This is the tourist capitol of Florida if not the world. But there are those of us that might find other things interesting, other than the attractions. CSX, Amtrak, and Florida Central all are in the area and worth checking out.
DOWNTOWN
This is one of the few major cities that has a main line the splits downtown at grade level. One of the best areas to watch the action is in Church Street Station. Church Street once was the home of the old Orlando railroad station, before it moved to south of downtown. The building is now restored and an entertainment complex has been constructed here. However at this time most of it is closed but you can still watch trains here. A Baldwin steam locomotive and several cars are on display here along the tracks. If you pick the right afternoon when the Sunset Limited is due to leave Orlando, you can get 3 Amtrak trains from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M.
Amtrak, CSX, and FCEN trains can be seen here off and on through the day. The area is best reached by taking South Street off of I-4. There is a parking garage there, that allows you to walk to Church Street Station.
FREQ
160.590
AMTRAK STATION
This station is located off of Sligh Blvd off of Gore. Signs from I-4 will take you to the station. This station is a spanish style building, with long arches, and ticket office. It is the old station that served the ACL railroad. Kaley Yard, once the home of local switching is now empty, all operations have been consolidated in Taft. It may find new life it the proposed light rail system is built.
FREQ
160.590
TAFT YARD
CSX has a small yard right near the Bee Line expressway, near SR 527. Orange Ave. There is also an intermodal facility west of the Orlando International Airport further south, along SR 527. Occasional CSX freights will stop here to set out or pick up cars. Several intermodal trains also terminate here.
WINTER PARK
In downtown part of this city, there is an Amtrak Station, and a CSX line that split a park. This is on Park Ave, east of US 17-92. There are some neat photo angles here among the trees of this beautiful area.
This is an old railroad town that still plays an important role in todays railroad scene. CSX and Amtrak are the biggest players in this town, about 30 miles north of Orlando. The old ACL line has several Amtrak trains and freights a day Sanford is the terminal for Autotrain, and also is a hub for Superliner cars.
There are several vantage points in the area that allow for good photographs of trains in the area.
ST. JOHNS RIVER
The nearby highway overpass of US17/92 offers a great view of the CSX drawbridge over the river. It is recomended that you park at the bottom of the bridge, and walk up. There is plenty of the room to walk up safely. Another location is the old highway brdige, now a park just south of the new bridge.
If the bridge is in the down position, that is a good sign that a train is coming.
RAND YARD
This yard is greatly reduced from what it was even just 20 years ago. There is an old ice house nearby and a few other interesting items. The access the northern part, use 17/92, and take the first right after I-4. That will put you to the grade crossing. (The photo above was taken there).
SOUTH RAND YARD, CSX AND AUTO TRAIN
Find your way to SR 46. Follow it east, Side roads on your left will take you to points along the old Rand Yard. If you keep going east you will come to a large overpass. This takes the highway over the CSX main right at the foot of the Amtrak Autotrain terminal. The yard is to the north, the Autotrain is to the south. Good photos can be had here. Ther are side roads to park on, and walk up the bridge.
If you follow SR 46 further east, take a right on Persimmon Ave. This will take you to the Auto Train terminal. There are places to park, and watch Amtrak switch, and put the Autotrain together, or take it apart. Locomotive shops and facilities can be easiliy seen from the public areas.
If you follow Persimon Ave about another block, and take your next right this will take you to the regular Amtrak Station. This station has seen better days. It is in an old ACL building, and consists of a room, and bathrooms. Sometimes CSX pwer can be seen here. There is a nice shot of southbounds rounding the curve into the station.
LAKE MARY ROAD
If you go back to SR 46, or from Persimmon Ave find your way to Airport Road. From Persimmon Ave. go south and take your first right. Follow across tracks until you reach Airport Road. Airport Rd. also intersects with SR 46, sut west if the overpass over CSX. Follow Airport Rd to Lake Mary Road. Take a right. CSX follows this road closely for about a mile, but offers several senic curves, good for photography.
FREQS
160.845 Auto Train Ops.
161.550 Auto Train Switching.
160.590 CSX
This area is served by Florida Central Railroad, and the Mt. Dora Senic railroad, a growing tourist road.
FCEN headquarters is in Plymouth on US 441. A look into th engine shops can be had from public property near by.
The Florida Central operates Monday through Friday with a local freight called "The Northbound". Operations usually start around 6:00 A.M. either at Plynouth or at SR 50 and US 441, near Orlando.
The morning action usually involves getting what CSX has left for them from the day before. What ever CSX leaves for pick up will establish where they will run the next day.
Once they pick up the cars in the AM, they head back north, and usually are out of Plymouth, northbound around 10:00 A.M.
The line follows US 441 north, and the train is easy to chase. At Zellwood the main turns west along Lake Jem Road CR 448. This road follows the rail line off and on up to SR 19. FCEN then heads north to Tavares Fl. There is a small bridge over the Lake Dora Canal, that can be taken from a Mobile Home Park. This is private property, but if you work it out, a shot can be had with a mininum wait. Just beyond the Lake County Courthouse, the rails get lost in the grass of a lake side park. Just beyond here, the lines split into a wye. One line heads towards Mt. Dora, and Sorrento. The other, north towards Umitlila. Both lines offer some nice shots of the train rolling through yards, along the lakes, and through the sub tropical forests.
If the train heads north, follow SR 19. If it heads east towards Mt. Dora, follow SR 46. Both routes are close to the rails, many locations are accessable via side roads.
These trains do not exceed 25 mph, the trick is to get ahead, pick your photo locations, and wait. Some of the prettiest shots are in Eustis, and Tavares, and Mt. Dora.
FREQ
160.545
MOUNT DORA SENIC RAILWAY
As of February 2002 the Mount Dora Senic Railway made it's final run ending the service that has existed since 1999. Now only FCEN operates here as needed.
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