CSX Downtown Spur - Prototype

[brickbuilder711]

Hey folks!

Glad to be back on the forums after a several year absence. I don't know why I departed from the forums, so much interesting content all around, guess things got busy on my end.

I wanted to "check in" with updates regarding the CSX switching operations in South Florida, since I understand the operation has a fair following from across the pond  .

Downtown Spur: Mostly the same as when I last signed on, except Trujillo and Sons consolidated with the FEC location and the building became a museum. East of Family and Son there are no serviceable spots anymore. All spur switches spiked, some ripped.

East Rail: SALCO, Sentry, Suburban Propane, and Pan American Papers are the remaining customers left.

Otherwise: some traffic fell off but things feel very similar to the way they were a decade ago. Lots of rail served buildings that have been vacant are on the leasing market. Hopefully once things get going again freight forwarders and rail-friendly players jump in and bring some business back. 

 

I figure I'd tease a little video and layout inspiration from their Family and Son switch which was daylight last week. This doesn't happen very often anymore, they squarely use the third shift local to work the job between 3am and 6 am, two days a week (today is one of those days).

Enjoy! 

[rodshaw]

Reminds me of a couple of Lance Mindheim's shelf layouts which have figured in Model Railroader, featuring some of the industries you mention. I'm sure he modelled some of the exact locations in the video.

[Alcanman]

Welcome back.

 

Great to see the Downtown Spur switcher in action again and good to know that East Rail is still going strong.

 

Lance Mindheim's East Rail layout sparked my interest in US modeling and the South Florida railroad scene. Hard to believe that was 10 years ago.   Your videos provided further inspiration for layouts.

 

I built 3 small switching layouts. Palmetto Spur, (based on  Lance's plan in his book) Deerfield Beach FL and South Florida Reload. I had great fun building and operating those layouts.

 

Mal

[brickbuilder711]

7 hours ago, rodshaw said:

Reminds me of a couple of Lance Mindheim's shelf layouts which have figured in Model Railroader, featuring some of the industries you mention. I'm sure he modelled some of the exact locations in the video.

 

Correct! I had the honour of running the layout at his place, and he always had me switch that exact customer shown. 

 

5 hours ago, Alcanman said:

Welcome back.

 

Great to see the Downtown Spur switcher in action again and good to know that East Rail is still going strong.

 

Lance Mindheim's East Rail layout sparked my interest in US modeling and the South Florida railroad scene. Hard to believe that was 10 years ago.   Your videos provided further inspiration for layouts.

 

I built 3 small switching layouts. Palmetto Spur, (based on  Lance's plan in his book) Deerfield Beach FL and South Florida Reload. I had great fun building and operating those layouts.

 

Mal

 Hey Mal! Your layouts have been super awesome. I enjoy the videos you post to this day! You put together a nice, straight to the point set up with the right level of detail and patient switching ops. 

[F-UnitMad]

On 20/08/2020 at 14:13, rodshaw said:

Reminds me of a couple of Lance Mindheim's shelf layouts which have figured in Model Railroader, featuring some of the industries you mention. I'm sure he modelled some of the exact locations in the video.

They figure a lot in his own books, and his blog too.

Lance has possibly been more influential this side of The Pond than Stateside; his writings described in detail modern switching operations that the majority of US modellers it seems aren't interested in, but we Brits couldn't just pop to the trackside to see for ourselves,