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FCEN GP9RM #7032 switching LPG tankers on the storage tracks at Silver Star

FEC 206 glides through Titusville with an all Champion Lashup including 2 SD40-2s.

M457 pulls by North End Taft during a downpour

On a cloudy Tuesday I’d find myself in Cocoa scouting for whatever I could find. After a few trains I found FEC 335 slowing pulling out of the Cemex plant with a classic LNG set. - Taken 3/5/24

After a long chase of M442 up to Baldwin, FL in the morning, I decided to set up camp at the northern end of CSX's Moncrief Yard in Jacksonville, FL. Arriving there, I found 2 trains, NS 287 arriving into NS's Simpson yard in the distance and CSX L795 building his train for his return trip north. After seeing Amtrak train #98 was close enough, I drove to the other side of the tracks and within minutes up came Amtrak P098 slowly racing L795 towards its Jacksonville, FL station stop. Leading was a P42 which was a nice treat to end the day.

On the evening of May 2nd 2023, I went trackside to try and get FEC 206. Getting there only to realize that he was hours behind schedule, my only chance was to wait it out. Around 19:15 came FEC 206 around the curve at BYRD Plaza in Cocoa, FL in perfect golden hour lighting. Taken 5/2/23.

On the afternoon of January 22nd, 2024, I had received news that FEC 105-22 would have the 2 repainted ES44C4s on point. After getting done with work around the house, I made the trip out to cocoa to see them. After arriving, I was greeted to a green signal thinking getting 105 would be quick. Nope. About a million brightline trainsets later and 105 got signals through cocoa. Around 450, 2 hours after I got there, FEC 10522 rounded the curve at a slow rate of speed. These units in my opinion are very nice looking. FEC 816s horn also sounded very nice. Taken 1/22/24.

On an overcast saturday, I find myself setup for the 11:50AM Brightline Departure from the Orlando Intl Airport. Within minutes of arriving, I see the Orlando wrapped trainset round the bend slowly. Leading the train is BLF SCB40 #121, sporting a nice Hybrid K5LA.

On a warm August evening, I made a drive up to Wildwood, FL after hearing that M452 would have 6 Tri-Rail DMU Cars in the middle of the train. Upon arrival, I was greeted with 2 signals, one for a southbound, and one for a northbound, as seen in the photo. About ten minutes later and a SB headlight appears, it’s B216 with a BNSF ES44DC leading. B216 would slow down and stop at the yard office to meet M452, this allowed me to get him again. Taken 8/11/23.

On a beautiful evening in August, I had ventured out to Lakeland to test my luck. After a few misc locals, signals had lit up for red hot intermodal I044. In less than an hour, CSX I044 came blasting through passing a stopped local with CSX 4409 leading. While a gevo trio might be boring to some, I enjoyed the loud NF 2PC K5HL at speed passing through wabash ave.

Following my more recent post of FCEN 57, I had mentioned that they had purchased 2 Ex- UP GP15-1's, shortly after that post they had arrived on property. On a beautiful december morning, I made a run out to the Eagle Lake Division to test my luck on catching the new units. Pulling up near the transload facility, I find them pulling GP15-1 #655 and #713 out with a cut of tanks. I could still smell the paint fumes off of the units as they pull out too, these units look very sharp.

Amtrak 98 is slowly coming out of its Orlando, FL station stop on a warm October day beginning its journey to New York City. 98 would have Amtrak 203, the 50th anniversary Operation Lifesaver special interest unit leading the way till D.C. This unit is unique as it is the only yellow Amtrak unit to exist to my knowledge.

Amtrak P097, the daily Silver Meteor running form New York City to Miami, FL, passes through the town of auburndale on a warm November Saturday. Today’s 97 would have Amtrak #160 leading, one of 6 50th anniversary units Amtrak did, this one being the “Pepsi can.” Date taken: 11/18/23.

On a chilly November I ventured out to Bartow, FL to get a look at Florida Central Railroad GP7u #57. FCEN 57 had just been repainted into a brand new SCL inspired paint scheme. The scheme looks identical to the SCL scheme, just with Florida Central lettering. Florida Central is starting to paint some if its newer units into this new scheme, to get away from the Pinsly red after Regional Rail bought out Pinsly's Florida Central, Florida Midland, and Florida Northern Railroads back in 2020. Two refurbished GP15-1s will also arrive to FCEN in this new SCL scheme in the near future. These new GP15's will replace aging CF-7 #50, and SW1200 #94. FCEN 94 was recently sold off to LOSX, and now carries the reporting mark "LOSX 150."