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FL RRs P03

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MISC FLORIDA RAILROAD PHOTOS

Most of my photos are from specific spots where I enjoy trainwatching. This section is for other miscellaneous places.

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The station in Kissimmee is quite attractive and a very active stop for Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star. I took this shot just before boarding a northbound Silver Meteor for a ride to Sanford. About 90 minutes later I took the southbound Meteor back. At $10 the round trip, what a better way for a railfan to spend an afternoon!

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Winston Yard is located on the west side of Lakeland about 10 miles east of Plant City. It's a huge yard and if you plan on stopping by, check in at the office or you may be asked to leave. Here we see two MP 1500s and a caboose taking off for another area of the yard for more yard switching.

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This photo of Winston Yard doesn't really do justice to illustrate the size of it.

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This is BROOKSVILE, in FL, not to be confused with BROOKVILLE in Pittsburg & Shawmut territory. BV in FL is a tie-up spot for CSX power which can be seen in the distance from this highway bridge over the tracks.

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Here is Brooksville, the town, from the same bridge looking towards the downtown area.

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A quarter-mile south of the Auto Train terminal at Sanford is the conventional Amtrak passenger station. This is also a crew change location as noted on July 16, 1998 with this northbound empty coal train. This train came from the Orlando Utilities Commission's Stanton Energy plant 15 miles east of Orlando. This train had just passed the loaded southbound counter part a few minutes earlier.

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Unit coal trains in the Orlando area go to and come from the Curtis Stanton Energy plant east of town and consist of OUCX hoppers like the above.

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Above is another type of OUC coal hopper seen as the long of train empties heads north out of Sanford.

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Next to Sanford's unmanned Amtrak station is the tie-up point for the power of Sanford switcher A-766 which runs from Sanford north then back between 7 AM and 4PM.

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Things aren't always what they seem. The photo above and below is the Sunset Limited passing thru Winter Park.

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However, having just ended its journey at Orlando, here the Sunset Limited is passing thru Winter Park returning to Sanford to "tie up." After all, how many passenger trains have the baggage car on the rear?

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Another oddity with the Sunset Limited, here the empty train backs out of the Auto Train yard at Sanford, again baggage car on the end. After arriving at Orlando in about 45 minutes, the power will reverse locations and the train will be "correct" and ready for loading.

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And away we go, the Sunset is southbound to Orlando and quite "empty." Note the P052 "Auto Train" in the background, it will be leaving shortly heading north and will be long gone by the time the Sunset comes back thru loaded.

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