State of the CSX Downtown Spur, May 2022

 

CSX Y22022 took an unusual tour down the CSX Downtown Spur, which is usually reserved for red eye yard jobs such as Y322 or Y350.

Ever since I started aggressively chasing trains on the CSX Downtown Spur at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been good not to see the line, a barometer for the for-better-or-for-worse evolution of the rail industry, to lose any business, much like its sister lead, CSX's East Rail. 

Unfortunately Cliff Berry has been inactive at best, with three tankers on site collecting rust on the wheels and the usual litter on the lead growing to the point that heavy equipment may need to clear that if and when they get a switch. There are four very active customers still comfortably receiving freight cars, FP&T, Miami Iron and Metal, Family and Son, and Sun Gas. Two of those customers would be getting loads on the early evening of Sunday May 22, 2022. 

My flight to Norfolk had been delayed nearly two hours, so I kept having an ear out for yard jobs. I didn't hear Y32221 the morning before so south end action was possible. The Downtown Spur gets favorable (ie. morning east, afternoon west) daylight action maybe once in a solar eclipse, but to have another job assigned to work it happens about once in a blue moon. Frankly, I thought the golden hour of Sunday would be spent at East Rail when RTA's second shift dispatcher gave Y220 clearance to East Rail, but I'd find the job sitting across from the Hialeah Market Station waiting on traffic to clear before entering the main. It was very clear they would work the Downtown Spur, and disappointingly obvious (aka. I missed it) that they pulled an empty from Pan American Paper, another elusive customer where I've bagged a move once, just over four years ago. Win some and lose some.

Y22029 sits at Hialeah Market Station in a very accessible vantage point. The industrial lead behind the engine used to be active in the "A&E" period of the early 2000s, receiving boxcars by rail. This is the period of time that also inspired my friend Lance Mindheim to model the area, reciprocally motivating me to document what I can these days.
 

The challenge of a "glint shot" or some creative captures on the spur was enticing, so I followed it until the last possible minute before catching the flight. Family and Son had a few cars on site to switch out. Sun Gas had tankers as well to be worked; they get plenty at a time (though there appeared to be a slump on more recent outings). Miami Iron is a little harder to see inside, and boy do I want to get a move in daylight there, but they're still alive and well with two incoming empties caught by Gary Loveless on this morning's M453. 

The interesting thing continues to be RTA's continuing maintenance of these spurs. East Rail's Big Hole lead, at least up to SALCO, got new jointed rail in winter 2021-2022. 

CSX O71726 works SALCO on the bottom of its train, February 2022. Bonus action after getting an Amtrak Test Train at the Miami Intermodal Center. Sometimes patience pays with these difficult to find (not chase) jobs.

Per Google Maps, now we have relaid rail near NW 12th Avenue. This is the iconic spot where the Trujillo & Sons warehouse is was. Funny enough, the contractor, who cut off almost every other turnout along the line (Cuba Tropical, Miami Waste Paper, just to name a few), and with the lead past Sun Gas, which used to be active, cross-tied before the house track at BOS Warehouse (which in my opinion should add carload to its warehousing solutions) put in a new turnout, which will likely not ever be put in reverse unless the Rubell Museum wants to display passenger cars or something. The following screen grabs are from Google Maps (open-source, I think). Note the run around track switch is new and the track is new up to the next crossing at NW 11th Ave.

How bizarre! Though, while this doesn't mean too much, this is testament to not counting anything out. CSX reactivated the lead in Golden Glades that used to serve Derby Building with a new customer at the end by the name of Century Metals. While this area is slowly going the way of Wynwood, there are probably a few units left which could someday see rail service again. It would be especially interesting to watch the section by the Miami River. CSX, notorious for running business off, sometimes surprises us with their moves. Maybe it happens best where customers are clustered; examples being the Gardens Lead, East Rail, the Golden Glades section, and the river section of the spur. Just let time tell and we'll see what lies ahead.