Skip to main content

I know pre-CSX the Seaboard Coast Line had a route connecting Tampa to Newberry were it split were one line went towards Baldwin and the other went towards High Springs and then North and it connected to Valdosta.  How busy were the SCL tracks through Dunnellon and Newberry back in 1970's. What was the reasoning for cutting it back to Crystal River and getting rid of the line North Of High Springs?  I know back in the 1970's and 1980's railroads were struggling but I still wish SCL and later CSX kept the right of way especially as an Alternative to Jacksonville since it is such a huge bottleneck.  I am shocked the Norfolk Southern did not try buying up the right of way as a way into the Tampa Florida market. I also think having the S line as the only through freight route in Florida is risky even after the upgrades.  Also is there any videos or pictures of it when it was still was freight through route and not just used for coal trains to crystal river and a local train.  I am thinking about modeling it when I do a new train layout in a few years after college.

I found some pictures of it on rrpicturesarchives. 

Last edited by FECguy
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Lots of questions there that don't really have an answer other than business as usual. 

A lot of the tracks on that map are now abandoned or run by short lines. 

 

Here is another question, why did CSX abandon the JAX to Savannah route?

I think the answer there is Waycross.

Waycross is a MAJOR hub for CSX. So why maintain all those other north-south routes when nearly everything passes through Waycross?

 

I disagree with your assertion that JAX is a bottleneck. There is plenty of capacity to handle more trains through JAX. Heck, on Saturday I drove along US-301 from Starke to Ocala and saw zero trains along that route.

Originally Posted by Flash:

Lots of questions there that don't really have an answer other than business as usual. 

A lot of the tracks on that map are now abandoned or run by short lines. 

 

Here is another question, why did CSX abandon the JAX to Savannah route?

I think the answer there is Waycross.

Waycross is a MAJOR hub for CSX. So why maintain all those other north-south routes when nearly everything passes through Waycross?

 

I disagree with your assertion that JAX is a bottleneck. There is plenty of capacity to handle more trains through JAX. Heck, on Saturday I drove along US-301 from Starke to Ocala and saw zero trains along that route.

The SAL route between JAX and Savannah did have alot of bridges and was only single track.  I see why CSX abandoned it.  The route I am talking about could have been useful as a alternative route from Waycross to Tampa that avoids Jacksonville.  I know Beaver Street can get congested.  I know the Waycross to Tampa/South Florida take the Callahan cutoff that CSX has now double tracked nearly all of it to Baldwin.  The S Line improvements have raised the lines capacity and I guess that makes having an alternative route less important.  I wonder how many through trains at the height of the ACL and later the SCL west coast main saw. I wish there was more pictures and videos of the route during its glory days.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×