The night run:
One of the most thrilling railfanning
experiences is to pace a train who has to go full throttle to conquer a
grade. Leaving in Florida, I always thought I would have to go to Saluda,
NC or somewhere in Kentucky. I was relieved when I found out I was a couple
of hours drive away from the highest railroad point in Florida: Ridgetop
on The Bay Line. It is about 9:30 p.m. on a cold January evening, at Sherman
Yard in Panama City; the 6 GP38s at the point of train #52 are all systems
go, ready to pull 133 cars up the fierce grade. Fierce grade in flat Florida????
This might not look like much for railroaders from the Rockies, but when
the 133 cars are full of paper fresh out of the paper mill, it is easy
to understand the reason behind the 12,000 hp consist. US 231 is side by
side to the mainline from Panama City to Cottondale. Roger Arnold, a member
of the Panhandle Model Railroad club in Panama City, and I followed #52
out of town. The consist is slow getting up to speed but finally gets to
40 mph. It is now time for the real test. Full throttle. We roll the windows
of the car all the way down to listen to the venerable GP38s at work. The
cold and the deafening sound of the engines fill the cabin of the car.
We cannot hear ourselves talk; there is nothing to say anyway, just listen
to the sweet music… and endure the cold. This is railfanning at its best.
At the top of the hill, the speed of the train drops down to 25 mph. Sometimes,
the train has to double up to conquer. Tonight, the Green and Yellow wins
over the grade. The rest of the ride to Cottondale is uneventful. Upon
arrival to the CSX diamond, the conductor gets off and briskly gets to
work in the chilly early morning. There are a lot of cars in the yard.
After a discussion over the scanner, the crew with management in Panama
City decide to leave some cars behind and come for them tomorrow morning...
Roger and I remained puzzled and silent for just
a few seconds, then realized that we have just hit the jackpot: a daylight
run on the Bay Line!!!!! Our screams were heard all the way to Chattahoochee...
The day after....
We head back to Panama City
and around 2 in the morning I take a motel room by Sherman Yard. I am afraid
to sleep through, but around 4, the south bound is back from Dothan. The
push and shove immediately starts, setting off car alarms all over the
parking of the hotel. I fear no more of sleeping through. I get up around
sunrise and scout the yard. The yard jobs are now ready to make runs to
the industries. After they come back, they put the train for tonight together.
But, where is our daylight run to Cottondale? After driving up and down
US 231 along the yard all morning, I see the 6 GP38 consist being pulled
out of the engine house.
The sky had been blue all morning without a cloud
in the sky but by midday, a funny pinkish haze blankets the area, which
worries me for the pictures. There are about ready to make the run. They
will start empty out of Panama City, pick up about 70 cars in Cottondale
and then head back south.
History
The Bay
Line was incorporated in 1905. The goal was to tap into the forest for
its lumber and pulp. The line is now owned by International Paper.
Today's roster is not as interesting as it used to be. In the steam era,
the Bayline had Mikados, Consolidations and Pacifics. Light Pacifics were
pulling the 2 passenger trains a day. The first “lawn-mowers” were RS1s
for the road and S2s for yard jobs both from Alco. The initial paint scheme
for the diesels was blue and silver. These colors can still be seen today
on old boxcars. For passenger service, the Bay Line purchased an F3, their
first EMD engine in 1947. EMDs replaced little by little, all the Alco
engines. This transition period between 1947 and 1984 is probably the most
interesting to model. Starting in 1955, GP7s, SD9s, GP38-2s and even an
SD40 were brought in the new Green and Yellow paint scheme of today. The
Bay Line was one of the first railroads to chop the nose of its locomotives.
The RS1s and GP7s were the victims. Most of the Alcos were sold to
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad in Saffold, GA. One of these chopped
nose Alcos survived the scrapper's torch, when Tennessee Valley Railroad
Museum in Chattanooga purchased #913 from Hartford & Slocomb, a subsidiary
of the Bay Line. Today's roster is a simple but efficient all GP38s.
To pace the trains, start in Panama City at Sherman Yard on US231, after sunset, any day of the week except Friday and Saturday night. Follow the mainline on US 231 all the way to Cottondale. North of the CSX mainline, the Bay Line track gets separated from the road. Dothan, the final destination of the Bay Line is a nice spot full of action and history.
