FLORIDA EAST COAST
NORTH END
Labor Day 2001
While both CSX and NS had cut a few trains off their schedules, it
was a regular Monday on the FEC as transfers and southbound trains ran
full speed.
I took advantage of the trafficless downtown Jacksonville, the city
where they are probably more traffic lights than cars, but that is OK because
they are all so well synchronized...On the tracks, 6 transfers fully loaded
went through under a beautiful sky in the morning, then under a darker
sky and then pooring rain. Further south, three trains left Bowden yard
starting with 101 a little after noon, then 105 an hour later then 107
at 1800. 117 left after sunset.
St Johns' River bridge, Jacksonville, Fl.
The parade across the bridge takes a little while to shape up. At around
10 AM, the first one is CSX Y108 with CSXT 1162 MP15AC has over 10,000
feet of intermodal and 2 TIPX reefers going over the bridge at MP 0 and
less than 3000' feet. Most of these cars will end up on FEC 101 seen leaving
further down this page.
St Johns' River bridge, Jacksonville, Fl.
NS 209 with a pair of GE D9-40CW take a short train across. The power
will be used on 105 later on in the day.
St Johns' River bridge, Jacksonville, Fl.
FEC 408 GP40 pulls close to 10,000 feet of intermodal coming from the
NS intermodal yard. Most of these cars will end up on 105.
South end of Bowden yard, Jacksonville, Fl.
After shuffling cars for close to 2 hours, it is finally time to hiball.
449, a GP40-3 with the Operation Lifesaver scheme gets some help from 2
GP40s pulling close to 11,000 feet of intermodal. This length was the norm
of the day. 105 an hour later gets a little over 12,000 feet and 107 late
in the afternoon gets another 10,000 feet +.
