CSX MOW work on ex-SAL tampa-brooksville

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I know a couple people here work for CSX, so i thought id ask here about what is going on on the Brooksville and Clearwater Subdivisions

There are thousands of ties, new ballast poured, some new rail, grade crossing rehabs on this fairly dormant (until recently) branch.

I know it seems like CSX is getting alot more traffic over the brooksville sub and is doing alot of work to it. Any idea WHY all of a sudden they are doing all this work?

Im glad to see it done, the last major work this line saw was when CSX pulled out all of the sidings and some signaling in the mid 80's. Guess years of neglect are catching up.

Are they going to raise the allowable speed on it? I know there are lots of slow orders and the entire line is 25-35mph as is. Seems like it takes a whole day to get a coal train up and back from tampa.

As for the clearwater sub, noticed about the same thing.

Odd it seemed that they laid new ballast BEFORE replacing the ties, is this normal??

-- troy nolen (tnolen12@tampabay.rr.com), February 04, 2002

Answers

HEY VIC: Just remember, if it weren't for all these "Hooterville" branch lines, there wouldn't be much traffic for your "Main Line" trains...You really need to see the tonnage that is generated off the Brooksville Sub: 20 - 40 carloads cement daily, 8 - 12 coal trains a month, plus any extras...it would amaze you, it still does to me on occasion, and I work the trains on these so-called Hooterville branches 5 days a week during my tour as 2nd trick YM. I'm just glad to see the MOW work wrapping up and schedules getting back to normal, until next time.

-- Walt Rogers (wjriii@verizon.net), March 22, 2002.

growing up in central fla in the 70,s and 80,s I never thought I'd see the day of ribbon rail and weed free right of ways , its great to see track work anywhere its needed. maybe one day we will have principal mains with concrete ties and rail clips.

-- Vince Meisberger (coastlinef7@aol.com), February 10, 2002.

I won't have to wait a decade I'm getting a T&S program on the parmele sub next year and the tarboro sub the following so my rr will almost be perfect......

-- V.L.LEWIS (TrkInsp5F33@aol.com), February 09, 2002.

If it's Hootersville I would like to know where I can find Pettycoat Jct along that line. Just lighten up I'm sure CSX will waste some money up in Carolina, just give them a decade or two.

-- Bill Middlemas (billm@amitechnologies.net), February 08, 2002.

I just wish CSX would quit wasting money on ex-sal hooterville and come spend it up here in carolina where we actually run some trains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- V.L.Lewis (trkinsp5f33@aol.com), February 07, 2002.


looks like they are replacing the jointed rail with welded rail in some of the curves, as there is rail laying outside of the gague on the ground in some of the curves, usually longer, tighter curves

thanks for the answers

Its nice to see rail action out here in my neck of the woods!

When i moved away from tampa about 10 years ago, rail activity on the brooksville sub was almost nothing, now it seems since i have moved back like there is alot more action

beats gainesville, i move there, they abandon some track, traffic drops, they abandon MORE track, sigh. What a depressing town that is, glad i dont live there anymore... on the positive side, i had baldwin 45 minutes away, jax at a little over an hour, waycross 2:30 if i book it

-- troy nolen (tnolen12@tampabay.rr.com), February 07, 2002.


Ted,what are "Beavers" maps??? Ihave been with this RR for 29 years, never heard of them like that.

-- Walt Rogers (wjriii@verizon.net), February 07, 2002.

OK, guys, all the work that is being done on the Brooksville and Clearwater Subs are scheduled work needee to keep the line to FRA standards. When there are numerous slow orders, crossings get old, xites get worn out (lifetime of a regular branchlinecrosstie is about 10-20 years depending on the weather), the RR engineering dept decides on the work involved and the availability of one or more "production gangs", i.e. mechanized gangs for the purpose of xtie replacement, rail replacement or both. In this case, we have the xite team on the Brooksville sub, replacing the older xties and because new ballast was dropped earlier, the tamper, rail aligner, and ballast regulator will have enough good ballast to replace that lost in the xtie replacement. The tamper will pull the track structure and vibrating "spoons" will dive below the xites pulled up and shove the ballast under the xtie. They will go along a short segment and align with lasers the proper tangent, crosslevel, elevation on curves, and gradient. When finished, if its CWR, it will most likely be upgraded in speed.

Other than scheduled maintenance, the Brooksville line will see an increase in traffic in the near future: more coal, more cement loading for domestic markets, and hopefully more commercial business like lumber, grocery goods, as the area becomes developed. Wow, I really get to ramble when you guys get me started. Hope this short novel helps.

-- Walt Rogers (wjriii@verizon.net), February 07, 2002.


They must be up to something...because CSX just updated their detailed "Beavers" maps of the Clearwater sub...just got a complete set, updated Oct 2001.....

Other than that I don't know what is going on....

Ted

-- Ted Strickland (tstrickland@pol.net), February 05, 2002.


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