Eastern Railroad Discussion > Folkston Winterwatch 2016 24-hour report

I thought 45 degrees would be no problem. Boy, I was wrong! When living in Central Florida, one gets climatized to the heat and humidity. The cooler weather seemed welcoming after a long, sweltering summer and a very warm fall. I arrived in Folkston on Friday evening for the biannual railfanning event at the viewing platform. The December event is known as Winterwatch while the April event is known as Railwatch. Railwatch is by far the bigger event, by both attendance and by the amount of events. However, Winterwatch is more informal. A lot of railfans actually prefer the smaller crowds.

Upon arrival, the temperature was a comfortable 58 degrees. As the night drew out, the mercury fell to the mid 40's. With an occompanied breeze, the cold humid air cuts through you. But those temperatures are tolerated when sitting trackside from the busiest mainline into Florida.

While still busy, traffic levels through Folkston are considerably lower than from my past visits. My record of trains for a 24-hour period is 66. However, the typical average count throughout the years had been about 55. Recently, CSX has been combining trains. Also, most Florida-bound coal traffic has been rerouted via Pensacola, Tallahassee and Baldwin, resulting in a Folkston bypass. With this in mind, this year's final count of 45 trains came as no surprise.

Regardless of a lower train count, it was still great to hang out with my fellow railfans. There was also a few surprises throughout the day. One of the highlights, for many, was the return trip of the Santa Train from Clinchfield country back to its home in Jacksonville. Also appearing was five private varnish cars on P098. CSXT 3099, the "Spirit of West Springfield", graced us with its presence by leading an intermodal south. Another nod to nostalgia was a caboose on the end of Q441. Ok, it was a "shoving platform". But it was indeed a welcomed sight holding up the marker on a large road train!

Recently, most autorack trains bound for Florida are now terminating in the big hump yard at Waycross. Those racks are now mixed within the multiple manifest freights bound for the Sunshine State. The result are monster trains. There were 6 trains over 10000 feet, the longest being a 14600 ft Q457. Another noticeable tidbit was the large number (7) of rock trains. It appears that construction is still going strong!

In an unfortunate turn of events, the aforementioned Q457 suffered a minor derailment in Jacksonville. While considered "minor", I t was bad enough to delay a few trains, including Amtrak P098 and P053. Also, track 2 through Folkston was closed for the majority of the day due to trackwork. This caused a few lengthy lulls throughout the day, especially in the morning. That evening, after the MOW wrapped things up, the floodgates opened. Trains ran like streetcars; one after another. There was even 6 trains within an hour's time on one occasion.

The following is the complete report of the train activity during my 24-hour marathon. I hope you enjoy!

Andrew


Winterwatch Folkston, GA Saturday 12/3/16
midnight to midnight

•summary

Intermodal: 19
Mixed Freight: 11
Unit Trains: 8
-rock: 7
-phosphate: 1
Amtrak: 5
Autorack: 1
OCS: 1

Total: 45

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

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

•full report

00:05 K779-01 (Junction City, GA - Coleman, FL) rock loads
CSXT 327 CW44AC
CSXT 731 ES44AH
100 cars, 4591 ft, 412 axles
Southbound track 1

02:48 Q041-01 (North Baltimore, OH - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal / Tropicana empties
CSXT 3335 ET44AH
CSXT 361 CW44AC
CSXT 4767 SD70AC
41 cars (8 reefers, 33 platforms), 3146 ft, 150 axles
Southbound track 1

02:56 Q103-03 (Savannah, GA - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 5317 ES40DC
CSXT 5261 ES40DC
CSXT 5411 ES40DC
57 platforms, 4349 ft, 206 axles
Southbound track 1

03:14 Q154-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Fairburn, GA) intermodal
CSXT 217 CW44AC
CSXT 3420 ET44AH
130 platforms, 9217 ft, 400 axles
Northbound track 2

03:37 Q104-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Charleston, SC) intermodal
CSXT 5200 ES40DC
CSXT 3427 ET44AH
152 platforms, 10064 ft, 440 axles
Northbound track 2

04:41 Q035-02 (Baltimore, MD - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 5254 ES40DC
CSXT 5362 ES40DC
38 platforms, 2628 ft, 108 axles
Southbound track 1

04:57 L251-03 (Waycross, GA - Palm Center, FL) autorack loads / mixed freight
CSXT 3189 ES44AH
CSXT 8357 SD40-2
97 cars (46 mixed freight, 51 autoracks), 7196 ft, 396 axles
Southbound track 1

06:09 Q031-02 (North Bergen, NJ - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 644 CW46AC
CSXT 859 ES44AH
CSXT 479 CW44AC
111 platforms, 7620 ft, 318 axles
Southbound track 1

06:18 P091-02 (New York City, NY - Miami, FL) Amtrak Silver Star
AMT 113 P42DC
8 cars, 806 ft, 36 axles
Southbound track 1

06:26 P053-02 (Lorton, VA - Sanford, FL) Amtrak Auto Train
AMT 814 P40DC
AMT 831 P40DC
37 cars (15 Superliners, 22 autoracks), 3634 ft, 156 axles
Southbound track 1

06:53 Q140-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Philadelphia, PA) intermodal
CSXT 5472 ES40DC
CSXT 4770 SD70AC
34 platforms, 2589 ft, 116 axles
Northbound track 2

07:14 Q027-01 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 118 CW44AC
CSXT 7684 CW40-8
127 platforms, 8267 ft, 372 axles
Southbound track 1

07:33 L609-03 (Waycross, GA - New Orleans, LA) mixed freight
CSXT 4766 SD70AC
CSXT 3132 ES44AH
CSXT 4374 SD40-3
CSXT 1144 MP15
126 cars, 7855 ft, 522 axles
Southbound track 1

07:52 Q124-02 (Winter Haven, FL - Chicago, IL 59th) intermodal
CSXT 652 CW46AC
CSXT 722 ES44AH
CSXT 342 CW44AC
88 platforms, 6621 ft, 290 axles
Northbound track 2

08:44 K724-02 (Taft, FL - Sparta, GA) rock empties
CSXT 5421 ES40DC
CSXT 7302 CW40-8
80 cars, 4129 ft, 332 axles
Northbound track 2

10:43 Q456-03 (Taft, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 8562 SD50-2
CSXT 8607 SD50-2
98 cars (71 mixed freight, 27 autoracks), 6836 ft, 404 axles
Northbound track 1

11:01 P097-02 (New York City, NY - Miami, FL) Amtrak Silver Meteor
AMT 118 P42DC
AMT 93 P42DC
12 cars, 1237 ft, 56 axles
Southbound track 1

11:09 Q457-03 (Waycross, GA - Jacksonville, FL FEC) mixed freight
CSXT 523 CW44AH
CSXT 823 ES44AH
CSXT 702 ES44AH
CSXT 5357 ES40DC
212 cars (124 mixed freight, 30 platforms, 58 autoracks), 14623 ft, 830 axles
Southbound track 1

12:29 K210-01 (New Wales, FL - Cicero, IL BNSF) phosphate loads
CSXT 307 CW44AC
CSXT 8716 SD60
CSXT 878 ES44AH
100 cars, 6233 ft, 418 axles
Northbound track 1

12:45 K709-02 (Junction City, GA - Taft, FL) rock loads
CSXT 3020 ES44AH
CSXT 3114 ES44AH
96 cars, 4372 ft, 396 axles
Southbound track 1

13:01 Q453-03 (Waycross, GA - Miami, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 9009 CW40-9
CSXT 7917 CW40-8
CSXT 4686 SD70M
CSXT 8410 SD40-2
113 cars, 6923 ft, 476 axles
Southbound track 1

14:14 Q606-01 (New Orleans, LA UP - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 351 CW44AC
CSXT 3090 ES44AH
CSXT 698 CW46AH
CSXT 3315 ET44AH
CSXT 8814 SD40-2
CSXT 5297 ES40DC
CSXT 4319 GP39-2
192 cars (148 mixed freight, 44 autoracks), 13186 ft, 808 axles
Northbound track 1

14:30 Q037-02 (Charlotte, NC - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 5355 ES40DC
CSXT 860 ES44AH
55 platforms, 4199 ft, 180 axles
Southbound track 1

15:17 K928-01 (Miami, FL - Camak, GA) rock empties
CSXT 3014 ES44AH
CSXT 5235 ES40DC
78 cars, 4235 ft, 324 axles
Northbound track 1

15:26 P900-02 (Cincinnati, OH - Jacksonville, FL) Santa Train Special
CSXT 9998 F40PH2
CSXT 9992 F40PH2
11 cars, 990 ft, 58 axles
Southbound track 1

16:20 Q034-03 (Jacksonville, FL - North Bergen, NJ) intermodal
CSXT 5254 ES40DC
CSXT 5362 ES40DC
121 platforms, 7729 ft, 320 axles
Northbound track 1

16:58 Q025-02 (Bedford Park, IL - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 3099 ES44AH "Spirit of West Springfield"
CSXT 3283 ET44AH
113 platforms, 8824 ft, 358 axles
Southbound track 1

17:44 Q026-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Bedford Park, IL) intermodal
CSXT 74 CW44AC
CSXT 4776 SD70AC
CSXT 4767 SD70AC
CSXT 361 CW44AC
CSXT 3335 ET44AH
115 platforms, 7883 ft, 354 axles
Northbound track 1

17:52 K743-02 (Dan, GA - Davenport, FL) rock loads
CSXT 3323 ET44AH
CSXT 624 CW46AC
93 cars, 4493 ft, 384 axles
Southbound track 1

18:22 K902-01 (Jacksonville, FL - Camak, GA) rock empties
CSXT 723 ES44AH
CSXT 4831 SD70ACe
67 cars, 3557 ft, 280 axles
Northbound track 1

18:36 Q155-03 (Fairburn, GA - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 3092 ES44AH
CSXT 250 CW44AC
92 platforms, 6220 ft, 288 axles
Southbound track 1

18:45 Q455-03 (Waycross, GA - Taft, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 7307 CW40-8
CSXT 947 ES44AH
130 cars (41 mixed freight, 89 autoracks), 10876 ft, 532 axles
Southbound track 1

18:56 Q652-03 (Tampa, FL - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 5427 ES40DC
CSXT 3366 ET44AH
146 cars (100 mixed freight, 46 autoracks), 9823 ft, 596 axles
Northbound track 2

19:15 Q441-03 (Waycross, GA - Tampa, FL) mixed freight
CSXT 3414 ET44AH
CSXT 5422 ES40DC
CSXT 4697 SD70M
CSXT 8367 SD40-2
108 cars (75 mixed freight, 33 autoracks), 7863 ft, 464 axles
Southbound track 1
*shoving platform on the end

19:17 Q141-01 (Greenville, NJ - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal / Tropicana empties
CSXT 3125 ES44AH
CSXT 3358 ET44AH
139 cars (115 platforms, 24 Tropicana reefers), 9325 ft, 416 axles
Southbound track 1

19:33 Q133-01 (North Baltimore, OH - Jacksonville, FL) intermodal
CSXT 3302 ET44AH
CSXT 5395 ES40DC
CSXT 3029 ES44AH
UP 6805 AC4400CW
85 platforms, 6049 ft, 272 axles
Southbound track 1

19:59 K703-02 (Camak, GA - Taft, FL) rock loads
CSXT 300 CW44AC
CSXT 4574 SD70AC
115 cars, 6136 ft, 472 axles
Southbound track 1

20:49 Q601-03 (Waycross, GA - New Orleans, LA UP) mixed freight
CSXT 3306 ET44AH
CSXT 8096 SD40-2
BNSF 7329 ES44DC
BNSF 8342 ES44C4
BNSF 5467 C44-9W
132 cars, 8090 ft, 558 axles
Southbound track 1

20:56 Q458-03 (Jacksonville, FL FEC - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
CSXT 8594 SD50-2
CSXT 1124 SW1001
CSXT 8627 SD50-2
CSXT 2805 GP38-2
CSXT 1174 MP15AC
135 cars (53 mixed freight, 82 autoracks), 10769 ft, 564 axles
Northbound track 2

21:25 Q606-02 (New Orleans, LA UP - Waycross, GA) mixed freight
UP 8154 ES44AC
UP 6729 AC4400CW
UP 8848 SD70ACe
149 cars (110 mixed freight, 39 autoracks), 10355 ft, 614 axles
Northbound track 1

21:57 Q042-03 (Jacksonville, FL - North Baltimore, OH) intermodal / Tropicana loads
CSXT 647 CW46AC
CSXT 5317 ES40DC
97 cars (90 platforms, 7 reefers), 6808 ft, 312 axles
Northbound track 2

22:14 P098-03 (Miami, FL - New York City, NY) Amtrak Silver Meteor
AMT 101 P42DC
AMT 18 P42DC
15 cars, 1459 ft, 74 axles
Northbound track 2
*the last 5 cars were private varnish.

22:30 P052-03 (Sanford, FL - Lorton, VA) Amtrak Auto Train
AMT 831 P40DC
AMT 814 P40DC
37 cars (15 Superliners, 22 autoracks), 3427 ft, 156 axles
Northbound track 2

22:36 M038-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Charlotte, NC) intermodal
CSXT 3168 ES44AH
CSXT 3318 ET44AH
92 platforms, 6459 ft, 276 axles
Northbound track 1

22:51 X118-03 (Jacksonville, FL - Cincinnati, OH) intermodal reposition
CSXT 5482 ES40DC
CSXT 660 CW46AH
124 platforms, 8597 ft, 372 axles
Northbound track 1

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/16 16:08 by florida581.

Andrew.....I always look forward to your posts.....and your comprehensive, accurate responses to many other posts.  Keep them coming.

Thanks Andrew, I caught Q606 in Sanderson

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

Andrew,
​appreciate the time and effort it took to type up this report.
                                                              Mark

Good report Andrew.  You Florida guys just can't handle the cold weather.,  and next year I will be a Florida guy.

gmojim

Thanks for the report.

Even at "just" 45 trains a day, Folkston is worth a visit. But I wonder how the volume of trains compares now to NS between Austell and Inman Yard.

ctillnc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Even at "just" 45 trains a day, Folkston is worth
> a visit. But I wonder how the volume of trains
> compares now to NS between Austell and Inman Yard.

Folkston is definitely worth a visit!  The NS between Austell and Inman is still seeing 55-60 a day.

Andrew