Eastern Railroad Discussion > FEC through WPB Brightline station

Thursday nights between 10 and 11pm yields a southbound "extra" train 105 through West Palm Beach, FL.  Out walking the pooch tonight, saw the signals lined up, and waited around about 10 minutes for him to pass through the ultra-modern Brightline station.  Video taken with a Samsung Galaxy 8 smart phone - not too bad considering the less-than-ideal lighting conditions.

Hope y'all enjoy.

Rob Benkovitz
West Palm Beach, FL

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Thanks.

Looks like a dangerous situation. A derailment could bring the waiting room down on top of the mess.

Very nice. Have always liked the FEC. Should have made a few more trips down there.
JB

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks.
>
> Looks like a dangerous situation. A derailment
> could bring the waiting room down on top of the
> mess.
You know I was thinking the very same thing.  But it is a beautiful station none the less.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ts1457 Wrote:
> -------------------------------------------------- -----
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Looks like a dangerous situation. A derailment
> > could bring the waiting room down on top of the
> > mess.
> You know I was thinking the very same thing.  But
> it is a beautiful station none the less.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous. Can't slow up the freight though - it would block the grade crossings too long.

After sleeping on it, I would say that the design ranks as one of the most dangerous things I have seen in railroading. The freight track needs to be on the outside with some sort of substantial barrier to protect the station structure.

A disaster waiting to happen.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ClubCar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ts1457 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > > Looks like a dangerous situation. A
> derailment
> > > could bring the waiting room down on top of
> the
> > > mess.
> > You know I was thinking the very same thing. 
> But
> > it is a beautiful station none the less.
> > John in White Marsh, Maryland
>
> Sometimes beautiful things are dangerous. Can't
> slow up the freight though - it would block the
> grade crossings too long.
>
> After sleeping on it, I would say that the design
> ranks as one of the most dangerous things I have
> seen in railroading. The freight track needs to be
> on the outside with some sort of substantial
> barrier to protect the station structure.
>
> A disaster waiting to happen.

You guys are doom slayers.Accidents can happen
anywhere and at any time.
Check out other locations in the USA that pose
a similar problem.
Look on the BRIGHT--side of things.

Uncle Joe
Seffner,Fl.

retcsxcfm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You guys are doom slayers.Accidents can happen
> anywhere and at any time.
> Check out other locations in the USA that pose
> a similar problem.
> Look on the BRIGHT--side of things.
>
> Uncle Joe
> Seffner,Fl.

Yes, a train could derail at a grade crossing and take out a few waiting vehicles and their occupants. That is a reasonable risk. In my book, a waiting room full of people that could be brought down on top of a derailing train is not.

I estimate that the freight was doing 40 mph. It probably should be going no more than 20 mph. Also the foundation for the supports should be continuous, like a Jersey barrier on a highway. Looks like the outside track is closer to the supports for the waiting room than is the inside track, so restrictions should apply there, too.

I agree with Uncle Joe - this isn't any more dangerous than a freight line going under an interstate, through a downtown, through busy commuter stations, under buildings, etc. - these are fairly common occurrences.  If fact I see it as safer than many that I mentioned - it would be quite the wreck that would take out enough of those substantially reinforced supports to collapse the station above.  Going under busy interstates seems to me a much riskier venture in terms of potential loss of life. 

There is a freight bypass here that goes around the station (and at the almost identical station in Ft. Lauderdale), but it's basically used only when two trains occupy (or are imminently about to occupy) the station tracks.  FEC wanted maximum flexibility to minimize any freight delays.

Does Florida get unit trains of crude oil, or is that ethanol?  

Ethanol loads often go to Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale for export.

Posted from Android

Hello, Back when I Worked for the FEC in the early 80's we used to run a Tank train almost daily. I don't think it was called Extra train 105. It ran between Bowden yard in Jacksonville to Hialeah yard in Miami.  believe it ran either at 35mph or 40mph max train speed. Maybe someone can confirm this.
Thank Robert,
Now living in Lagrande Oregon

I think your missing the point, a train load of passengers is on thing,, a load of has-mat is quite another. 

Beautiful video!

Posted from iPhone