Last Mile Switching On The Florida Central
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- I spent a day in the Orlando, Florida area following a short line as it dropped cars to customers. 60 degrees, crystal blue sky and a friendly train crew. Doesn't get much better than that.
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I love this kind of "behind the scenes" look at local switching. The guys and gals that do this stuff sure have a lot to keep track of!
Pun intended!
The reaction at 13:00 is priceless when the hopper is just short of the tanker 😂
Seeing switch moves up close and personal like this is a serious treat. These days, you have to be very lucky or informed to find a railroad that won't try to run you off for standing a safe distance back on a public road, let alone help you out with finding the trains! This is among my absolute favorites from you, really made my morning better. Thanks for the great work!
It sure is nice to have a local guide to help with train filming. Great job by the guide Christian (I hope I spelled it correctly) and of course Danny.
Great video as always Danny, im glad I could be of help to you on your trip up here, and I had a great time!
Thanks Christian. Couldn't have done it without you!
Ah, I'm subbed to your channel already Christian. Now I know who to ask about things. Does FCEN have a certain schedule of when they have movements to Winter Haven? Thanks! Cheers, Dan
I think you will get many more subs as a result of this one - myself included!
Both of you guys are fantastic
Hey there Christian, do they still call the track there at All American the Lehigh siding or Lehigh track? I think I remember it being called that because of the concrete plant that it was built for.
At 14:09 when they are backing into the empty tank car, look at the wheels of the tank car on the right side. They do not move at all. Those are some serious brakes!
Absolutely the most interesting educational switching I’ve come across. Thank you for putting this together. I hadn’t a clue. You’ve a fine voice for narration, too. 😊😊😊😊
Really enjoy these switching videos; so interesting to see how all this is done - and why. Your narrative is excellent. Informative . I learned a lot from this; too bad I'm too old to apply for a job. Looks like serious work but fun. Thanks DANNY.
Many thanks, Steve.
Love the video! Shortline action with their older motive power is always interesting. The explanation of the switching and associated footage is a nice change from mainline trains. Well done Danny!
Your videos and narration are nothing short of brilliant. I’d give you an Emmy award.
Wow! Many thanks, Chris!!
Your knowledge of who what where and when along with your tone and likable personality make your videos the absolute best! I have watched every single one of your videos and look forward to many more! Prayers for Florida
And that 1802 is GORGEOUS!
This was one of the greatest switching videos I have ever watched on the internet! You're the best Danny! Keep it up, please bring more last mile switching videos! Greetings from Brazil.
Hey Dan!! Nice vid, my favorite part is the cam right there in between cars hooking everything up. I had the opportunity to hook cars up at the ripe old age of 12. Out back of my apt building was a spur that ran from Camden,NJ to Ocean City, Somers Point to be exact, a power plant was there and still is today, not much coal is used, anyhow, this spur was a busy one, many stops, three of those were in town here. I used to hang around until one day I asked and they said sure why not, showed me what to do and that was it, from that point on when I showed up, got to help them. This line also had a passenger line, also got friendly with them and used to help them also, when they had to pull into the siding, I would throw the switch for them, and then 10 min later a freight whistled by with 200 or so empty coal cars from the above mentioned power plant. This was all in the mid sixty's, ain't no way any 12 yr old kid would be able to do that now, none the less, it was fun and got to live a dream!!!
Awesome story. Thanks Mikey!
You sound a lot like me! In the late 60s when i was growing up in Columbus, Ohio, there was a spur line run by what was then Penn central. This line served a lumber yard, and every day me and a couple of other boys ( I was 13) would wait for the local to come through. We got to know this crew on a first name basis. They would let us ride in the cab, throw switches, and cut the train even.
One time they even picked us up on the outbound leg and took us for almost 10 mile ride down the line. We had to stay out of site in the caboose. They dropped us off right where they picked us up on the return leg. We never told our parents about our little trip, lol.
It remains one of my favorite childhood memories. You would never see that today, when it is considered a crime to even stand on a RR right of way, even a spur line. The 60's was a great time to be a boy.
My dad told me stories about 1950s NY City when his dad would bring him into the interlocking tower and let him throw the levers on part of the subway system. My grandpa was a union guy with a temper and my dad said one day grandpa got ticked off about something and threw a bunch of levers to gum up the whole works just to get back at his management. Lots of yelling and foul language was involved lol.
@@RCAvhstape Wow, gotta like that story, railroad management can be tough, can't blame your grandpa for that, I was a letter carrier for 30 years and postal supervisors can be tough as well!!
Hi Danny!! So good to hear your voice again. Your videos are totally fabulous. So much information adding to the "why" that makes trains special. You've become very good at adding in drown footage that helps explain the down time of a train, as well fill in time to add depth to the story. Your becoming the Herman Melville of Video Story Telling. I'm hoping still to bump into you so I can see what it takes to put together an epic story like this and a lot of your videos. Thanks as always, Ted
This is by far some of your best work. Excellent camera angles and footage, even better narration! I'm happy those guys working for the railroad we're willing to give you the scoop! Quality Quality Quality! I really am tickled pink!!!
danny, i did enjoy this day as usual............these single car deliveries are GREAT...........good to hear the clear talk between conductor and engineer..........especially when he called for 3 step protection.....and when he called out 14 cars and then halved it to 7 ............you have a real knack for getting the good stuff on your videos.........YOU'RE THE BEST.... ,,,,,,,,thanks.
This has to be one of my favorite videos you have put out! I'm a sucker for switching!!! It was nice to see all the steps and time it takes to get these sorts of jobs done! keep up the great videos. I love watching them!!!
I use to live in Ocoee and I work in Apopka so I've always seen these trains go by and wondered where they were going... now I know lol. Amazing video!
I thought that hose was going to snap ! I guess they are designed to un couple that way.
I learn several new thing's everytime I watch your videos.
Thanks !!!
I’ve always wanted to work on a railroad. And I absolutely love how informative your channel is on how a days work is done correctly.
Danny- This video was linked at the end of your “CSX Symbology” video. I enjoyed this Florida Central video very much, on switching operations to local customers. This video was fun, entertaining, and educational. I wish this video showed the operations for the entire work day of this fabulous crew of the Florida Central! Excellent filming and narration of this video, sir. I hope to see more videos like this one, in the future. Thank you, Danny, and to all the crew members at the Florida Central, on a job well done!
Best railroad videos around, with Danny "The Voice" Harmon.
Excellent video as always, good sir! I love the folks at FCEN!
Us wisconsinites know your from Florida when you saw 60 is chilly 😉
Great video Danny, your definitely my favorite Railfanning channel!
I love these switch move videos. So much better than just main line Trains. And hello to the both of you Railfan's.
Have recently found and watched most of your videos Danny and the quality seems to improve all the time, and your narration is easy to listen to.
As a UK viewer, it's interesting to see how things work on USA lines - much of it is alien to me!
Would like to see more of this last mile, stuff as it seems particularly interesting, especially with the extra info from the train Crew.
Thanks.
That’s a great conductor. Works diligently and precisely. Crew’s worked together many times before. It’s easy to see.
Great video as always Danny, it helps when the railroaders are quite the nice fellas.
As always, another great Distant Signal video! Nice to see my friends and fellow model railroading enthusiasts/club members Bill Dusenbury and Christian Johnson! Always great content on this channel, always.
Happy New Year and all of the very best 2019 has to offer for you Danny, Christian and Bill. Thanks again for your fine work Danny!
Observations:
1) Another excellently produced video, Danny! Seriously, well done!
2) Knowing the names of the folks we're watching makes it more relatable.
3) I imagine walking on all that gravel and unlevel surface all day would make for some tired feet. Quality boots required!
4) It seems he had a great attitude about it all, talking with those watching, etc. The whole "whistle while you work" mentality.
5) Your information is stellar.
Thanks for sharing another good one!
Thank YOU, Mark
A lot of the walking we saw in the video was unnecessary. I wonder if he carries out his day-to-day duties like this all the time or if he was just cutting up for the camera? Reason being is because mounting and riding is far more efficient and much safer. Typically a conductor walks 3 mph but a shoving move can be made up to 20 mph. Even if they only shove 5 mph, they can get work done twice as fast over walking everywhere. Plus then the conductor who is riding removes the factor for tripping hazards which are evident along any wayside walking area.
Outstanding video on railroad operations. As always, your video skills paired with you narrating expertise provided another great video.
Mr Harmon,
I have to say best video yet! It’s awesome that you can show off such awesome Florida shoreline action! Been watching for about 3 years and have probably seen every video you have! You drive my constant love for railroad lore and I couldn’t thank you enough for that. From deep in Union Pacific territory, Adam out!
Kinda neat to see both power units running LHF. You don't see that often.
Also that GP11 is super clean. She looks as good as the day she was built! Good job FCR for keeping her in great working order!
Probably getting repainted soon. That red is the Pinsley corporate scheme and Regional Rail announced the other week all three Florida lines are getting an SCL-inspire repaint
Another outstanding video Danny! Love the first mile/last mile action. Going to share this one on my blog. Love the sounds of the ties creaking, the handbrakes coming on, and the pop (loud I'll grant you) of the train line parting. Thanks as always from Australia.
Thanks so much, Andrew!
Thank you for being a rail fans' rail fan! Come back to the curve in Altoona, PA someday. NS does some short line work in nearby Holidaysburg/Duncansville, PA as well. A wonderful vid once again and many thanks to Chris Johnson too!
That was fun Danny, Thanks! Always great to get to see the FC in action.
Thanks for explaining the products and services that the rail customers use/need.
It makes the things that surround me more interesting..
Very nice, thanks. I enjoyed the proper safety and switching procedures of this crew.
I don't understand why the conductor/flagman couldn't ride the lead (last) car up to the crossing, stop the train, get off and flag the crossing. Seems like unnecessary walking, which the CSX taught us to avoid.
Brings back some memories.
Could be a restricted clearance area ie no riding equipment
It's safer to walk and it means more money in your pocket......No one wants to ride a gondola or bulkhead flat to mention a few undesirable riding cars
Great video once again. The cars slamming into each other and the disconnecting of the air line hose is so entertaining to me .
Danny, I can't get enough of these local switching videos. Another fantastic video to say the least!
Good stuff! Extremely professional from start to finish. In the ancient days before voice communication, I had a steady job on the local [SP] from Houston to Hearne and then the turn-around next day. There were two challenging customers on the route which involved dropping cars into the siding. Said sidings were too short for the engine to enter, so the engine stayed on the main and I rode the car to be dropped. The engineer would get up some speed, 'brake' so that the couplers would come together, then I would pull the cut lever while hanging on to the ladder, then the engine would speed up and the other brakie would throw the switch once the engine was clear. Meanwhile I climbed the ladder and would start applying the brakes until I got the car spotted. More often than not, we didn't need the engine to enter the siding to spot the car correctly. Not bragging. Just lucky.
With respect to odor, the Farmer's Co-op in Bryan, Tx stunk to high heaven, especially after it rained. You got that rotten grain on your boots and it stayed with you.
Videos like this one give a lot of good ideas for interesting trackside industries in the model railroading world. Thanks for posting.
What a treat , great video and commentary about short line railroad operations , the Florida Central is a potential modeling subject thank you for sharing.
Great video Danny! I love your switching videos. I love all the info and different artifacts that you talk about.
Thanks Danny. Really enjoy the ballet of customer switching.
That’s the loudest air hose break I’ve ever heard
sound like a gunshot
Really interesting insight into switching. Great commentary, always very informative and enjoyable to listen to.
Love the industrial area content here, a rarely seen and very interesting part of railroading!
1:49 I'm an aviation geek. Have been for most of my life. And while I love the sound of a turbofan and a jet engine...there is NO sound better than a good whistle and the engineer advancing the throttle of a train.
One of your best, always like the videos that show operations for customers big and small!
6:12 he finally climbs on a car. I'd of been riding them till I absolutely needed to walk but maybe he enjoys walking.
Thanks Danny - I'm a big fan of your videos from Southampton, England. Particularly like the switching videos - excellent.
If you say shunting we'll still know what you're talking about! 😉
Hi Danny it's been awhile since I've seen a new video it's good to see you back out railfanning I love this video you don't see very much switching activity are the local railroads good job man peace out have a great day
I love all of this shortline bread and butter real rail traffic. Serves customers directly.
Great video, ex CNR geep 9, thanks for taking me Trackside, Steve in Canada😀
Awesome Vid, I grew up watching trains in the Northeast around Philly, during the Pennsy and Reading era just before Conrail , The crews working the North Philly and Wayne Jct yards were , a bunch of jerks and A-holes to us , I love how these Southern rail crews are so cool and polite to viewers & Rail fans !!!
This is awesome. I love using model trains to do just this rather than driving them around in an oval on a table.
That was , as usual, an informative and entertaining video. It's really a pleasure to watch PROFESSIONALS at work. That's due you Danny, all your videos are TOP NOTCH sir. Thanks for your very informative and interesting work, it's very much appreciated.
Fun to see how cars are switched to and from various industries -- just like a model railroad.
Liked the drone views. Three step protection was new, interesting. Thanks.
Being between cars is one of the most dangerous places any crew person can be. Slack maims.
@@jovetj that's right! And loaded tank cars are death traps. SLOSH!, SQUISH!
First time I ran a train with 47 loaded tank cars never gave it a thought until I got stopped at cp-150 and after stopping released the trains brakes and less than two minutes later went to full service when I started getting shoved into the CP, I stopped less than 5 feet from fouling the CP electrically. It was our first movement of a large number of loaded tank cars. My conductor asked why didn't you put it in emergency? No need, I knew she'd stop before we fouled the signal. I didn't release the brake on that train until I had an ok to go forward after that stop. ( cp means control point where there are crossovers or switches to a yard or siding )
I miss the old days.
It’s a bit interesting watching these videos as a locomotive conductor now. lol
Great video as always Danny!!
Your voice is calming and very enjoyable to listen to, great video.
Great video, really interesting and enjoyable. Giving me plenty of tips for building my new HO layout here in sunny Scotland. 👍
Thanks Craig.
Excellent video Danny. I love your switching videos. So interesting.
Thanks, Danny. It looks like an interesting job when the weather is good. Maybe not so much in a storm. Very safety minded crew, good show guys !
Love this Danny. Would like to see more of these videos. We get to see a lot of mainline traffic, but not much switching, even here in the Pine Level -Selma Yard. Most of the switching is done early morning or at night when most folks is asleep. Good work DH !!
this video is excellent, great quality in video, audio and narration also editing. nice of you to give a shout out to your guide. what a great railfan friendly operation
Best railfanning I've seen. Really appreciate the in-depth explanations of what we're looking at.
GREAT VIDEO! Excellent videography and excellent commentary!! I really enjoyed watching this video! Thanks for making it!
Dan - excellent presentation! Thanks for sharing.
Great video! Love watching switching operations! 👍🏻
i really enjoy the old florida train stations, thnx for the great shots 👍
Really enjoy these types of switching videos. Helps us better understand what the railroads really do. Fine work, Danny!
Switching is probably the most dangerous job on any railroad...Props to all the pro rails out there...Stay safe...
Very entertaining. Much better than watching trains wiz by at 60mph.
Another beautifully done video Mr. Harmon. Wonderful narrative and great video as usual.
good detail on what the crew was doing and information about the customers.
Another excellent video. I like the format and style in which you present. 👍
Loved all your film footage and considering the fact that CSX actually is the great great great great grandson of the Seaboard Air Line, Atlantic coast line, Louisville and Nashville, Conrail, as well as a couple of other fallen flags that were swallowed up mainly at the beginning by the “SeaBoard Air Line” ! Yet, what’s truly amazing is that the Florida East Coast Railway was in the state of Florida before anybody else was but like the Seaboard Air Line, As Mr. flag were headed further south along the way not only did he build hotels along the rails !
Whatever little railroads along the way that were on the east coast were bought out one by one until he reached the last one in West Palm Beach and from that point on it was all Florida East Coast that went all the way to Key West ! Up until the 1935 Hurricane that destroyed all The rails from key west north to the Long key Fishing Camp in LongKey ! Locomotive number 153 still stands at the Florida gold coast Railroad Museum !!!!🌊🐺
What an awesome experience. I am glad to see that no one gave you any grief for filming all this action. That seems pretty rare now-a-days. Great video and keep up the great work!
The people at Florida Central are exceptionally nice and I was extremely careful while close to the train.
Some of the best rail videos. Love the additional commentary. Thank You
This is one of your very best, so educational and enjoyable. Thanks Danny.
Enjoyed the video Danny! Very well put together! Hoping next time I’m down there this summer I can explore the central Orlando area and the Florida Central! Keep up the good work sir!
Thanks Mr. Harmon, your videos are always interesting and entertaining.
Fascinating . . . . and fantastic getting to see the work and techniques involved in 'breaking' a freighter. Thanks so much!
Great video Danny! You have inspired me to make rail fanning videos myself, and I’ve learn a lot about how the railroad works since watching you videos.
Another great, and very well produced, production by Mr. Danny Harmon himself. You always teach me something and your videos are a joy to watch. Actually, I was having withdrawals from not seeing a video posted in a short while. I hope all is well and happy new year!
Amazing video!
We are new to Tampa area; happy I found your channel. Among the highest quality on TH-cam! Subscribed!
Another great video Danny! And yes, thanks Christian for the assistance in setting the proper locations. Keep up the good work. Be safe.
12:55 I love the reaction from the train being stopped just too short.
"Bump it!"
Same.
Who the heck *doesn't* like these videos? I get excited like a little kid when I see a new one up!
I always love it when Danny uploads a new video!
Oh wow 👏 One of my favorite Switching videos...hope you do more .....Danny...
Working on one now, Brad
This is amazing! I live in Orlando & I always see these engines. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, a nice RR guy - the train master. Most interesting, I love watching drops and always learn stuff from you.
Good job Danny.. I worked out there on occasion back in the 70s to the mid 80s.. SCL and SBD then..
arguably, some of the most professional videos done. Great work as always Danny.
Thanks Randy!
Superb as always, and educational to boot. Thanks, waiting for your next video with baited breath, LOL!
I’m a new viewer of your videos and like everyone I’ve seen. I live in Savannah Geogia but I grew up in the Mt Dora, Eustis, Tavares area. Keep up the great work!
Excellent show. Thank you for your work.