Amtrak On the FEC and Heading North!! Get your Photos!!

[Ocklawaha]

Thursday's train was a classic journey down memory lane for Ocklawaha. Being the LAST passenger off the LAST FEC passenger Train, and one of only two FIRST CLASS passengers that fateful day in 1968, when the trains died, seemingly forever, the little 3 car Amtrak Inspection was almost a DeJa Vu.  While the final FEC train consisted of a single GM E-Unit Locomotive, two long distance coaches and a tavern lounge observation car (extra fare), The first Amtrak train to roll here in YEARS, consisted of a single locomotive, a Viewliner Sleeper, a full length dome car, and Amtrak's Budd Built PV.

Here comes Amtrak, rolling down the Flagler System or Florida East Coast Railway, from Jacksonville Union Terminal, past the old Florida East Coast SOUTH JACKSONVILLE train station which was located at Landon and the FEC in San Marco.  This is the first of two inspection trains scheduled to run the length of the FEC route.

The old Depot was still in place at Landon, in this photo that station would have been right over the top of the rear of the train on the right side of the tracks.  I recall seeing it from the train, and the many times I passed, it was always closed but I'd love to know what became of the "Train Bulletin" sign that hung on the wood frame wall.  Passengers bound for Saint Nicholas, Hodges, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach or Mayport's coal terminals would have bought their tickets at Landon then walked to the old boarding platform which ran just behind the houses on the north side of the street. There are still a few traces of the old Beach Railway if one knows where to look.

This modern scene is at the FEC RY and Atlantic Boulevard, a location where I have suggested that JTA - A trak - COJ all need to consider building a multi-modal metro station. The new station, just feet from the site of the historical one, would bring JTA City Buses, BRT Buses, Community Buses, The Jacksonville Skyway, Jacksonville Commuter Rail, and Amtrak, all under the same roof.  Such a facility would give patrons a chance to mix, transfer or connect to any of several different transit modes, before entering or after leaving downtown, without having to back track to the much larger intermodal facility planned for the Prime Osbourne site.

Those interested in more AMTRAK-FEC RY rare photos, have your camera's ready tomorrow evening, as the Amtrak inspection train rolls north from Miami and St. Augustine into Jacksonville. 

Get your lobbying boots on tight, because Amtrak has 3 stations in the Dallas Metro area, and the trains connect with a broad range of modal options, including light rail, commuter rail, streetcar and SKYWAY. Likewise Amtrak makes 4 stops in the Orlando, Florida - Disney area. WHY ISN'T JACKSONVILLE DEMANDING restoration of our classic LONG LIVED: South Jacksonville, and Yukon Stations?  Will Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, WGV and Nocatee have the foresight to move forward?  PUSH! THINK! MOVE JACKSONVILLE!

OCKLAWAHA

[LPBrennan]

Here is a posting from the FECrailway's Yahoo Group (aa very active group, too!):

Following is the official Amtrak schedule for the "V.I.P. Tour
Miami to Jacksonville via FEC".

5:00 AM Depart Amtrak Hialeah Yard
6:00 AM CSX/FEC Interchange
7:00 AM 79th Street
8:00 AM NW 1st Ave.
8:30 AM Depart NW 1st Ave.
9:30 AM By 79th Street
10:45 AM Arrive West Palm Beach, 3rd Street Crossing
10:50 AM Depart West Palm Beach
11:35 AM Arrive Stuart, 2nd Street Crossing
11:50 AM Depart Stuart
12:15 PM Arrive Fort Pierce, Avenue A Crossing
12:20 PM Depart Fort Pierce
12:40 PM Arrive Vero Beach, 23rd Street Crossing
12:45 PM Depart Vero Beach
1:20 PM Arrive Melbourne, Hibiscus Venue Crossing
1:25 PM Depart Melbourne
1:45 PM Arrive Cocoa, Dixon Boulevard Crossing
1:50 PM Depart Cocoa
2:10 PM Arrive Titusville, South Street Crossing
2:15 PM Depart Titusville
3:05 PM Arrive Daytona Beach, Second Avenue Crossing
3:10 PM Leave Daytona Beach
4:05 PM Arrive St. Augustine, 5th Street Crossing
4:10 PM Depart St. Augustine
4:40 PM By Bowden Yard, note the train may stop here for FEC
guests to depart.
5:25 PM Arrive Jacksonville, Amtrak Station.

Upon arriving at Amtrak's Jacksonville station, the 10031 (Great
Dome) and 10001 (Beach Grove) will be added to train 98.
-----------

Though this train is not stopping there, a group at Bunnell (including town officials) is planning a welcome for the train as it goes by. Palm Coast has grown enormously, and Bunnell is the logical stop for that area, but- as usual- no mention of it is made in any plans by the state DOT or Amtrak.

LPB

[LPBrennan]

Here is what the Daytona News-Journal had to say on Bunnell:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/flagler/2010/04/30/bunnell-to-rally-saturday-for-amtrak-train-stop.html

[Charles Hunter]

What would another stop do to the travel time - Jax-Miami / Jax - Daytona?

[thelakelander]

Add another five minutes or so to the trip?    However, if another stop were to be added, I think it would be better to space it out, assuming trains would also stop at the JTC.  Btw, Polk County has nearly 300k less residents than Duval but is still able to support two Amtrak stations.

[NthDegree]

Larry Hannan rides the train today and blogs live ...

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/larry-hannan/2010-05-01/road-florida-east-coast-rail-more-visually-interesting

[Ocklawaha]

Here is what the Daytona News-Journal had to say on Bunnell:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/flagler/2010/04/30/bunnell-to-rally-saturday-for-amtrak-train-stop.html

Bottom line y'all is that Bunnell, South Jacksonville, AND New Smyrna Beach, could all be added as stops with the application of a tiny letter "f" in the schedule next to the name!  FLAG STOP = f ...  In this event, and there turns out to be no passengers, the train will blow right through town, extra speed = success = WIN.  In the event passengers like boarding at these locations, extra revenue = success = WIN.  It's a nice way for Amtrak to test the waters of behaving a bit more like a historical passenger train service rather then a basic accommodation.

OCKLAWAHA

[LPBrennan]

Yes- a flagstop would certainly be appropriate- and if it proves successful, after a while it loses the f. Frankly, I've long thought a flagstop at Orange Park would be a good thing- Clifford Lane is a long way from Kingsley and Fleming Island. Again, it requires Amtrak brass to start thinking of what they do as a passenger TRAIN.

As to schedule time- no reason a flagstop would add much to the dwell time. Look at any Amtrak schedule- there is so much slop built into them now that the disgrace is not that they run late so often, but that they should run late AT ALL. It says more about sloppy dispatching by the railroads and Amtrak's powerlessness to enforce its contracts. Amazing, that in this day of GPS, computers, cell phones and all the wonders of speed and communication, that we can't seem to do as well in moving trains as was done a century ago with telegraph and flimsies and green-eye-shaded operators and dispatchers with yards-wide trainsheets. Oh, certainly, they had delays and problems- it wasn't perfect in those days with the equipment they had. But why can't we do better with what WE have? It's attitude, that's what. They seemed to care more about what they were doing. There are Amtrak people with pride in what they do, but it doesn't seem to be a system-wide phenomenon.

[SightseerLounge]

You mean photos like this??? (still trying to get the photo to be clear...pardon me)

[HeartofFlorida]

Add another five minutes or so to the trip?    However, if another stop were to be added, I think it would be better to space it out, assuming trains would also stop at the JTC.  Btw, Polk County has nearly 300k less residents than Duval but is still able to support two Amtrak stations.

This is true.  I would imagine Duval would be able to support 2-3 stations with the county being situated the way that it is.  The Lakeland/Winter Haven stations are roughly 16 miles apart.

[thelakelander]

Going off that and assuming Amtrak one day returns to DT:

Miles from Jacksonville Transportation Center

2.00 - Atlantic Blvd.

12.50 - Avenues Walk/Southside Blvd.

15.76 - St. Augustine Road

16.33 - State Road 9B (I-795)

[Ocklawaha]

Photos taken by Derek Bollinger


Photo taken by Robert Mann, aka: Ocklawaha, 1968, same railroad - different world.


Photos taken by Derek Bollinger


Photos taken by Derek Bollinger

Larry Hannan live blogged the FEC-Amtrak inspection train most of the day Saturday, May 1, 2010. Meanwhile Ock was poised to snap some shots of the Northbound oddessy only to end up feeding his new Nikon to an angry steam shovel busy working on the first phase of 9-B!  Steam Shovel 1, Nikon 0, and Ock survived though somewhat dirtier and rumpled.

The experience has taught me a couple of important facts worth passing on to my MJ friends...  

1. When a crane swings around and you seem to be in the path of the massive bucket, make sure you have somewhere to go besides straight down!  It also helps if you can manage not to have a damn root looped over your shoes when you decide to make said move.

2. Train's are beautiful, even if they are Amtrak, camera's take much better photos then empty hands.

3. Meeting some of your many friends out at the trackside, pay's off in huge dividends when the E:Mail arrives with your bud's photos of the train.  Time to bust out the photo editing toys, and a few adult beverages.

So here you go folks, photos of the Northbound run taken under the overpass at the South end of Southside Boulevard behind the Avenues Walks Walmart store.  Extra special thank you's to my friends,

Also, here are a couple of Larry Hannan's Blog Posts from the TU today:

On the Road: Gov. Crist kicks off Amtrak train on FEC rail line
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Submitted by Larry Hannan on May 1, 2010 - 9:29am On the Road

MIAMI - Declaring that "it just makes sense" Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed efforts to bring Amtrak passenger rail service to the Florida East Coast rail line Saturday morning.

"This would benefit everyone from the college student that wants to go home for the weekend to the senior citizen that wants to visit friends in another city," said Crist, who spoke in front of an Amtrak train about a block away from American Airlines Arena where the Miami Heat play.

This train is now heading north towards Jacksonville, stopping  in West Palm Beach, Stuart, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Cocoa, Titusville, Daytona Beach and St. Augustine before arriving in Jacksonville.

Local officials are expected to meet the train at each stop.

While posing for pictures with Amtrak employees Crist said he took an Amtrak train from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia about six weeks ago.

"It was superb. I'd love to have something like that in Florida," said Crist, who expressed reget he couldn't take the train to Jacksonville

The governor considered going, but needs to get to Pensacola to get an update on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida has Amtrak service on the CSX tracks from Miami to Jacksonville. But that train runs through central Florida and takes 9-11 hours. Amtrak officials have said a train from Miami to Jacksonville on the FEC tracks, which roughly parallels Interstate 95 on the east coast, could complete a trip in six hours.

Michael Blaylock, executive director of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, is one of the officials taking the train to Jacksonville. Blaylock said  the Amtrak test run was a good sign.

JTA hopes to move the Amtrak station from its current location on Clifford Lane downtown to the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Amtrak officials toured the convention center on Thursday before coming down to Miami, said Blaylock.

"Amtrak came to visit us and I think that's a very good sign," said Blaylock, who estimates it will cost about $40 million in upgrades to the FEC tracks in Jacksonville before train service could happen.

The state expects it to cost about $268 million to bring Amtrak to FEC. FEC will also want the state legislature to exempt it from any lawsuits filed because of Amtrak accidents on FEC tracks.

Blaylock wants to turn the Prime Osborn into a regional transportation center, with the convention center moving somewhere else, at a cost of about $180 million. That will take years, but Blaylock said it was possible Amtrak could still move to the convention center while it is being used for its present purpose.

"Our plan is to do this in phases and we're flexible on what phase comes first," he said.us

This transportation center would house Amtrak, bus services, the Skyway, and possibly commuter rail. JTA is still seeking money to do this.

BUNNELL - Throughout the day people who've spotted the Amtrak train I'm riding on have pointed and waved.

Many seem surprised to see an Amtrak train, since Amtrak has never operated on the Florida East Coast tracks. The last passenger train ceased operating in 1968, three years before Amtrak originated.

The reaction in Bunnell a few minutes ago was different.About 100 people awaited the train at the intersection of Palm Street and North Railroad Street with signs urging the train, and Amtrak, to come to Bunnell. The people shouted, yelled, and I thought I saw one man raise his middle finger.

The train went through without stopping. Amtrak does not plan to have a train station in Bunnell, or anywhere else in Flagler County. People in the area will have to go north to St. Augustine, or south to Daytona Beach.

When a meeting was held last month in Cocoa Flagler officials were vocal in their displeasure. Nothing has changed since then. But I suspect if this goes forward Flagler will find a way to get a station.

ST. AUGUSTINE - U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and Florida Department of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos have boarded for the final leg of our train tour from St. Augustine to Jacksonville.

Both expressed optimism that Amtrak service would be coming to FEC tracks within the next few years.

"Remember we tried to do this in 2001 and got very close before Amtrak had to pull out because of money issues," said said Kopelousos. "It's been on our radar for a long time.

Brown said she was committed to expanding rail as much as possible, whether it be high speed rail, commuter rail or Amtrak service on FEC.

"This is an exciting time," she said. "So many people would use this train if we could get it going."

The St. Augustine stop, at 5th Street, was photographed by Times-Union photographer Jon Fletcher. A picture should be running with the story I'm writing for tomorrow.

Most of the government officials from the middle of the state departed in St. Augustine. So the train is something of a ghost town now. I'm looking forward to heading back to Jacksonville on the train tracks. I believe we go right past the Times-Union building, and it will be a different experience to see my office from that angle.

This will be my last blog post. As I said before, there will be a story in tomorrow's Times-Union.

Thanks to everyone who read this. It's been an interesting day.

Photos taken by Derek Bollinger


OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Here's Larry's full article

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-05-01/story/officials-do-amtrak-test-run-miami-jacksonville

[Dog Walker]

Just makes you want to cry in frustration to see the pictures.  Have to do some flying this month and dread it like having a root canal.  GIVE ME MY TRAIN!

[CS Foltz]

Dog Walker............I agree! There is so much potential there, its just a crying shame no one see's the potential!