NS Valdosta District South End & The FEC

[NSSpike]

Took a few days and went south to get track side with my son who lives in Jacksonville Florida. We hit all three railroads, the CSXT at Folkston, Callahan, North Baldwin, and the Crawford diamond with the NS. The NS at the Crawford diamond, the JAX drawbridge to the FEC, and the FEC south to St.Augustine Florida. Friday was spent at Folkston and there were a fair number of trains but the weather wasn't all that great. The weather improved on Saturday and Sunday and we spent most of our time on the NS and FEC. Not that there are a large number of trains on the south end of the NS system. But without question one of the better locations is CP Crawford as you get both Class 1 railroads with the CSXT having double track at the Crawford diamond. The diamond is Automatic Inter-locking with NS MOW responsible for upkeep, which is pretty much a daily occurrence.

NS295 (Chicago, IL - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) MP244 with NS 9007 leading at the Woods Lane road crossing just west of the Crawford diamond


While at Crawford did manage to catch over the diamond a nice looking red B&O caboose on the end of a north bound CSXT work train. Great to see a caboose in mainline service.


NS209 (Atlanta, GA - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) with two Canadian Pacific units rolls through CP Crawford diamond. Photo taken from the new US 301 south overpass that is not open to road traffic at this time.


Headed south to catch this train over the drawbridge at the  ST.John's River in downtown Jacksonville.
NS209 (Atlanta, GA - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) now on FEC tracks rolls across the draw bridge over the ST.John's River south toward the FEC's Bowden Yard


NS229 (Columbus, OH - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) holds at the north end of Simpson Yard with the NS 9062 leading


NS209 (Atlanta, GA - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) with UP unit 3938 in the lead rolls through CP Crawford  Photo taken from the new US 301 south overpass


NS251 (Sandusky, OH - Jacksonville, FL) with a single NS unit 9678 in the lead rolls through CP Crawford  Photo taken from the new US 301 south overpass


NS285 (Kansas City, MO - Jacksonville, FL (FEC) NS 9410 in the lead rolls across the draw bridge over the ST.John's River south toward the FEC's Bowden Yard


FEC101 at the south end of Bowden Yard with two new GE units prepares to leave the yard. At the throttle you ask?  Mr.Dave Shelly AKA "The East Coast Hogger"


FEC101 at Sunbeam   It was sure good to see that the FEC did keep some of their EMD power!!!!!


A great trip and met some great rail fans during the visit to the south end of the NS Georgia Division.

[florida581]

Excellent series!  Hope you had a good time here in the Sunshine State!

[thpbears]

Very nice catches.