I am on vacation in Amelia Island less then an hour from Folkston. I want to visit it there during the day. Are there any days where there is going to be track work where there will not be many trains during the day?
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Originally Posted by FECguy:
I am on vacation in Amelia Island less then an hour from Folkston. I want to visit it there during the day. Are there any days where there is going to be track work where there will not be many trains during the day?
Being from Illinois, I have no idea where Folkston is, nor whether there are any tracks under construction there or not.
I suggest you provide a LOT more information.
Pretty sure he means Folkston, Georgia, where most (all?) of CSX's Florida traffic passes through.
I just checked their MOW curfew map. The only work in South Georgia is on the Fitzgerald sub from now till September 2.
This is northwest of Folkston so you should be ok.
Curt
This is northwest of Folkston so you should be ok.
Curt
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by FECguy:
I am on vacation in Amelia Island less then an hour from Folkston. I want to visit it there during the day. Are there any days where there is going to be track work where there will not be many trains during the day?
Being from Illinois, I have no idea where Folkston is, nor whether there are any tracks under construction there or not.
I suggest you provide a LOT more information.
Folkston Georgia. Sorry I was not specific
Originally Posted by juniata guy:
I just checked their MOW curfew map. The only work in South Georgia is on the Fitzgerald sub from now till September 2.
This is northwest of Folkston so you should be ok.
Curt
This is northwest of Folkston so you should be ok.
Curt
Thank you. What time do you think would be the best time to go during the day?
Last time I was in Folkston I saw evidence of snakes, watch where you step this time of year!
I got out of my car to snap some pictures and when I turned around there was a pretty big line in the sand/dirt where a snake had crossed in the short amount of time it took to walk 100 feet and back. Never saw that snake but on the way back to my room (at King's Bay) a road work crew had one up on a shovel, must have been 5-6 feet long.
Was there about 3 months ago from about 9:30 AM - 3:30 on a Wednesday and it was fairly busy with a nice variety of trains. We saw an empty coal train, several intermodals and several manifest (mixed) freights and what looked to be a local freight. Altogether about 14 trains over 6 hours.
This time of year it can get very warm midday.
Enjoy your trip!
Originally Posted by FECguy:
I am on vacation in Amelia Island less then an hour from Folkston. I want to visit it there during the day. Are there any days where there is going to be track work where there will not be many trains during the day?
Folkston has a ton of trains but isn't particularly photogenic, IMHO.
It got old in a hurry for me.
Also this time of year it's a few degrees warmer than Hell from about 11AM on.
I agree with Nick - kiind of boooring! A number of locals come out around 7pm in their golf carts to see the northbound AutoTrain go through. The owners of the railcam think they have something special. They just eliminated most of the free stuff and now charge a subscription fee for viewing.
Phil
I don't believe you should have any problems catching trains in Folkston no matter what day you go. If you want a relaxing day of watching trains, folkston is the place. Plenty of spots to park and set up for the day. Nobody bothers with you. I've made the trip a few times this year (only an hour away). And I've enjoyed myself everytime.
Nice Jeff, thanks for the schedule, informal it may be but pretty good from what I am reading. Up quite often to visit family in North FL from the Central FL area. Nice place, a bit underwhelming if you are expecting a big deal.
I like little towns though!
Mark
Go there frequently. Take an ice chest, cold water, etc. Attempting to attach a simple picture of the typical schedule as posted at the observation shelter. May help with your visit.
We go to Folkston every Spring on the way back from Florida. I think it is great fun. There are usually a bunch of railfans swapping stories. The track detectors tells you when trains are coming. The observation deck next to the tracks has a roof so you don't have to worry about sudden rain showers. There is a nice restaurant a block away for those who enjoy southern cooking. And the CSX always puts forth weird and wonderful motive power displays ranging from the most modern high horsepower units to SD40-2's and even switch engines in road service.
Lew Schneider
Heard a lot of great stories about train watching at Folkston. On my bucket list
Originally Posted by aznjbill:
Heard a lot of great stories about train watching at Folkston. On my bucket list
So I went last Wednesday and had a great time. Was there from 11-3 and saw 7 trains. It seems like it gets a little bit busier train traffic wise in the afternoon compared to late morning. I saw a good variety of motive power. I saw a SD50 on one train and a GP38-2 on another.
Originally Posted by lewrail:
We go to Folkston every Spring on the way back from Florida. I think it is great fun. There are usually a bunch of railfans swapping stories. The track detectors tells you when trains are coming. The observation deck next to the tracks has a roof so you don't have to worry about sudden rain showers. There is a nice restaurant a block away for those who enjoy southern cooking. And the CSX always puts forth weird and wonderful motive power displays ranging from the most modern high horsepower units to SD40-2's and even switch engines in road service.
Lew Schneider
The viewing "station":
A typical view:
I left the area before the viewing structure was built, but the place was always a Mecca for any train fans in Florida West of Lake City, because there's only a single-track old SAL/L&N main that never saw a lot of traffic. So in comparison to the other railfanning spots in the region, Folkston is a Mecca.
But yeah, it's not very photogenic and the weather is... well, it's Florida. 'Nuff said.
Originally Posted by lewrail:
There are usually a bunch of railfans swapping stories.
You need to be really careful around a couple of them. I used to live in Tallahassee and knew one who is a regular there now. Take it from me, this one guy is pretty scary (and I don't mean in a good way) and I've heard he's not the only one who hangs out there like that. If someone there starts telling you stories about his CIA days, run fast and don't stop until you're in Georgia. It's all total BS and frankly, I think the guy is bat-S nuts, and not in any socially acceptable way.
I'm not trying to be funny here.
FECguy, Folkston is fairly busy early to mid morning. At that time, usually the track inspectors get out on the mainline and the flow of trains decreases until mid afternoon. The viewing platform has a scanner feed so you will have plenty of warning about approaching trains (2 defect detectors north of Folkston, 1 south of Folkston). The train crews call out signals and communicate with the dispatcher as well. Earl G.
Yeah they were doing some track work the day I went but I still saw alot of trains. It is nice they have the scanner their too. I make it a goal to go about once year to Folkston.
Originally Posted by lightningstripe:
FECguy, Folkston is fairly busy early to mid morning. At that time, usually the track inspectors get out on the mainline and the flow of trains decreases until mid afternoon. The viewing platform has a scanner feed so you will have plenty of warning about approaching trains (2 defect detectors north of Folkston, 1 south of Folkston). The train crews call out signals and communicate with the dispatcher as well. Earl G.
I love going to Folkston!
As per train traffic... my personal experience tells me that (as with most railroads), depending on dispatching and traffic levels, the days you'll see more trains on are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Most railroads are dead on Sunday and Folkston is no exception.
One other thing I would say to do if you ever get the chance to is to rent one of the cabooses that are in Folkston and spend the night in them.
The last time I went I stayed in the Family Lines caboose (which is located just south of the platform). It has 4 beds, two of which of bunks, Direct TV, Heat and Air, a desk at the bay window which faces north towards the tracks, and a shower. There's also a deck behind the caboose which faces the tracks and has a grill.
There's also a Chessie System caboose which has a full bathroom in it with a tub.
You can find out how to rent them by looking up the Track Master's Lodge on google.
Originally Posted by Stirling R. Callahan:
One other thing I would say to do if you ever get the chance to is to rent one of the cabooses that are in Folkston and spend the night in them.
The last time I went I stayed in the Family Lines caboose (which is located just south of the platform). It has 4 beds, two of which of bunks, Direct TV, Heat and Air, a desk at the bay window which faces north towards the tracks, and a shower. There's also a deck behind the caboose which faces the tracks and has a grill.
There's also a Chessie System caboose which has a full bathroom in it with a tub.
You can find out how to rent them by looking up the Track Master's Lodge on google.
This one is just across the tracks from the viewing platform:
Appropriately named the "Folkston Funnel".
Bill
