Eastern Railroad Discussion > Florida Gulf & Atlantic Inaugural Action

Hello everyone,

I got out for the inaugural run on June 1, 2019 of the FG&A on the now former CSX Tallahassee Subdivision. Here are a few photos from being out for the chase.

1. FG&A BT-1 passes the LOP&G signals at Live Oak, FL.

2. FG&A crosses over the Suwannee River at Ellaville, Florida

3. Taking the curve at Greenville as they enter town from the end of the siding.

Thanks for looking!

Allan R. Williams Jr.
Valdosta, Georgia

---

---

---

Nice shots!

Great photos! Does CSXT still control the signals under contract or has the FG&A taken that over as well? Do they plan to eliminate the CTC?

Thank you in advance.

I don't know if the railroad has any units painted for itself already, but I wish that it could have had one on the point of a first run.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't know if the railroad has any units painted
> for itself already, but I wish that it could have
> had one on the point of a first run.

Nice photos and it's always great to see a new operation.  I agree that they should paint at least one unit to create an identity even though as they say paint does not pull trains.  I am also curious if they are going to maintain the signal system or eventually deactivate it.

stevelv Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice photos and it's always great to see a new
> operation.  

Yes, I appreciate the nice pictures and the effort in getting out to take and share them in spite of not having a new scheme.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/19 10:08 by ts1457.

stevelv Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ts1457 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't know if the railroad has any units
> painted
> > for itself already, but I wish that it could
> have
> > had one on the point of a first run.
>
> Nice photos and it's always great to see a new
> operation.  I agree that they should paint at
> least one unit to create an identity even though
> as they say paint does not pull trains.  I am
> also curious if they are going to maintain the
> signal system or eventually deactivate it.

The FRA chafes at applications to deactivate a working signal system...in their view....if it works...use it. Not that it hasn't been done...but it's not easy. 

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> The FRA chafes at applications to deactivate a
> working signal system...in their view....if it
> works...use it. Not that it hasn't been done...but
> it's not easy. 

Point well taken.  It took the Buffalo and Pittsburgh a long time to deactivate the old B&O signals on their original lines and then a while to deactivate the signals on the old Pennsy Buffalo line between Buffalo and Machias, NY.

Sad.

The track will revert to 'narrow gauge'; no signals; inadequare maintenence; etc.    Very sad.

I'm sorry but sale of the CSX Florida Panhandle line to FG&A it is not "sad". Our railroad world is full of abandonments, line relocations and all sorts of other disruptions. That is part of what comes with a vast network that was built for a different era, and where the existing tracks may not be everywhere relevant to current logistics needs. "Restructuring" is a fact in an industry that's network peaked in the first quarter of the 20th century.

I accept that railroad senior executives can make bad decisions (just as can senior executives in other industries). But that does not mean that every line abandonment or downgrading is a bad thing. And it is the "owning company" that is making decisions about it own assets and how they are used. Despite what one might conclude from SOME (not all) postings on TO, not all rail executives are idiots. 

On "the map", the line across the Florida Panhandle makes a lot of sense, especially getting from the West to Florida. However, there is not a lot of local traffic on that line. And there are other lines, admittedly less direct, that get to/from Florida. And it does not help the Panhandle line that very little traffic comes out of Florida, especially heading west. If the Panhandle route is truly the most efficient, traffic will come to it, sooner or later, if the service is priced properly.Think MRL's relationship with BNSF. Let's give 'em a chance.

No painted units yet !! All SD40-2's , GP38-2's and 1 GP40-2 on lease from Wells Fargo/ First Union Rail.
                                                                                                                  Mark Mautner

I agree, at first I didnt like the news of the sale but now that it is a done deal, a former class one line with classic signals and EMD power is hard to come by now days with the newer technology out there. I just hope they prosper and do good work for the customers and keep things in good working order. Thanks for the comments on the photos guys!

Allan

GeorgiaRailfan31602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree, at first I didnt like the news of the
> sale but now that it is a done deal, a former
> class one line with classic signals and EMD power
> is hard to come by now days with the newer
> technology out there. I just hope they prosper and
> do good work for the customers and keep things in
> good working order. Thanks for the comments on the
> photos guys!
>
> Allan

Count me in with your view....I don't like line sales that cost my people jobs....but I don't besmerch the new company's desire to do well. And If the displaced people from my road go to that new operator....well can't say anyone lost a job....though they might make less...but that is their choice. I don't take the romantic view that old engine and old signals are a good thing that could be lost....that just doesn't make sense...if it works, use it...when it breaks.....get something else. 

Signals in photo 3 scream "SAL!"

It would be sad if it was your job that was lost, if you were forced to choose between picking up and moving your family to a far away terminal for work or to reapply with the new scab outfit taking a massive pay and benefits cut, losing all the seniority you worked hard to accumulate over the years.

superchief1944 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm sorry but sale of the CSX Florida Panhandle
> line to FG&A it is not "sad". Our railroad world
> is full of abandonments, line relocations and all
> sorts of other disruptions. That is part of what
> comes with a vast network that was built for a
> different era, and where the existing tracks may
> not be everywhere relevant to current logistics
> needs. "Restructuring" is a fact in an industry
> that's network peaked in the first quarter of the
> 20th century.
>
> I accept that railroad senior executives can make
> bad decisions (just as can senior executives in
> other industries). But that does not mean that
> every line abandonment or downgrading is a bad
> thing. And it is the "owning company" that is
> making decisions about it own assets and how they
> are used. Despite what one might conclude from
> SOME (not all) postings on TO, not all rail
> executives are idiots. 
>
> On "the map", the line across the Florida
> Panhandle makes a lot of sense, especially getting
> from the West to Florida. However, there is not a
> lot of local traffic on that line. And there are
> other lines, admittedly less direct, that get
> to/from Florida. And it does not help the
> Panhandle line that very little traffic comes out
> of Florida, especially heading west. If the
> Panhandle route is truly the most efficient,
> traffic will come to it, sooner or later, if the
> service is priced properly.Think MRL's
> relationship with BNSF. Let's give 'em a chance.

Posted from iPhone

jointauthority Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would be sad if it was your job that was lost,
> if you were forced to choose between picking up
> and moving your family to a far away terminal for
> work or to reapply with the new scab outfit taking
> a massive pay and benefits cut, losing all the
> seniority you worked hard to accumulate over the
> years.
>
It would...but ShiQ happens all the time....and we all do what we have to do. 

I like Pic 1!!