intersects a 16-story and a 10 story building. That is some pretty incredible stuff for this corn-fed farm boy.
I presume both the Amtrak and freights continue on this line to downtown and the street running is still active? The rails seem to have some shine, suggesting they are used.
Does anyone have any insight? What traffic does this line see?
If freights of any length use this . . . or Amtrak . . . wow.
So, you’re in my town. Welcome! After leaving New York City my family settled in Ybor City where my sister and I grew up. In the early 1970s, you could actually leave your front door unlocked with little to fear! Those days are gone forever. I now live out in the county but still visit the area frequently.
Amtrak trains no longer travel west beyond Tampa Union Station. We’re now only served by the Silver Star. Saddening since even in the 70s and 80s this station was much more active. Years back in order for passenger trains to switch over to the mainline that ran to St. Petersburg, the trains would leave the station and travel westward several hundred feet. The brakeman aligned the switch, the train reversed direction and got underway.
Visit Tampa Union and take some shots. She’s been beautifully restored at a cost of about 12 million. It’s now owned by the city. Today the northbound and southbound “Silver Stars” come in between 12 noon and 2:p.m. Check the schedule though. The Amtrak “bus connections” for the Silver Meteor also comes in. “Blah!” ( Ironically the funny thing here is that when I worked for Gray Line, I drove the connecting bus quite often!)
The rail line (orignally ACL) that goes through downtown Tampa westbound continues for about 10 miles or so to Port Tampa. The daily freight train, known affectionally as the “Port Tampa Local” by railfans has been running for at least 30 years. Usually around the 5:00p.m hour. After performing its run, the locomotive usually comes back through late at night heading for Yeoman yard, about 3 miles west of Ybor City. Power on the PT Local for the past 5 years has usually been GP38-2s. Occasionally you’ll see a double header but one “Geep” usually has enough muscle for the job.
Years back in the mid 1970s and early 80s when a friend and I were"train watching" the Seaboard Coast Line, this train would be pulled by: GE U18Bs, GP7s and 9s, and SW “switchers”. Normally a single en
Whe I was in Tampa waiting for a Fort Myers bus some years back, I saw a CSX switch engine go past on the street outside my hotel, kinda neat. I didn’t have a good experience there otherwise, and stopped any other exploring for the night I was there. I know I have mentioned this before, be careful in that area by the Amtrak station. I don’t mean any ill will by this, Antonio, I think we discussed this once before. Just don’t want to see anybody get any trouble.
I went exploring nearby, old yard there, and ran into some undesirable people. Needless to say, I got mugged, no damage but was out 20 dollars. Luckily left everything in my hotel room. This was not far from the station. Unless the station has moved. It was kind of out of the way but not far from my hotel. I like to urge people to be careful, this was towards evening so nearby places were closed.
Update: That entire area has been renovated. Tampa Yard is gone (sad for me) and only a spur track remains that leads to the Cargill plant. Served mostly by covered hopper cars. A wide road sits where four yard tracks once ran on. Palm trees and grass line this road now.
A lot of the old buildings have been renovated. It’s actually much safer now than 10 years ago. The new trolley car also cruises nearby on 13th street towards the Florida Aquarium.
Gabe, I’m sorry I forgot to mention that. Take a ride on the street car! It runs from Ybor City, past the Channel Side district where Carnival Cruise ships dock, goes to downtown and then returns. A one way trip from one end to the other, I think, takes about 22 minutes.
Trainfan. You were waiting for the Amtrak connecting bus to Ft. Myers? What year was this? I was sometimes assigned to drive the connecting Amtrak bus.
I was just down there a few days ago for a relative’s funeral…flew into Tampa and stayed up at the Best Western Motel in New Port Richey along Rte 19. After the Funeral, and on the way back from Bushnell, after exiting I75 and driving West on 52 toward Rte 19 and New Port Richey, I recall passing over a grade crossing which crossed over Rte 52 where MOW was working…What line and railroad was that? I also recall another crossing which may be the same line which crosses over Rte 54 between New Port Richey and I75…
I stayed a couple of nights at the Sheraton in downtown Tampa in 1974. One of those nights I was woken up by a train horn. I looked out the window and watched a freight train street run two blocks from the Sheraton. There was a parking lot between the Sheraton and the track so I had a clear view of the train.
The PTL is a short train, rarely longer than 30 cars and normally 10 to 20 cars long. The Sheraton Hotel was torn down in the late 1980s. A modern building takes up that space as well as the former parking lot.
David, the line you crossed heads south all the way to Tampa. It is CSX.
Antonio,
It was 1989 or 1990. I used to live in Ft Myers in the mid 80s. I almost went back down last year but couldn’t quite arrange it. I did find out that Amtrak has a direct connection and no need to stay over, but it seemed to be cutting it close. I am glad to hear they did things to improve around there, I’m sure it benefits everyone around, especially if it makes it safer.
At 5-10 mph, isn’t that still a major impediment to rush hour traffic? [?]
motor
P.S. I know what it’s like to be stuck in (or least have to detour around) rush hour traffic halted by a slow, almost motionless train, albeit in suburban Wilmington, DE.