Folkston Winterwatch 2015 24-hour report

[florida581]

Winterwatch 2015  Folkston, GA Saturday 12/5/15

It was another enjoyable weekend trackside.  Winterwatch is one of the two scheduled railfan events in the tiny hamlet of Folkston, GA.  The other event, Railwatch, is generally held on the first full weekend of April.  It is by far the larger of the two events, hosting a photo contest, cookouts, and other events.  Crowds in the hundreds are the norm.  Winterwatch always has a modest turnout, probably less than 100 in attendance this year.  Most of the fans at Winterwatch don’t mind the more laid back atmosphere.  Many of them say they prefer the smaller crowds over the hustle of Railwatch.  The cooler December weather also trumps the near sweltering April heat of Southwest Georgia.

Traffic was slightly down from April’s Railwatch.  That was expected because CSX had combined or abolished a handful of trains since then.  Coal traffic has also taken a hit.  What was once a typical 6 coal train a day count for Folkston had become 2. Plus, many Bostwick, FL coal trains are now routed through Tallahassee, bypassing Folkston.   The upside to all of this--longer trains!  There were 6 trains during my 24 hour stay that eclipsed the 10000 ft mark.  As for motive power, it was an all-CSX show save for two UP motors and a HLCX leaser.  However, there were a few surprising moments.  Two of CSX’s heritage decal units showed up: 5461 Seaboard System on L140-05 and 7376 Chesapeake & Ohio on Q220-05.  Also, Amtrak’s Phase 1 heritage # 156 was trailing on P097-04.  Overall, it was a very pleasant weekend at the South’s Promised Land of Railfanning.  It was great seeing familiar faces and making new acquaintances.  

Summary

Intermodal : 19
Mixed Freight : 15
Unit Trains
- ethanol : 2
- rock : 2
- coal : 2
- phosphate : 1
- grain : 1
- pipe : 1
- ammunition : 1
- Total Unit Trains : 10
Amtrak : 6
Autorack : 5
Tropicana : 1

Total : 56

North of Folkston:
36 trains traversed the Jesup Sub to / from Waycross, GA.
20 trains traversed the Nahunta Sub to / from Savannah, GA.

South of Folkston:
33 trains traversed the Nahunta Sub to / from Jacksonville, FL.
23 trains traversed the Callahan Sub to / from Baldwin, FL.

Full Report

Saturday 12/5/15 midnight to midnight

00:27  Q452-04 (Miami, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7666 CW40-8
CSXT 7696 CW40-8
CSXT 7387 CW40-8
CSXT 4301 GP39-2
163 cars, 10131 ft.
Northbound track 2

01:06  X117-06 (Winter Haven, FL - Bedford Park, IL) intermodal extra
CSXT 3271 ET44AH
CSXT 3259 ET44AH
CSXT 844 ES44AH
105 platforms, 7324 ft.
Northbound track 2

01:45  Q154-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Fairburn, GA) intermodal
CSXT 3069 ES44AH
CSXT 5360 ES40DC
56 platforms, 4030 ft.
Northbound track 2

03:44  K479-01 (Bensenville, IL CP - Jacksonville, FL FEC) ethanol loads
CSXT 7579 C40-8
CSXT 235 CW44AC
81 cars (1 buffer hopper, 80 tank cars), 4801 ft.
Southbound track 1

04:30  Q104-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Charleston, SC) intermodal
CSXT 3093 ES44AH
CSXT 3279 ET44AH
143 platforms, 10078 ft.
Northbound track 2

05:01  K797-01 (Varnons, AL - Orlando, FL) rock loads
CSXT 570 CW44AH
CSXT 3116 ES44AH
84 cars, 4378 ft.
Southbound track 1
*note - K797 stopped in Folkston to set out a bad ordered car on the Folkston House Track.  He was on the move an hour later.

05:06  Q041-03 (Cincinnati, OH - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal / Tropicana empties
CSXT 3198 ES44AH
CSXT 7527 C40-8
57 cars (9 Tropicana reefers, 48 platforms), 3830 ft.
Southbound track 2

05:40  Q033-04 (North Bergen, NJ - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 3222 ES44AH
CSXT 3091 ES44AH
CSXT 3039 ES44AH
138 platforms, 8850 ft.
Southbound track 2

05:52  P053-04 (Lorton, VA - Sanford, FL) Amtrak Auto Train
Amtrak 832 P40DC
Amtrak 818 P40DC
39 cars (16 Superliners, 23 autoracks), 3751 ft.
Southbound track 2

06:03  Q035-04 (Baltimore, MD - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 709 ES44AH
CSXT 5487 ES40DC
CSXT 44 CW44AC
60 platforms, 3880 ft.
Southbound track 2

06:28  Q103-05 (Charleston, SC - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 726 ES44AH
CSXT 577 CW44AH
83 platforms, 5536 ft.
Southbound track 2

06:36  P091-04 (New York City, NY - Miami, FL) Amtrak Silver Star
Amtrak 94 P42DC
8 cars, 808 ft.
Southbound track 2

06:36  Q453-05 (Waycross, GA - Miami, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 7388 CW40-8
CSXT 7901 CW40-8
CSXT 7668 CW40-8
CSXT 2523 GP38-2
188 cars, 11207 ft.
Southbound track 1

07:45  Q604-04 (Winston, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7390 CW40-8
CSXT 7830 CW40-8
CSXT 7342 CW40-8
162 cars, 9694 ft.
Northbound track 2

08:07  L140-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Philadelphia, PA) intermodal alternate schedule
CSXT 3119 ES44AH
CSXT 5461 ES40DC  Seaboard System Heritage Decal
81 platforms, 5563 ft.
Northbound track 2

08:10  K903-03 (Camak, GA - Jacksonville, FL) rock loads
CSXT 5368 ES40DC
CSXT 499 CW44AH
75 cars, 4324 ft.
Southbound track 1 (initially)
*note - A trainmaster discovered a broken rail on track 1 just as K903 arrived, forcing the train to abruptly stop.  It just so happened that K903 ended up fouling the turnouts with 3 trains approaching the area including Amtrak and an intermodal hotshot.  Intermodal Q141 was following closely behind K903 with Amtrak P097 right behind Q141.  Quickly approaching Folkston on the Jesup Sub was Q027.  Nobody could proceed until K903 moved.  To make a long story short, K903 was instructed to do a reverse move to clear the turnouts.  Amtrak ran around him on track 2.  Q027 then proceeded through the turnouts from the Jesup Sub an entered the Nahunta Sub’s track 2.  At 09:15, K903 switched over from track 1 to track 2 and proceeded through town.  Q141 followed closely behind K903.  This process took about an hour.  A crew was then called to repair the rail.

08:45  P097-04 (New York City, NY - Miami, FL) Amtrak Silver Meteor
Amtrak 6 P42DC
Amtrak 156 P42DC Phase 1 Heritage scheme
10 cars, 1073 ft.
Southbound track 2

08:55  Q027-03 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 974 ES44AH
CSXT 7787 CW40-8
CSXT 998 ES44AH
CSXT 7613 C40-8
135 platforms, 8804 ft.
Southbound track 2
*note - At 09:15, K903-03 proceeded again through town, this time on track 2.

09:29  Q141-03 (Greenville, NJ - Jacksonville, FL) Tropicana empties / intermodal
CSXT 3061 ES44AH
CSXT 297 CW44AC
111 cars (29 Tropicana reefers, 82 platforms), 8192 ft.
Southbound track 2

09:45  Q457-05 (Waycross, GA - Jacksonville, FL FEC) mixed freight
CSXT 7850 CW40-8
CSXT 7884 CW40-8
92 cars, 6167 ft.
Southbound track 2

09:55  Q235-03 (Louisville, KY - Jacksonville, FL) autorack loads
CSXT 7333 CW40-8
CSXT 7368 CW40-8
24 cars, 2302 ft.
Southbound track 2

10:11  Q037-04 (Charlotte, NC - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 901 ES44AH
CSXT 168 CW44AC
59 platforms, 4193 ft.
Southbound track 2

10:50  K664-02 (Tampa, FL - Decatur, IL) ethanol empties
CSXT 507 CW44AH
CSXT 523 CW44AH
79 cars (2 buffer hoppers, 77 tanks), 4763 ft.
Northbound track 2

12:10  Q213-05 (Waycross, GA - Taft, FL) autorack loads / mixed freight
CSXT 8052 SD40-2
CSXT 8749 SD60I
74 cars (11 mixed freight, 63 autoracks), 6481 ft.
Southbound track 2

13:07  Q025-04 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 7677 CW40-8
CSXT 7761 CW40-8
CSXT 7572 C40-8
97 platforms, 6285 ft.
Southbound track 2

*note - Repairs to the rail on track 1 were completed.  A “slow” order was put in affect, 50 mph for passenger and 50 mph for freight.  Evidently, the damage to the rail was minor.

13:17  Q456-04 (Taft, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7855 CW40-8
CSXT 7752 CW40-8
182 cars, 10658 ft.
Northbound track 1

13:39  L456-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight alternate schedule
CSXT 7699 CW40-8
CSXT 7777 CW40-8
134 cars, 7425 ft.
Northbound track 1

14:20  E044-04 (Lakeland, FL - Evansville, IN EVWR) coal empties
CSXT 3126 ES44AH
CSXT 3026 ES44AH
CSXT 8116 SD40-2
109 cars, 5953 ft.
Northbound track 1

14:24  Q609-05 (Waycross, GA - New Orleans, LA) mixed freight
CSXT 291 CW44AC
CSXT 3294 ET44AH
CSXT 8214 SD40-2
111 cars, 6654 ft.
Southbound track 2

14:37  Q652-05 (Tampa, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7834 CW40-8
CSXT 7356 CW40-8
148 cars, 10212 ft.
Northbound track 1

14:57  K890-03 (Mulberry, FL - Bensenville, IL CP) phosphate loads
CSXT 541 CW44AH
CSXT 3216 ES44AH
HLCX 7203 SD40-2
105 cars, 6402 ft.
Northbound track 1

15:55  Q237-04 (Louisville, KY - Tampa, FL) autorack loads
CSXT 449 CW44AC
CSXT 531 CW44AH
94 cars, 8688 ft.
Southbound track 1

16:25  G379-30 (WRO Junction, IN - Lake City, FL) grain loads
CSXT 655 CW46AC
UP 8640 SD70ACe
UP 6061 AC4400CW
63 cars, 3837 ft.
Southbound track 1

16:51  Q455-05 (Waycross, GA - Taft, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 7714 CW40-8
CSXT 7922 CW40-8
136 cars, 8326 ft.
Southbound track 1

16:58  Q026-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Bedford Park, IL) intermodal
CSXT 235 CW44AC
CSXT 7579 C40-8
CSXT 8782 SD60M
CSXT 873 ES44AH
CSXT 3251 ET44AH
113 platforms, 7021 ft.
Northbound track 2

17:09  Q034-05 (Jacksonville, FL - North Bergen, NJ) intermodal
CSXT 3222 ES44AH
CSXT 3091 ES44AH
CSXT 3039 ES44AH
111 platforms, 7420 ft.
Northbound track 2

17:12  T460-02 (Enon, PA - Tampa, FL) coal loads
CSXT 3223 ES44AH
CSXT 5408 ES40DC
CSXT 5452 ES40DC
110 cars, 6330 ft.
Southbound track 1

17:33  Q458-05 (Jacksonville, FL FEC - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7884 CW40-8
CSXT 7850 CW40-8
CSXT 5339 ES40DC
CSXT 7495 C40-8
CSXT 5450 ES40DC
CSXT 8853 SD40-2
CSXT 8554 SD50-2
70 cars, 5070 ft.
Northbound track 2

17:39  L441-05 (Waycross, GA - Tampa, FL) mixed freight 28-hour schedule
CSXT 7360 CW40-8
CSXT 7348 CW40-8
87 cars, 5241 ft.
Southbound track 1

17:43  P098-05 (Miami, FL - New York City, FL) Amtrak Silver Meteor
Amtrak 131 P42DC
Amtrak 87 P42DC
10 cars, 1073 ft.
Northbound track 2

18:01  Q601-05 (Waycross, GA - New Orleans, LA UP) mixed freight
CSXT 7498 C40-8
CSXT 356 CW44AC
129 cars, 7345 ft.
Southbound track 1

18:10  Q606-03 (New Orleans, LA UP - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 3282 ET44AH
CSXT 3015 ES44AH
CSXT 2545 GP38-2
--DPU 64 cars deep--
CSXT 741 ES44AH
152 cars, 10490 ft.
Northbound track 2

18:18  Q155-05 (Fairburn, GA - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 5341 ES40DC
CSXT 307 CW44AC
81 platforms, 5701 ft.
Southbound track 1

18:45  P052-05 (Sanford, FL - Lorton, VA) Amtrak Auto Train
Amtrak 196 P42DC
Amtrak 832 P40DC
42 cars (16 Superliners, 26 autoracks), 3848 ft.
Northbound track 2

19:18  Q603-05 (Waycross, GA - Winston, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 7387 CW40-8
CSXT 7696 CW40-8
CSXT 7666 CW40-8
144 cars, 8091 ft.
Southbound track 1

19:51  W800-05 (unknown origin and destination) unit ammunition train
CSXT 8354 SD40-2
CSXT 8376 SD40-2
33 cars, 2619 ft.
Northbound track 2

20:45  L243-02 (Detroit, MI - Taft, FL) autorack loads
CSXT 4080 SD40-3
CSXT 4286 SD40-3
72 cars, 6648 ft.
Southbound track 1

21:28  Q042-05 (Jacksonville, FL - North Baltimore, OH) intermodal / Tropicana loads
CSXT 974 ES44AH
CSXT 7613 C40-8
72 cars (60 platforms, 12 Tropicana reefers), 5161 ft.
Northbound track 2

21:40  Q038-05 (Jacksonville, FL - Charlotte, NC) intermodal
CSXT 3061 ES44AH
CSXT 297 CW44AC
89 platforms, 6305 ft.
Northbound track 2

22:00  Q452-05 (Miami, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 7905 CW40-8
CSXT 7675 CW40-8
CSXT 7303 CW40-8
157 cars, 8812 ft.
Northbound track 2

22:17  Q220-05 (Taft, FL - Louisville, KY) autorack empties
CSXT 5261 ES40DC
CSXT 7376 CW40-8 Chesapeake & Ohio Heritage Decal
CSXT 7552 C40-8
78 cars, 7737 ft.
Northbound track 2

22:30  L742-05 (Tampa, FL - Greenville, NJ) Tropicana loads alternate schedule
CSXT 3098 ES44AH
CSXT 3273 ET44AH
55 cars, 4179 ft.
Northbound track 2

23:14  K581-03 (Birmingham, AL - Mulberry, FL) pipe loads
CSXT 236 CW44AC
56 cars, 4216 ft.
Southbound track 1

23:34  P092-05 (Miami, FL - New York City, NY) Amtrak Silver Star
Amtrak 119 P42DC
8 cars, 808 ft.
Northbound track 2

23:46  Q176-06 (Jacksonville, FL - Little Ferry, NJ) intermodal
CSXT 168 CW44AC
CSXT 901 ES44AH
46 platforms, 2918 ft.
Northbound track 2

23:59  Q041-04 (Cincinnati, OH - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal / Tropicana empties
CSXT 5112 CW44AH
CSXT 872 ES44AH
62 cars (4 Tropicana reefers, 58 platforms), 4368 ft.
Southbound track 1