Having been without power for most of the previous two weeks here in
Fort Lauderdale, I became "fed up" with the situation and finally decided
to get out at least for a couple of days.
I traveled north to St. Augustine and spent two nights there.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8th, I took a side trip up to Folkston, Georgia which is
located on US-1 and US-301 among other roads about four miles north of
the Florida border and maybe around 30 or so miles north of Jacksonville.
This small town has decided rather than complain about the railroad and
the number of trains that they run through town to make the very best of
the present situation.
Folkston has two viewing areas, one on each side of the double track
former Atlantic Coast Line. On the east side of the tracks they have
built a "reviewing stand type structure" with a roof, lights, decent chairs,
picnic tables, radio scanner and maps and diagrams of the local layout.
On the west side of the tracks they have restored an old ACL station into a
Chamber of Commerce and visitor center and it was open on the above
date. On this side are nice lawns, tables, benches, afternoon shade and
diagrams and another scanner.
Instead of giving you a problem, the police either wave at you or ignore
you, makes no difference.
There are a couple of small restaurants on this main street in the center
of town as well as a drug store and a hardware store where I was able to
purchase camera batteries. Out on the main federal highway going north
and south are more fast food joints and maybe something a little better
too but I had some good ribs right in town and could see the crossing from
my table too.
Oh yes, the trains, there are probably around 60 of them through town in
a 24 hour period and they do not go too fast for the most part as there is
a junction just north of the viewing location where the line heading west
toward Waycross branches off. Power varies but during the whole day, I
did not see much in four axle engines on CSX.
Amtrak 98 also went north and it was right on time because David Gunn
was taking his farewell trip in his private car north, he was fired the next
day. There were three or four freight trains sitting and waiting for 98 to
get by so after 98 cleared, the freight trains were turned loose.
This is probably the very best spot in the entire southeast for train
watching and I recommend it very much. I will return again sometime
down the road and will probably stay overnight there this time. If anyone
reading this is driving to Florida this coming winter, this could be a nice
break from a long, dull trip through the Carolina's and Georgia. I saw and
photographed over twenty trains just between 1:00 PM and about 6:00 PM.
Well worth the drive.
Noel Weaver
Fort Lauderdale, I became "fed up" with the situation and finally decided
to get out at least for a couple of days.
I traveled north to St. Augustine and spent two nights there.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8th, I took a side trip up to Folkston, Georgia which is
located on US-1 and US-301 among other roads about four miles north of
the Florida border and maybe around 30 or so miles north of Jacksonville.
This small town has decided rather than complain about the railroad and
the number of trains that they run through town to make the very best of
the present situation.
Folkston has two viewing areas, one on each side of the double track
former Atlantic Coast Line. On the east side of the tracks they have
built a "reviewing stand type structure" with a roof, lights, decent chairs,
picnic tables, radio scanner and maps and diagrams of the local layout.
On the west side of the tracks they have restored an old ACL station into a
Chamber of Commerce and visitor center and it was open on the above
date. On this side are nice lawns, tables, benches, afternoon shade and
diagrams and another scanner.
Instead of giving you a problem, the police either wave at you or ignore
you, makes no difference.
There are a couple of small restaurants on this main street in the center
of town as well as a drug store and a hardware store where I was able to
purchase camera batteries. Out on the main federal highway going north
and south are more fast food joints and maybe something a little better
too but I had some good ribs right in town and could see the crossing from
my table too.
Oh yes, the trains, there are probably around 60 of them through town in
a 24 hour period and they do not go too fast for the most part as there is
a junction just north of the viewing location where the line heading west
toward Waycross branches off. Power varies but during the whole day, I
did not see much in four axle engines on CSX.
Amtrak 98 also went north and it was right on time because David Gunn
was taking his farewell trip in his private car north, he was fired the next
day. There were three or four freight trains sitting and waiting for 98 to
get by so after 98 cleared, the freight trains were turned loose.
This is probably the very best spot in the entire southeast for train
watching and I recommend it very much. I will return again sometime
down the road and will probably stay overnight there this time. If anyone
reading this is driving to Florida this coming winter, this could be a nice
break from a long, dull trip through the Carolina's and Georgia. I saw and
photographed over twenty trains just between 1:00 PM and about 6:00 PM.
Well worth the drive.
Noel Weaver
