Chasing CSX V189 "FEC Coal" from Ga, Jax, and to South Florida

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I joined Paul, Mike, Tim, and Tolga for a trip to Railwatch 2013 and one of my favorite trains of the trip was of CSX V189, the FEC bound coal train. We were lucky enough to catch him, the first time in Fort Mudge, Georgia, north of Folkston and south of Waycross, and we were really lucky to have caught the train again, but this time with FEC power in Jacksonville as it crossed over the St. Johns river. This is where Matt, Ryan, Phillip, his girlfriend, and Krystian met us at the boardwalk on the St.Johns river in downtown Jacksonville to get the shot. This is a move that not many people see, as it is done usually nocturnally. The coal train sat in the FEC's Bowden Yard for one more day and then it was run as a unit train down to Miami with a SD70M-2 leader. I caught the train again in Deerfield Beach, near my home town. It was really cool to see the train three times, and with different power each time.
CSX V189-01
Kopper Glo, TN - Jacksonville, FL (FEC's Bowden Yard)
April 6, 2013 2:28 PM
CSXT #3016 ES44AH "Boxcar GEVO"
CSXT #4806 SD70MAC
CSXT #7703 C40-8W
CSX "Z" series train/FEC Move
April 7, 2013 5:18 PM
FEC #711 SD40-2
FEC #416 GP40-2
FEC 109
Jacksonville, FL (Bowden Yard) - Miami, FL (FEC's Hialeah yard)
April 9, 2013 12:26 PM
FEC #101 SD70M-2
FEC #709 SD40--2

[@trnfan1]

finally some -one who shows the whole train not just Locos. Thanks!

[@FishplateFilms]

Very nice work !, good to see nice pan and zoom , well shot and composed. Top stuff. Cheers Gregg

[@rufec12]

Thank you. I am sorry if it bothered you to have seen the whole train three times, but this was quite a train. All brand new hoppers, rare, and also shot in two different states 100's of miles apart. Therefore, I thought that showing the whole train would be cool since it is being seen in 1 small town and in two completely different cities spread over 400 miles. Thanks again, I am glad you liked it.

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot, Doug! When I heard he was going to be running as a unit train, and that he had a 70 leading, I knew I had to get em'. It was the icing on the cake, lol

[@Mcjimmy16]

Great video Rudy! love the bridge shot!!!!

[@rufec12]

Thank you very much!

[@rufec12]

Thank you!

[@rufec12]

Thank you, Michael!

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot, Tim! I heard something about that over the radio, but wasn't able to check it out. Can't wait to see your video!

[@rufec12]

Also, I found that it would be cool to see the train in its entirety in three completely different places. The third shot was 300 miles south of Jacksonville, near Miami.

[@rufec12]

Thanks for the comment. The FEC is a class II railroad, so I don't think the railroad would find it feasible to purchase a set of coal hoppers. Especially since they only receive a few coal trains a year. It just wouldn't be cost effective. CSX has many sets of coal hoppers, they are a class I railroad and those hoppers are consistently shipping coal across all of the states served by CSX.

[@doug33020]

Nice catches Rudy! I have caught a couple of trains twice, but never 3 times, in two states!

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot, Tolga! Mike was there at the same time, but I wasn't able to see him. I had to be at school by 1 and the train went by me around 12:30. I barely made it to class on time lol.

[@TolgaEastCoast]

Freaking awesome video, Rudy!! DAMN!! Nice takes. Looks like you probably meet up with Mike over at Deerfield.

[@kenjr29mfl]

Excellent chase, Rudy.

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot!

[@ChessieStorm]

Very, very nice video. Great job

[@BBT609]

711 horn needs a fix! Great video!!!

[@rufec12]

Thanks, Brylon!

[@rufec12]

Thanks!

[@rufec12]

Thanks bro! Out in southeast Georgia its pretty flat so yea they get to book it! Same as on the FEC, its all flat so they can move good! The FEC has some nice K5LLA's for sure

[@alexander1485]

i miss seeing FEC engines (AGR has a few in their small yard)

[@rufec12]

Thank you very much, Aaron! I really appreciate it! Looking forward to your vid!

[@FloridaTrainKid]

Loved all three shots, Rudy. After 109 went by you, they were held up a bit due to Maintenance of Way in Pompano.

[@CSXBOY187]

Awesome Awesome Video Rudy!. You are so good on zooming out at the right times its just epic! lol I was able to catch FEC 109 coming across the Jaxs Drawbridge as well I was a god ways off from the bridge so you dident see me I will have the video up later this week. Again Awesome Video and a Awesome job on putting it into a nice video! Favorite and 2 thumbs up!

[@waterboy31602]

Nice chase and catch of interchange!

[@trekky60]

Great video. I like the shot @3:15 with the train crossing the river. Thumbs up.

[@HOTRAILProductions]

Nice video!

[@rufec12]

Thanks!

[@LumityCanon4131]

Awesome video Rudy, one Wicked Chase of V189 =D Michael Scott

[@bhamrails]

nice vid, bad azz k5hll! nice power, they fly out their, i imagine its flat just like MS & Louisiana lol wow awesome shot on the fec over the bridge i would love to get a still shot of that , good k5lla on that sd70m-2, sounds like up 1983

[@kellymcdonald1895]

Boy that will polish a set of rails!

[@rufec12]

Thanks man!

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot man!

[@rufec12]

Thanks a lot man! I really appreciate it!

[@axelthebeast1]

Really great shots of the coal train however as much as I like to see a freight train, seeing the whole train three times is a bit much, thanks for the good work.

[@Sonic345Hedgehog]

Every Freight Yard Has Coal Hoppers

[@alexander1485]

especially if its a unit train without a caboose - vs mixed freight

[@rufec12]

I'm sorry if it bothered you, but its pretty easy to just fast forward...

[@rufec12]

Not necessarily.

[@mikeytrains1]

ET44AH's, if I see one on the Hialeah line I'll be referring to them as Camels.

[@super_bro0074]

Why is FEC trains pulling CSX hoppers? Does CSX own FEC? Please explain.

[@rufec12]

CSX does not own FEC. CSX brought the coal train south to Jacksonville, FL (on their rails) and handed the entire coal train to the FEC in Jacksonville. The FEC put their power on the coal train in Jacksonville while the CSX power was cut off. The first pair of FEC EMD's you see crossing the bridge in downtown Jacksonville with the coal train was power to shuttle the train from CSX's Moncrief Yard to FEC's Bowden Yard. The FEC later put the SD70M-2 and the SD40-2 on the train in Bowden Yard for their run to Miami.

[@super_bro0074]

rufec12 Very interesting. Is the coal shipped from other railroad companies? If I'm not mistaken, Florida does not have any coal mines. Is there a possibility that the coal could be shipped from other states by rail? For example, could coal shipped by rail from Pennsylvania and come to Florida by rail? Sorry I'm asking too many questions. :)

[@rufec12]

Super_Bro007 Of course. This coal train originated on the CSX in Tennessee. It runs CSX's rail system to Jacksonville where the train is eventually handed off to the FEC.

[@super_bro0074]

By CSX coming into Florida taking freight in and out of the state, does FEC considers CSX as a threat? I mean, they have more track and more business with other companies. Should FEC be scared of being bought out or it does not work that way?

[@rufec12]

Super_Bro007 No because the FEC controls a vast majority of the business in South Florida and the other cities along the east coast of Florida. Not to mention the FEC has been around for over 100 years so I don't see any issues.

[@Sonic345Hedgehog]

Why The Fec Train Got CSX Coal Hoppers Buddy?

[@KidJaeProductions]

Nice video. Take my sub!

[@eddie9027]

Yep, very nice

[@rufec12]

Thank you!

[@stuartlee6622]

This should infuriate democrats as they despise coal!!

[@rufec12]

Thank you!

[@rufec12]

Thank you!

[@rufec12]

Thank you!