Railfanning the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast September 25, 2007

Railfanning the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast September 25, 2007

This year for vacation, it was off to L.A.! Lower Alabama, that is! : ) There wasn't huge amounts of time for railfanning but the time spent was good. I have always been a huge fan of the area around the gulf coast including Mobile, Atmore, Flomaton and Pensacola. Sadly, the traffic levels have not returned to pre-Katrina levels but there is still plenty to watch and photograph. The highlight of the trip was getting to meet and visit with friends and fellow railfans Ken Kanne, Richard Musgrove, Claire Denlea and Jodie Jones! I can't say enough good stuff about these folks and their hospitality! : D

The railfanning was basically in three short trips: Mobile, Pensacola, FL then Atmore/Flomaton. The first day, we hit Mobile and the area around the State Docks. There is plenty to see and photograph here but security around the state docks has been heightened since 9-11-2001, so use common sense. When close to the state docks, you would do best to get your picture and move on without trespassing. Loitering too long would probably be an invitation to a visit from the state docks police.

The next railfanning outing was in Pensacola, FL. An interesting situation exists here where the railroad runs opposite of geography. The area between the Port of Pensacola and Flomaton, AL, northbound CSX trains actually run geographical south and vice versa! The Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway also runs in to Pensacola, FL on former BNSF trackage. I wasn't able to catch any AGR action in P'cola on this trip - maybe next time!

The last bit of railfanning was around the Atmore/Flomaton area on the CSX. In Flomaton, the CSX PD Subdivision, which runs between Flomaton and Pensacola, FL, joins the M&M Subdivision which runs from Montgomery to Mobile, AL. We were lucky enough to meet up with friends and fellow railfans Richard Musgrove, Claire Denlea and Jodie Jones for some train watching! As usual, I took the photos and my step-son Donnie manned the video camera and did a fine job!

Railfanning the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast September 25, 2007 Photos and Video Clips

	This switcher was spotted in the Frascati Shops near McDuffie Coal Terminal near Yeend St. Not sure the status on this unit - the exhaust stacks appear to be sealed off so I assume it is not currently running. File Size: 274 KBytes · Downloads: 1204 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	A restored GM&O GP35 rests in Frascati Shops near McDuffie Coal Terminal. This unit will soon (as of Sep 2007) be on it's way to the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum. Hopefully, the museum will be able to finish the restoration and get the unit operational! File Size: 294 KBytes · Downloads: 1206 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
Railfanning the Mobile, AL Area:
	Another shot of the Alabama & Gulf Coast local as it heads through the tight curve to return to their yard after delivering interchange cars to CSX/TASD. A grain elevator at the state docks is visible in the background. File Size: 228 KBytes · Downloads: 960 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	An Alabama & Gulf Coast local heads through the tight curve to return to their yard after delivering interchange cars to CSX/TASD. As seen from Telegraph Rd. File Size: 278 KBytes · Downloads: 971 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	An Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway yard job rounds a tight curve to enter back in to their own yard after delivering interchange cars to the CSX and TASD. This was taken from Telegraph Road near what used to be the BNSF yard office which is now owned/operated by the AGR. Video Clip - File Size: 8753 KBytes · Downloads: 2077 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	A TASD local with a single MP15DC heads back towards their yard in Mobile after working industries across the Industrial Canal. File Size: 270 KBytes · Downloads: 1148 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Another shot of a TASD local as seen from Paper Mill Road. It was heading back towards their yard in Mobile after working industries across the Industrial Canal. File Size: 244 KBytes · Downloads: 888 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	A Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (TASD) local heads towards their yard after working industries across the Industrial Canal from the yard. Video Clip - File Size: 6298 KBytes · Downloads: 1760 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	A Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks (TASD) yard job pulls a cut of cars in their yard near the Alabama State Docks. This video is a bit shaky as I actually shot it with my digital still camera. The blue-green building behind the train is the TASD engine house. Video Clip - File Size: 4613 KBytes · Downloads: 1700 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	A Norfolk Southern local delivers cars to CSX's Sibert Yard. Part of CSX's yard offices is visible on the left of the image. As seen from Denkle Dr. File Size: 230 KBytes · Downloads: 1031 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	A CSX SW1500 coupled to a remote control platform awaits its next call to duty in CSX's Sibert Yard in Mobile, AL. File Size: 282 KBytes · Downloads: 819 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Here is an overview of the Canadian National and Norfolk Southern operations as seen from I-165 in Mobile. Sadly, the CNIC operations are just a shell of what they used to be as seen in this photo from Lee Singletary. The NS yard is on the right. File Size: 268 KBytes · Downloads: 1261 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Yet another shot of the Alabama & Gulf Coast local as seen in CSX's Sibert Yard in Mobile, AL. File Size: 254 KBytes · Downloads: 772 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	A view of the CSX Chickasawbogue swing bridge as seen from Bay Bridge Rd. I only caught the tail end of a northbound CSX coal train but hopefully, I will catch a train on the bridge next time! File Size: 246 KBytes · Downloads: 1027 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Southbound CSX train X605 ties up at Beauregard in Mobile, AL. A road leading in to the Alabama State Docks is visible overhead. As seen from Delchamps Dr. File Size: 317 KBytes · Downloads: 951 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	After bringing a Norfolk Southern southbound train in to Mobile, the power cuts off and heads in to the yard. As seen from I-165. File Size: 392 KBytes · Downloads: 985 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	The switcher used by the Wurzburg Paper Mill is seen from the Bay Bridge Road in Mobile, AL. File Size: 288 KBytes · Downloads: 1159 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Here is an overview of the Wurzburg Paper Mill as seen from the Bay Bridge Road in Mobile, AL. File Size: 218 KBytes · Downloads: 1302 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	Classic GE power in the form of a B36-7 awaits the next call to duty in CSX's Sibert Yard in Mobile. This unit is coupled to a remote control platform. As seen from Denkle Dr. File Size: 213 KBytes · Downloads: 965 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	An Alabama & Gulf Coast local delivers a cut of cars to the CSX in Mobile, AL. File Size: 281 KBytes · Downloads: 978 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
	A TASD local rolls off the drawbridge over the Industrial Canal and back in to their yard near the Alabama State Docks in Mobile, AL. File Size: 269 KBytes · Downloads: 946 · Uploaded: September 30,2007
Railfanning the Pensacola, FL Area:
	A northbound CSX train with Union Pacific power waits for a new crew near the north end (geographic south) of CSX's Goulding Yard in Pensacola, FL. This was taken near Fairfield Drive. File Size: 272 KBytes · Downloads: 727 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	Southbound CSX train Q609 rolls through downtown Pensacola. On this stretch of CSX trackage, trains run opposite of geography. This south bound train is actually turning north. This photo was taken from the on-ramp to Interstate 110 - not the smartest thing I have done but a nice image I think! ; ) File Size: 282 KBytes · Downloads: 1096 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	Southbound CSX train Q609 approaches the north end of Goulding Yard in Pensacola, FL. I meant to catch the tall switch stand the in photo but not put it in front of the lead unit! DOH! File Size: 272 KBytes · Downloads: 689 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	Southbound CSX train Q609 rolls in to CSX's Goulding Yard in Pensacola, FL. This stretch of CSX trackage runs opposite of the geography. This southbound train is actually running geographic north in to the yard. This was taken from Hollywood Ave near Fairfield Dr in Pensacola. Video Clip - File Size: 7747 KBytes · Downloads: 1601 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
Railfanning the Atmore/Flomaton, AL Area:
	A northbound CSX grain train blasts through Perdido, AL west of Atmore. This was taken near the intersection of Highway 31 and James Rd. This is one of my favorite shots from vacation 2007. File Size: 515 KBytes · Downloads: 1088 · Uploaded: September 29,2007
	A northbound CSX train turns east from the M&M Subdivision on to the PD Subdivision for the trip to Pensacola, FL and points beyond. The M&M Sub trackage is shown on the left hand side. File Size: 379 KBytes · Downloads: 1016 · Uploaded: September 29,2007

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