Strange activity in Tallahassee, FL on 7/30/07

DaveWonders Jul 30, 2007

  1. DaveWonders

    DaveWonders TrainBoard Member

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    This happened around 3PM on Monday July 30th.

    My office shut down early since there were some power outages due to bad storms. On my drive home I sometimes take the long way home to follow the CSX mainline home. The intersection I turn on, called Railroad Ave. was blocked off. It's a 4 lane road that has a grade crossing a few hundred yards south of said intersection. I could see some police cars with lights flashing with some big trucks but could not see anything specifically going on. So I continue further on my way to turn on the next road that would take me to the other side of the crossing. When I get to the opposite side of the crossing on RR Ave. it is also blocked off and I could not see anymore than the same cops and big trucks near the tracks. At this point I turn around and head west along back roads that follow the mainline towards the yard in Tallahassee and my house. Closer to the yard there are 2 trains, 1 on the mainline and 1 on the lead to the yard. Both are sitting still. The train on the mainline is facing AWAY from the crossing and the train on the yard lead is facing east towards the crossing. Going up a mile or so I finally see the locos that are stopped on the mainline facing west. The consist was 6 3-axle engines! Living my entire life in Florida I've never seen more than 3 or 4! At this point I'm heading home to grab my camera when I hear 2 toots from the westward train. I decide to just watch it take off instead of racing home to grab my camera. When the engines took off I realized that only the first 3 were actually running.

    But anyway, long story aside, I don't know why the train on the mainline that was clear of the crossing blocked off was stopped. I've never seen a train on that stretch of track stopped. If a train was stopping it would come into the yard. Under bad weather does CSX stop all train movement regardless of position? That's mystery #1, mystery #2 is what was going on at the grade crossing at Railroad Ave.

    I figure there's at least one person on this board who works for CSX who could offer up an explanation.

    If you use Google Earth the following coordinates might help visuallize what was going on.

    The 6 engine consist facing west was here:
    Lat: 30°25'49.33"N
    Long: 84°18'55.30"W

    The engines facing east:
    Lat:30°25'47.79"N
    Long: 84°17'53.14"W

    The crossing at Railroad Ave.:
    Lat: 30°26'0.20"N
    Long: 84°17'23.23"W
     

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