A fellow rainfan and his wife plan to join my wife and me on a trip to Folkston, GA in May. About how many trains per day can we expect? My wife and I were there awhile back and it was relatively busy but the web-cam of the site seems to indicate not as many trains at this time. Any information or suggestions would be helpful as we are 6.5 hours from Folkston. What about restaurtants and a good motel?
John C.
Mebane, NC
I was there a few years ago, in the late afternoon. I think I caught eight trains over about two hours while there, as well as seeing several more (in the dark) on my way back to Ponte Vedra Beach, where I had attended an unrelated conference.
Like just about anywhere, it’ll probably be feast and/or famine - a bunch of trains followed by absolutely nothing for what seems like forever…
Can’t speak to lodging in the area.
My visit was only a day trip, so can’t recommend a restaurant or hotel. To me it looks like Folkston is large enough to possibly have some of the chain family-style restaurants (Denny’s, Shoney’s, etc.). If not, check out by I-95, which shouldn’t be too far from town. When I was there maybe 4 years ago (9:00 or 10:00 AM to about 3:00 PM), there were a goodly number of trains until about noon, then a lull until 2:00 or after.
You may already know this, but dress cool; south GA can be miserably humid and hot even in May. The viewing platform had ceiling fans, a real blessing, but if you’re out and about you’ll want to be as cool as possible.
We visited Folkston, GA on our way back from FL last year. A southbound unit coal train showed up shortly after we arrived. I photographed it, and I left because it was late in the day, and it was raining off and on. I went into the visitor’s bureau office in the ex ACL station, and I asked a lady there about the traffic, and she told me it was heavy.
We stayed in Brunswick, GA which is 36 miles east of Ffolkston because it had a better selection of lodging and restaurants.