Planning a trip to Orlando in late August. Would appreciate any information on freight traffic ( type, frequency, times of day )on the CSX line and any short lines that serve the area. I have a rail traffic map that shows the line to be moderately busy, but websites such as The Bull Sheet seem to indicate that most Q,K,and L series trains run via Baldwin & Wildwood. Thanks in advance to anyone who would care to reply.

-- Dan Wheeler (DWheeler@peoplepc.com), July 19, 2002

Answers

Current CSX freight trains/traffic in the Orlando,Fl. area can be summed up in the statement: Amtrak rules the track by day; but at night the CSX freights come out to play! Not much happening during the day: usually a couple of unit coal trains to the power plant on the SE side of Orlando travel as time is available/ no definite schedule. Local freight turns out of Taft Yard work during early morning (7:00 - 10:00am) hours. A Jacksonville - Taft Yard freight arrives around noon - 2:00pm, and several "rock" trains make daily round trips to/from the Orlando/Sanford area on a daily basis (northbound around 8:00am and southbound around 6:00pm. The major manifest and intermodal trains operate through the Orlando area at nightime hours. Hopefully, their schedules will change soon!

-- Aaron Dowling (aarondowling@cfl.rr.com), August 24, 2002.

Dan,

I believe that this is the link that my old friend Rob was trying to pass along...cool stuff, thanks Rob!

http://inscoe.org/load.cgi?trains

Mark Kuehler Orlando, FL

-- Mark Kuehler (qler@cfl.rr.com), July 23, 2002.

Make that website.

-- Rob Jones (Botein@aol.com), July 23, 2002.

For additional information with getting around Orlando check out Kevin P. Inscoe's "Florida Railran" websit.

-- Rob Jones (Botein@aol.com), July 23, 2002.

Dan: CSX is alive and well in Florida...Orlando sees quite a bit of traffic, even though it can't compete with the former "S" line in volume,but there is variety galore. Amtrak, of course runs 4 times daily stopping at Orlando; times of the freights vary somewhat now due to a traffic curfew between 1900-0700 daily during the week for timbering and curve patch relay rail replacement. However, following is apartial list of traffic that I know runs at least daily through the Orlando area: q455-q456, manifest freight originates at Taft, several miles south and intermodal ramp facility that runs q178- q177 and q188-q187(originates/terminates at Tampa); these 2 are intermodal trains; K947-k948, k941-k942-these are unit rock trains from Miami to Benson Jct and Orlando (Conrad Yelvington owns the trains - other runs to Ocala and Tampa, tri-weekly. Then, you might be able to see several switchers that work around the area, based also in Taft, and a transfer run by trackage rights of Florida Central that runs on the old branch through Apopka, Plymouth, Zellwood through to Eustis/Mount Dora/Unatilla area. If you have a scanner, that would help, key on the CSX radio and should be able to keep you informed as to where to find the trains e=when they come through the area. Hope this info helps, good luck and please stay off the right-of-way...be safe.

-- Walt Rogers (wjriii@verizon.net), July 22, 2002.

"I would like to know when Amtrak's Silver Meteor will start running on the Florida East Coast main line and when will it start running is what I am wanting to know"

that plan has been put off indefinetly... dont look for it any time within the next 5 years. If amtrak even exists past this year is still in question. Personally i think it would be a waste of time to do this

-- troy nolen (tnolen12@tampabay.rr.com), July 20, 2002.

I am planning to go to Florida on Amtrak possibly in December down to either Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood even Miami. I would like to know when Amtrak's Silver Meteor will start running on the Florida East Coast main line and when will it start running is what I am wanting to know.

-- Bradford Paulson (bpaulson909@msn.com), July 19, 2002.