Eastern Railroad Discussion > 24 hour report: Folkston Winterwatch 2012

Another 24 hour stretch at the platform in Folkston is now officially in the books. The railfans of the deep Southeast had our annual Winterwatch the weekend of December 7-9. The weather turned out to be a bit more balmy than in years past, with highs in the mid 70's and lows in the lower 50's. A relentless fog blanketed the area throughout the evening, night, and morning, however the sun managed to peek out of the overcast skies by mid to late afternoon.

Unlike April's Railwatch, there were no festivities, scheduled events, or barbeques, just some good ol' fashioned train watching. It was great meeting new people and to see some familiar faces. Overall, there was a great feeling of camaraderie.

I did my usual 24 hour (midnight to midnight) stay. I purposely arrived a few hours before midnight on Friday evening. This gave me a chance to relax, meet everyone in attendance, and to just watch trains. However, when midnight rolled around, I got into the zone. I monitored the upcoming train movements using ATCS and by listening to the scanner chat. I then recorded all the info about each train (origin/destination, length, car counts, etc). Because of the huge amounts of train movements, there's little time for rest.

CSX provided a plethora of trains, but not much variety in motive power or special moves. In all the dozens of times that I've been to Folkston, this marked the first time in which there were no foreign power, special moves, or any unusual consists. In all, 62 trains came within the 24 hours.

Overall, I had a great time. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the Promised Land of Railfanning.

Andrew

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Trip Summary

Mixed freight: 19
Intermodal: 15
Unit train: 13
- coal: 6
- rock: 5
- phosphate: 1
- ethanol: 1
Autorack: 6
Tropicana: 2

Total Freight: 55
Total Amtrak: 7
Total train count: 62

Lines North:
46 trains traversed the Jesup Sub towards Waycross, GA
16 trains traversed the Nahunta Sub towards Savannah, GA

Lines South:
37 trains traversed the Nahunta Sub towards Jacksonville, FL
25 trains traversed the Callahan Sub towards Baldwin, FL

Crawford, FL bonus info:
CSX: 25 trains
NS: 11 trains
Total train count: 36

NS times through Crawford:
00:42
02:32
02:44
04:33
07:57
11:09
11:28
16:18
16:55
18:30
20:56
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Full Report

FOLKSTON, GA WINTERWATCH SATURDAY 12-8-12 12AM-12AM

00:06 S472-07 (WAYCROSS, GA - BUSCH, FL) AUTORACK
CSXT 7498 C40-8
CSXT 7389 CW40-8
80 CARS, 332 AXLES, 7621 FT

00:36 L140-07 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - GREENVILLE, NJ) TROPICANA / INTERMODAL
CSXT 5407 ES40DC
CSXT 519 CW44AH
CSXT 5328 ES44DC
123 CARS (55 REEFERS / 68 PLATFORMS), 432 AXLES, 8984 FT

00:44 Q041-06 (CINCINNATI, OH - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 5372 ES40DC
CSXT 5302 ES40DC
41 CARS (3 TROPICANA REEFERS / 38 PLATFORMS), 136 AXLES, 2850 FT

00:55 K923-07 (JUNCTION CITY, GA - WILDWOOD, FL) ROCK LOADS
CSXT 5223 ES40DC
CSXT 360 CW44AC
80 CARS, 332 AXLES, 3780 FT

01:13 K658-06 (TAMPA, FL - CHICAGO, IL) EMPTY ETHANOL
CSXT 5411 ES40DC
CSXT 786 ES44AH
77 CARS, 320 AXLES, 4694 FT

01:13 L472-07 (WAYCROSS, GA - BUSCH, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7721 CW40-8
CSXT 7745 CW40-8
68 CARS, 284 AXLES, 4061 FT

01:25 T102-07 (BOSTWICK, FL - MANITOU, KY) SEMX EMPTY COAL
CSXT 343 CW44AC
CSXT 145 CW44AC
CSXT 7550 C40-8
100 CARS, 418 AXLES, 5506 FT

01:39 Q154-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - ATLANTA, GA) INTERMODAL
CSXT 5296 ES40DC
CSXT 512 CW44AH
66 CARS (62 PLATFORMS / 4 TROPICANA REEFERS), 212 AXLES, 4673 FT

01:49 P092 (MIAMI, FL - NEW YORK CITY, NY) AMTRAK SILVER STAR
AMTRAK 122 P42DC
AMTRAK 204 P42DC
9 CARS, 44 AXLES, 888 FT

02:45 L604-07 (WINSTON, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 671 CW60AC
CSXT 8443 SD40-2
113 CARS, 464 AXLES, 6722 FT

02:48 Q141-06 (GREENVILLE, NJ - JACKSONVILLE, FL) EMPTY TROPICANA / INTERMODAL
CSXT 5466 ES40DC
CSXT 725 ES44AH
65 CARS (35 PLATFORMS / 30 REEFERS), 240 AXLES, 5174 FT

02:57 Q104-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHARLESTON, SC) INTERMODAL
CSXT 7791 CW40-8
CSXT 342 CW44AC
117 PLATFORMS, 360 AXLES, 7983 FT

03:37 Q456-07 (TAFT, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7916 CW40-8
CSXT 7713 CW40-8
94 CARS, 390 AXLES, 6848 FT

04:15 Q035-07 (BALTIMORE, MD - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 730 ES44AH
CSXT 697 CW60AC
31 PLATFORMS, 92 AXLES, 2194 FT

04:25 K820-07 (MULBERRY, FL - BENSENVILLE, IL) PHOSPHATE LOADS
CSXT 4730 SD70AC
CSXT 245 CW44AC
CSXT 7560 C40-8
85 CARS, 358 AXLES, 5242 FT

04:36 Q033-07 (NORTH BERGEN, NJ - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 589 CW44AH
CSXT 850 ES44AH
CSXT 997 ES44AH
86 PLATFORMS, 242 AXLES, 5525 FT

05:00 L228-08 (WINSTON, FL - MARYSVILLE, OH) AUTORACK
CSXT 637 CW60AC
CSXT 7729 CW40-8
70 CARS, 292 AXLES, 6584 FT

05:08 Q237-06 (LOUISVILLE, KY - TAMPA, FL) AUTORACK
CSXT 9013 CW40-9
CSXT 5438 ES40DC
30 CARS, 132 AXLES, 2983 FT

05:25 Q027-06 (CHICAGO, IL - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 683 CW60AC
CSXT 572 CW44AH
107 PLATFORMS, 292 AXLES, 6700 FT

05:31 Q124-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHICAGO, IL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 5322 ES40DC
CSXT 46 CW44AC
105 PLATFORMS, 320 AXLES, 7144 FT

06:07 P091 (NEW YORK CITY, NY - MIAMI, FL) AMTRAK SILVER STAR
AMTRAK 147 P42DC
AMTRAK 10 P42DC
9 CARS, 44 AXLES, 888 FT

06:17 K782-06 (CRESTVIEW, FL - JUNCTION CITY, GA) EMPTY ROCK
CSXT 318 CW44AC
CSXT 4739 SD70AC
100 CARS, 412 AXLES, 4657 FT

06:56 Q604-07 (WINSTON, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7651 CW40-8
CSXT 7815 CW40-8
CSXT 8008 SD40-2
123 CARS, 510 AXLES, 6829 FT

07:31 P053 (LORTON, VA - SANFORD, FL) AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN
AMTRAK 835 P40DC
AMTRAK 818 P40DC
AMTRAK 190 P42DC
38 CARS (16 SUPERLINERS / 22 AUTORACKS), 164 AXLES, 3684 FT

07:46 Q442-07 (WINSTON, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7843 CW40-8
CSXT 7822 CW40-8
CSXT 2326 ROAD SLUG
CSXT 6927 GP40-2
87 CARS, 368 AXLES, 6314 FT

08:40 PO97 (NEW YORK CITY, NY - MIAMI, FL) AMTRAK SILVER METEOR
AMTRAK 59 P42DC
AMTRAK 181 P42DC
10 CARS, 48 AXLES, 972 FT

08:45 Q453-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - MIAMI, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7781 CW40-8
CSXT 7677 CW40-8
96 CARS, 396 AXLES, 5509 FT

09:01 T101-02 (EPWORTH, IL - BOSTWICK, FL) SEMX COAL LOADS
CSXT 890 ES44AH
CSXT 4751 SD70AC
CSXT 5379 ES40DC
100 CARS, 418 AXLES, 5481 FT

10:00 Q103-08 (CHARLESTON, SC - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 4770 SD70AC
CSXT 7584 C40-8
72 PLATFORMS, 220 AXLES, 5261 FT

10:37 T108-02 (CLAY, KY - BOSTWICK, FL) SEMX COAL LOADS
CSXT 3003 ES44AH
CSXT 5102 CW44AH
CSXT 7810 CW40-8
100 CARS, 418 AXLES, 5470 FT

11:07 K945-08 (MULBERRY, FL - SHORTERS, AL) EMPTY ROCK
CSXT 741 ES44AH
CSXT 7852 CW40-8
60 CARS, 252 AXLES, 2863 FT

11:24 Q613-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - WINSTON, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 868 ES44AH
CSXT 4541 SD70AC
CSXT 8244 SD40-2
96 CARS, 402 AXLES, 5213 FT

11:49 Q133-06 (NORTH BALTIMORE, OH - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL / AUTORACK
CSXT 783 ES44AH
CSXT 91 CW44AC
107 CARS (83 PLATFORMS / 24 AUTORACKS), 336 AXLES, 7504 FT

12:00 Q037-07 (CHARLOTTE, NC - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 708 ES44AH
CSXT 5453 ES40DC
48 PLATFORMS, 148 AXLES, 3390 FT

12:16 Q457-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - JACKSONVILLE, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7782 CW40-8
CSXT 7790 CW40-8
CSXT 1174 MP15AC
120 CARS, 460 AXLES, 8388 FT

13:35 Q458-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7870 CW40-8
CSXT 7808 CW40-8
CSXT 5362 ES40DC
95 CARS, 400 AXLES, 8189 FT

14:10 Q452-08 (MIAMI, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7336 CW40-8
CSXT 7740 CW40-8
85 CARS, 352 AXLES, 5378 FT

14:33 Q025-07 (CHICAGO, IL - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 450 CW44AC
CSXT 123 CW44AC
CSXT 5209 CW44AH
83 PLATFORMS, 270 AXLES, 6185 FT

14:43 Q652-08 (TAMPA, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7695 CW40-8
CSXT 7725 CW40-8
128 CARS, 524 AXLES, 8557 FT

15:15 N122-08 (RED LEVEL, FL - RESOURCE MINE, KY) PEFX EMPTY COAL
CSXT 932 ES44AH
CSXT 712 ES44AH
100 CARS, 412 AXLES, 5400 FT

15:42 Q602-07 (NEW ORLEANS, LA - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 217 CW44AC
CSXT 7917 CW40-8
CSXT 352 CW44AC
CSXT 7899 CW40-8
CSXT 7571 C40-8
CSXT 7394 CW40-8
CSXT 7704 CW40-8
CSXT 5440 ES40DC
CSXT 5936 B20-8
79 CARS, 352 AXLES, 5151 FT

15:44 Q441-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - TAMPA, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7713 CW40-8
CSXT 7916 CW40-8
73 CARS, 304 AXLES, 4513 FT

16:10 Q606-05 (NEW ORLEANS, LA - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 5237 ES40DC
CSXT 7318 CW40-8
80 CARS, 334 AXLES, 5802 FT

16:15 Q155-08 (ATLANTA, GA - JACKSONVILLE, FL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 246 CW44AC
CSXT 9039 CW40-9
57 PLATFORMS, 176 AXLES, 3925 FT

16:51 Q034-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - NORTH BERGEN, NJ) INTERMODAL
CSXT 589 CW44AH
CSXT 850 ES44AH
CSXT 997 ES44AH
88 PLATFORMS, 246 AXLES, 5576 FT

17:29 Q609-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - NEW ORLEANS, LA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 8779 SD60M
CSXT 7521 C40-8
CSXT 455 CW44AC
CSXT 7664 CW40-8
95 CARS, 404 AXLES, 5909 FT

17:40 Q026-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHICAGO, IL) INTERMODAL
CSXT 5302 ES40DC
CSXT 5340 ES40DC
137 PLATFORMS, 368 AXLES, 8556 FT

18:41 W057-08 (Routing was from JAX / Nahunta Sub to Waycross.) EMPTY ROCK
CSXT 204 CW44AC
CSXT 326 CW44AC
40 CARS, 172 AXLES, 1894 FT

19:28 P052 (SANFORD, FL - LORTON, VA) AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN
AMTRAK 818 P40DC
AMTRAK 835 P40DC
AMTRAK 144 P42DC
40 CARS (16 SUPERLINERS / 24 AUTORACKS), 172 AXLES, 3765 FT

19:34 P098 (MIAMI, FL - NEW YORK CITY, NY) AMTRAK SILVER METEOR
AMTRAK 91 P42DC
AMTRAL 148 P42DC
10 CARS, 44 AXLES, 973 FT

19:50 Q603-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - WINSTON, FL) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7823 CW40-8
CSXT 7697 CW40-8
53 CARS, 224 AXLES, 3230 FT

19:58 Q038-08 (JACKSONVILLE, FL - CHARLOTTE, NC) INTERMODAL
CSXT 683 CW60AC
CSXT 572 CW44AH
81 PLATFORMS, 264 AXLES, 5827 FT

20:12 Q473-08 (BUSCH, FL - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 7745 CW40-8
CSXT 7721 CW40-8
77 CARS, 320 AXLES, 5276 FT

20:31 T108-08 (BOSTWICK, FL - CLAY, KY) SEMX EMPTY COAL
CSXT 609 CW60AC
CSXT 7645 C40-8
CSXT 209 CW44AH
100 CARS, 418 AXLES, 5508 FT

20:46 S473-08 (BUSCH, FL - WAYCROSS, FL) AUTORACKS
CSXT 7389 CW40-8
CSXT 7498 C40-8
47 CARS, 200 AXLES, 4481 FT

21:29 T102-03 (MANITOU, KY - BOSTWICK, FL) SEMX COAL LOADS
CSXT 259 CW44AC
CSXT 254 CW44AC
CSXT 7656 CW40-8
100 CARS, 404 AXLES, 5476 FT

21:34 Q606-06 (NEW ORLEANS, LA - WAYCROSS, GA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 504 CW44AH
CSXT 829 ES44AH
CSXT 3049 ES44AH
CSXT 5950 B40-8
95 CARS, 404 AXLES, 7962 FT

22:05 Q605-08 (WAYCROSS, GA - NEW ORLEANS, LA) MIXED FREIGHT
CSXT 9008 CW40-9
CSXT 457 CW44AC
62 CARS, 260 AXLES, 3816 FT

22:18 Q237-07 (LOUISVILLE, KY - TAMPA, FL) AUTORACK
CSX 7796 CW40-8
CSX 238 CW44AC
15 CARS, 72 AXLES, 1524 FT

22:58 Q235-07 (LOUISVILLE, KY - TAFT, FL - WINSTON, FL) AUTORACK
CSXT 5436 ES40DC
CSXT 7706 CW40-8
84 CARS, 350 AXLES, 8040 FT

23:42 K780-08 (COLEMAN, FL - JUNCTION CITY, GA) EMPTY ROCK
CSXT 483 CW44AC
CSXT 493 CW44AC
100 CARS, 412 AXLES, 4660 FT

23:46 P092 (MIAMI, FL - NEW YORK CITY, NY) AMTRAK SILVER STAR
AMTRAK 40 P42DC
AMTRAK 169 P42DC
9 CARS, 44 AXLES, 888 FT



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/12 11:33 by florida581.

Yet again, another excellent report. Thanks so much Andrew..... PS: Let me know when you plan to do your next one.
Robin

Sounds like a lot of fun. Hard to believed not foreign power out of that many freights.

Do you know if the unit rock trains for general construction or is there a large project going on in FL? I grew up near Camak, GA where I first heard about unit rock trains originating out of the Cedar Rock quarry on the old Georgia RR back in the early '80's.

Jay

garr Wrote:

> Do you know if the unit rock trains for general
> construction or is there a large project going on
> in FL? I grew up near Camak, GA where I first
> heard about unit rock trains originating out of
> the Cedar Rock quarry on the old Georgia RR back
> in the early '80's.
>
> Jay

I think a lot of Georgia granite moves to Florida to be used as ballast and with all the new trackwork being done
by CSX upgrading the S line plus the Sun Rail work in the Orlando area there should be a lot of demand.

NICE report!!! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks DTrain. That makes sense, I did not think of the obvious.

Jay

Thanks for the excellent report and the train size detail. Odd that the longest train also came by where I live about 24 hours later. I've only been there once about 7 years ago, and the mixed freight trains seem smaller.

Interesting report. I too am surprised that there was no foreign power- I did an all nighter in 2005 and saw a ton of UP/BNSF, also a CN SD75I and an Oakway SD60 amongst others. I expect the dearth of foreign power is due to the recession.