CSX replaces Trout River Bridge

[jbroadglide]

Got a tip this weekend that CSX was rebuilding the inner workings on the Trout River Bridge next to Jackies. So I headed out there to get some video. They were replacing the supports and fixing the turning mechanism but I later learned there was also some signalization changes and automation changes to allow the bridge to be turned from the central dispatch center rather than by a bridge tender. The reason? Again this was what I was told. To prepare for commuter rail to the Northside, someday, but closer at hand, to prepare for the eventual movement of additional container trains from Blount Island. There has been talk about rebuilding the old Gross cutoff that's north of Yulee over to Callahan to connect with the northbound "A" line so pig trains would not have to go through Jax, but I think that may be a long way off. Anyone have any additional thoughts or information?

[thelakelander]

Will the new bridge be double tracked?

Rebuilding the old Gross cutoff was contingent on the sale of the A line, in Orlando, for commuter rail.  When that deal went up in smoke a few months ago, CSX delayed the rebuilding on that line.  My guess, is that its time to upgrade the aging bridge.  Since the track isn't going anywhere, the upgrades have to be made anyway, regardless of the Gross cutoff, port or commuter rail situations.

[jbroadglide]

Thats still a single track line. No plans that I was made aware of to double track it.

[Lunican]

Got a few shots this weekend:

[jbroadglide]

Heres a link to a YouTube video I did saturday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP_ZdC9qseY

[macbeth25]

You really have some good photos here.  CSX has also been working with Nassau County to help prevent the kind of flooding we had in August 2008.  They've cleaned out a number of -- now I can't think of the right word -- places where tracks cross the creek.  BTW, do you know where I might find some photos of Thomas Creek showing that it was navigable?  If we can prove it was -- and, I understand people used to fish from boats on the creek years ago -- we might be able to get some money to dredge it or get the brush and trees out so it can be navigable again.  That would also help reduce the flooding.  We had it pretty bad last year.  Please send me a note or contact the West Nassau Historical Society http://www.wnhsfl.org/.  

[mtraininjax]

Why do you need double-track when CTC can handle the trains and the line is really not very busy south of the AB plant?

[thelakelander]

^It could make sense to double track if it were for commuter rail.  However, there is no need to do so for existing freight service but that was the point of the double track question.

The bridge improvements aren't being done because of an expected increase in use.  They are being done because its necessary.

[macbeth25]

Could any of this work relate to the upcoming increase in ship-borne traffic expected in Jacksonville due to the upgrade of the Panama Canal?

[civil42806]

Could any of this work relate to the upcoming increase in ship-borne traffic expected in Jacksonville due to the upgrade of the Panama Canal?

No

[Ocklawaha]

Could any of this work relate to the upcoming increase in ship-borne traffic expected in Jacksonville due to the upgrade of the Panama Canal?

Panamax is only about 100% of the reason FOR rebuilding the bridge. Container ships to our Pacific Coast Ports typically have 8,000 containers on board and rail will walk away with a solid 50% of that traffic, Using double stack well cars, that could amount to 2,000 carloads per day, per ship. At the current time we average about 10 ships a day entering the port, so even if only a couple are Panamax, it's easy to see the bump in traffic.

Railroads are not going to get caught by another surprise traffic boom. The last one made some real disasters, with melt downs on Union Pacific, and entire states such as Texas. The industry press is full of articles on averting another system failure.

The Bridge and Building crews might have thought it was for commuter rail due to the press, TU and MJ articles, but I wouldn't bet that the idea ever came up at the marble palace downtown.


OCKLAWAHA

[civil42806]

Could any of this work relate to the upcoming increase in ship-borne traffic expected in Jacksonville due to the upgrade of the Panama Canal?

Panamax is only about 100% of the reason FOR rebuilding the bridge. Container ships to our Pacific Coast Ports typically have 8,000 containers on board and rail will walk away with a solid 50% of that traffic, Using double stack well cars, that could amount to 2,000 carloads per day, per ship. At the current time we average about 10 ships a day entering the port, so even if only a couple are Panamax, it's easy to see the bump in traffic.

Railroads are not going to get caught by another surprise traffic boom. The last one made some real disasters, with melt downs on Union Pacific, and entire states such as Texas. The industry press is full of articles on averting another system failure.

The Bridge and Building crews might have thought it was for commuter rail due to the press, TU and MJ articles, but I wouldn't bet that the idea ever came up at the marble palace downtown.


OCKLAWAHA

Prove it!

[macbeth25]

I "Googled" Jacksonville and PANAMAX and came across an article regarding Jacksonville and PANAMAX on jacksonville.com which has some relative information.  I didn't see metrojacksonville.com on the list -- at least not that high.  Here's the address: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042808/bus_272229539.shtml