Finding Local Freight Trains In Tampa 2022

Where you can find CSX local freights in Tampa in 2022. We'll chase down some railfanning staples... and then stop for a chili dog!

[@jack18888]

"Hello again Rail Fans", every time I hear that greeting I can be a kid again for a few minutes.

[@tomroise9426]

Yep, I love to hear it too.

[@river1403]

Same 😌

[@SmallMartingale]

Adults are allowed to enjoy trains too :)

[@tsrtrainproductions]

I agree greatly

[@larrykisser547]

I enjoy your videos

[@KMACKTIME]

Always a treat when you see a new video from Danny. Thanks for the great content. Cheers for Champaign IL

[@happyjack880]

The guy running the RC is living out every little boy's dream with a life size train set! Trains, chili dogs and a drawbridge. Can't ask for more than that. Great video Danny!

[@treos17]

that dream dies reallllll quick

[@happyjack880]

@@treos17 I'll bet but man those first few times gotta be great

[@treos17]

@@happyjack880 they were, same as when actually running

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@treos17 haha! Agreed 👍

[@valf1733]

Conductor flexing at 14:51 is a nice touch.

[@brvfd822]

What a pleasant surprise on a Friday evening!

[@johnsturm3128]

Hello Danny. I lived in Orlando for 31 years and I would often see CSX Freights or AMTRAK come through south Orlando. It was always fun for me to get stopped at the crossing when I was driving. Unfortunately, there are no trains where I currently live, Honolulu, Hawaii. As a youngster, when visiting my grandmother in Bristow, Oklahoma, I would often run the four blocks downhill to see the truly massive trains pass. I could hear their horns for miles. It was much the same in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where the KATY came through twice a day - once each way. Trains are a very important linchpin in our nation’s infrastructure. Together with tractor trailers, they keep America moving. Great job as always, Danny.

[@icosthop9998]

No trains ❔️❗️?❕️?❗️❔️

[@MikeInPlano]

"There are no trains [in Hawaii]". Yikes. Another reason to add to my list of why Hawaii is a great place to visit, but not live. ;-)

[@masonkpiano]

If you’re in the Tampa area, if you go North on US-41 into Land O Lakes, There is a CSX main that parallels the highway with an industry they stop at. Last time they came through, they had 2 EMD’s running a consist.

[@arthurschipper8906]

If I were looking for someone to read ANYTHING to me, it's gonna be Mr. Distant Signal. This is one of my favorite episodes.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Anytime Danny uploads a new video I drop whatever I’m doing to watch.

[@americandancebands814]

Beginning in 1969, I attended a technical meeting every March in Tampa. I managed to squeeze-in much rail photography around the area. But over a 10+ - year period, I managed to catch only one train on the downtown bridge to Pt Tampa. It was powered by a U18B. The main yards were noteworthy because many of the yard switchers were re-engined Baldwins!. And Uceta Yd. appeared to be some sort of main service facility for the rr's GE locomotives. Unit phosphate trains ran shift-fashion: empty (eb) in the AM; loaded (wb) PM. At that time Tampa Station was was the origination/destination of a passenger connection to Sarasota and Venice. Luckily I kept my Leica busy during these yearly sojourns. It was a great show!

[@brianbickley8368]

I need to move to Florida! I'm 58 and tired of Ohio. Your videos are so inspiring! Thanks!

[@distantsignal]

Thanks! Yes, you should move to Florida. There are so few others coming here right now. I'm kidding. With all the New York, Connecticut and Jersey money flowing into this state right now, home prices are ridiculous.

[@CSC2001]

His videos are just amazing. The narration, the details, makes me feel like a little kid watching my favorite show again

[@kevintaylor3427]

Love the train videos and explanations. But I especially enjoy the tidbits on the mom & pop restaurants. Next time in Tampa, I'll check out Mel's hot dogs.

[@chuxtuff]

There shouldn't be ANY one man crews doing ANY work with active locomotives by themselves. That's an open invitation to disasters and mayhem and the railroad knows better too. Anyway your videos including this one are great!!

[@southeastiowarailfans5560]

That street running is really cool!

[@walthamp8978]

From a guy who at one time lived in Tampa, now Ga. I love watching your Tampa related videos, thanks😊😊😊

[@freddienz]

Another great video Danny. Excellent production values. I have retired after 50 years in broadcast TV, and know that you produce great work. Cheers from New Zealand. FG.

[@distantsignal]

Many thanks, Fred!

[@sportsguy1992]

​@@distantsignal how many trains do you see in Florida and Georgia when you travel to see them? Jordan from Columbus Ohio

[@Diversion_Clear]

@@distantsignal very nice video as always!

[@davidkroening9104]

For those who may not know, whenever you see a CSX locomotive with the yellow strobe lights flashing, that’s means the loco is in remote control setup.

[@richardsmith4187]

That's a nice thing to know, I was surprised to see the guy holding the remote and "driving" the train ! I didn't even know it existed

[@icosthop9998]

TY Somewhat sad to see that the RR Companies trying so hard to cut out as many jobs as they can 🥺

[@rapman5363]

Engine 2056 driving down the middle of the street had yellow amber flashing and you can see the engineer inside the cab. Look at 10:33 you can see him inside.

[@unity3596]

@@icosthop9998 There trying to save money due to PSR

[@icosthop9998]

@@unity3596 Price/Sales Ratio (I had to Google it)

[@DoubleBRailz]

Nice video yet again Danny! The way you edit them makes everyone stay to the end! Very informative!

[@LuGer212]

"[...] replace by an Ikea, which doesnt have any use for rail service [...]" - just broke my european (esp. Swiss) railroaders heart a bit

[@DC4260Productions]

That's so bizarre seeing a railway track in the street, especially when the thing running on it is a big diesel locomotive rather than a tram or interurban unit. I wonder what the people of Tampa who aren't railfans make of that situation. My favourite part of this video was the clips of the GP38-3 running under remote control. Here in New Zealand we also have some shunting locomotives fitted with R/C, specifically the DH, DSC, DSG and DSJ classes. On the rare occasions when they venture onto the mainline, they're always driven conventionally instead of by remote. I don't think this video would have been anywhere near as enjoyable without Mr. Harmon's local knowledge and presentation style.

[@RCAvhstape]

Street running trains used to be a lot more common across the US. There are still quite a few locations where it is done. Morehead City, North Carolina comes to mind, last time I was there the trains still ran down the middle of the road to the port area. It's awesome if you're a rail fan, if not it can be a problem, especially if they are blowing the horn.

[@bushwood]

Virtual Railfan's La Grange, Kentucky cam is street running: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2i0moGdqs5oisk

[@noahater5785]

@@RCAvhstape La Grange, Kentucky also has street-running trackage as well

[@gwilbur1]

it is clear that you spend a fair amount of time with the narration of the videos...always well structured, clear and concise. thanks for taking the time.

[@maggies5049]

Yay!!! 🥰🥰😘😘👍👍👍👍 Love watching Danny. Always learn new and fun things. Thank you, Danny

[@socalspottersrailfanningpr1449]

Danny, I’ve been watching your for about 3 years now I love every single video you do

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great video and tutorial as usual Danny! Nice looking bridge to have been there so long and I'm sure its quite a sight to see when a train crosses it. It just amazes me so much w the Remote Control capabilities of these trains no matter how many times I've watched them. Thanks again for sharing your videos with us along with your time and effort!

[@christophergilbransen1373]

Almost nothing makes me happier than seeing a new Distant Signal video pop up!! Thanks Danny.

[@paulbrown4625]

I agree with Citta, please continue doing the maps, they are very helpful and interesting. Be safe sir.

[@ktar7189]

Mr danny Harmon thank you for the awesome videos I got into trains from my late uncle who passed away 6 years ago and my dad and I used to go so I go to the local train shows in remembrance of my late uncle and my dad

[@aidentaylor1833]

Always a very good day when he uploads

[@theubaum]

Danny, like I’ve always said; no better rail fan videos anywhere!

[@ghall7763]

What an awesome start to the weekend Danny posted!!!!

[@ihavespoken2459]

Love your videos. Have been in Florida since 2011. So I guess I’m still considered a transplant not a native Floridian. I always learn something new watching your videos and for a little while can forget about the problems of my day. Thanks!

[@joeyc229]

Thanks for doing the maps, those were super helpful.

[@Cozmo-hp4uo]

My dad ran the Evansville indiana to Danville Illinois and back leg of Intermodal train 120/121 which ran from Jacksonville Florida to Chicago Illinois for the last 9 years of his career at CSX.

[@AJ-zx4pl]

Please do a video on Pinellas County trains!!

[@slick87gn]

Lived here almost 20 years. Very informative.

[@alwillis7186]

Always good stuff. Danny for President!

[@robhow7962]

I love your Bone Valley video from the 90s. This felt like an update. Thank you for your time and efforts in developing this content. I am a virtual rail fan now.

[@distantsignal]

Many thanks, Rob.

[@craighigginbotham3902]

Hi Danny, cheers from PEI Canada. I have watched your channel for years, first time comment. I really like the local history that you relay in all your videos, feels like I've been there. Looking forward to more great vids!!

[@rainyday44124]

As always, a real treat to wake up to a new video from Danny.

[@AndreiTupolev]

'NYC', that hopper at2:32is still branded. That's a bit of a relic

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

Actually CSX owns the rights to use NYC, PRR, PC, CR, BO, CO, SBD, SAL, SCL, ACL and a plethora of other fallen flags that made them who they are. A lot of times they will apply the fallen flag letters to reporting marks of a series of cars that are used in a special market such as the Rock Hopper business seen here. Reporting marks are 1-4 letters followed by up to 6 numerics, therefor a company like CSX that owns 2.3M cars has to use multiple letter assignments.

[@wfermier]

@@SD40Fan_Jason How do they keep track of those 2.3M cars? Do they sometime get switched to other railroads or left on a siding somewhere and forgotten?

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@wfermier it's called a Perpetual Inventory Car List PICL for short and it is a system that's used by every North American railroad to keep track of every car. Lost cars are virtually impossible. (Not completely impossible though, heheh)

[@doublediamondrailroad5949]

Love the Last Mile Locals. All the work they do for All if Us!

[@roxannemanzone9351]

Excellent video Danny!

[@danyay]

At The Hub dive bar shown at 10:10, patrons commonly play a game where they pool their money together when they hear the horns and guess how many train cars will go by. Closest one wins the pot.

[@mikeyanello3664]

Danny so happy to see another episode. Look forward to them each time !!!!!!

[@christophercrane923]

Danny, I love all of your videos. Living in Ohio, it’s great seeing all the rails and restaurants back home that I grew up with. My mom is actually a manager at Chemical Formulators on Rattlesnake Point. This was really exciting to see.

[@enlitenaudio6517]

Danny, you are STILL the classiest rainfanner on KZbin! 2 thumbs up for us here in Colorado. Makes us still wish the DRGW still ran freight over Tennessee Pass through the center of CO as back in the turn of the millennium!

[@BarredCoast0]

One day I'm gonna visit down there and see these tracks and diners you've been talking about. The heck with the beach. Let's go watch some trains!

[@MICHELDILLIONS]

Hi Danny , Thank you 😊🤗 Blessings from Amsterdam , The Netherlands , Be Happy , enjoy , So Good the Train true the Streets .

[@columbusrailfanner2179]

Another great video as usual. Keep it up Danny!

[@davidwood3477]

I come from a very technical background, Naval nuclear power servicing and have just started watching railfanning videos. I enjoy how well you explain the different aspects of rail operations. Keep it up.

[@christiansrailfanning3168]

This video was very insightful! Keep it up I’ve been very interested in industry’s! Great to learn more!

[@mbrianperry1]

Really enjoy the videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them. Take care.

[@Orlando_Rails]

Love this video

[@flyboy3ck]

Gets new video ping for Danny. Immediately stops watching other KZbin video to switch to the new Distant Signal video. Glad to see you’re still living life and doing well Danny. Missed watching your content.

[@ajidamarjati]

It is a good day when Danny throw a new video!!!

[@alexrobert13]

Danny Harmon!! I truly love and appreciate your videos! I live in the UK, and your offering is showing me an insight not only of train activities, for which I have no idea the actual mechanics of how an engine or train actually work, I do still like watching!! Only problem I have, if you can can call it that, is the vast and varied variety of places to eat that you find!! Always makes me unbelievably, out of this world, hungry!! Just glad I don’t live to close as I would probably be bankrupt by a week ago that Thursday, after going to them all! I could and would watch videos of you doing reviews of just the eating joints on your journeys!

[@Robert-lg2bl]

Awesome video! I have been a rail fan since I remember. Believe or not I have a set of railroad tracks in the backyard.

[@BNSF1458]

Same

[@arkiefyler]

Danny! Are you sure you are only "rail fanning"?! Sometimes it sounds more like a report on favorite restaurants! I also had to laugh a bit when you reported on the local "climbing" a hill! We both know "hills" are scarce as hen's teeth in FL!! 😜 Keep up the great work! Always enjoy your well researched and interesting videos. I gotta go; you've made me hungry!! 😋

[@JawTooth]

The last half dozen times I was in Tampa I tried to catch the street runner and struck out. That is a difficult train to catch. The one in Clearwater would be awesome to catch also

[@distantsignal]

He runs Mon - Thu as Y295. He departs Yeoman yard right after 92 gets out of town, usually around 6PM. Takes about 30 minutes for him to get downtown.Listen out for him on the dispatch channel 160.230. He'll have to get authority over the TWC blocks between TN Tower and the A882.7, which is the switch to the Amtrak station. South of that switch the track is excepted and essentially yard trackage from there to end-of-track at Port Tampa.

[@YourLocal_PondDuck]

Nice comment

[@YourLocal_PondDuck]

Hope u catch some trains on July

[@JawTooth]

@@distantsignal Awesome and thanks for the info!

[@YourLocal_PondDuck]

Np

[@RollThunProd]

Love the K5LA horns on those old geeps! Great work as always! Fascinating stuff!

[@dougross8043]

Had a tough day today. Got home and saw a new DS video. Made my day! Thanks Danny

[@ww32]

It is to bad that IKEA doesn't use the RR like they do in Switzerland to help remove trucks from the road

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

They are part of the big box movement where everything has to be shipped quick fast and in a hurry. While the intermodal service is capable of setting off containers to truck and shipping quickly, it may take a month or more for a single boxcar to get from its originator to the destination. Big box stores like Ikea, Walmart, Lowe's even Scotty's before they closed, will take a location with rail access but never use it.

[@ww32]

@@SD40Fan_Jason if we want a truly green future going back to car load freight is the way forward, removing as much truck traffic as possible and reducing emissions that’s the ultimate goal. But that will never happen with the push towards PSR, the local customer is no longer the RR’s concern

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@ww32 You are 100% correct and I agree with you. But for the last 40 or 50 years, Class 1's have been attempting to distance themselves from carload service. With CSX dismantling a bunch of their hump yards in an attempt to disrupt service, and several others following suit, it's going to get worse before it gets better.

[@ww32]

@@SD40Fan_Jason it’s funny too because anyone who remembers the old Reading Line’s “Bee-Line” service will know that it was very efficient despite the slightly high cost in crew over time, it was worth it to both the RR and the shipper to get the car to its destination as soon as it was ready to go even is it wasn’t being sent on a mile long freight train. It was just “oh you have these three cars that are ready to go in this general direction to our shippers? F**k it, send them,” and they would just go. It was really effective until the PC dragged everyone down.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@ww32 it's currently taking 36-40 days for our refrigerators to get from Idaho to Atlanta by way of Indiana then to Waycross. We are usually switching 16-30 reefers a day and we can't get them any faster yet the customer cannot afford to ship them as a unit train either. If it were a unit train we could get them here in 4-7 days and have the ability to switch them and return the train in 96 hours.

[@JacobCothren]

Danny! Looking great in 4K! Thank you for another fantastic video.

[@dave_n8pu]

It's always a treat to see notification that you have uploaded a new video.

[@tvd1188]

In europe, i'm pretty sure Ikea's stock is served by rail.. Wish they did that here.

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thanks for the locals footage, Danny. I enjoy seeing The Last Mile work. Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@briankirkland249]

Homeless man ain't no hurt you

[@distantsignal]

You're right but there's no reason to take a chance.

[@derekhendley6146]

I’m a local in the St. Petersburg, Tampa area and I enjoyed the history and behind the scenes details you give !

[@UnionCountyPhotography]

Hello again railfans

[@thepandaman3007]

Watching from up in Charlotte, but used to live down in Central Florida. Thank you for the great videos!

[@pjtemplin]

I clicked the like button. Full disclosure: I haven't watched it yet (I'll watch it when my toddler wakes up), but your stuff is consistently so good, I can only imagine that it deserves more than just a like (and subscribe and comment). Keep up the amazing work!

[@richardrutel6806]

Danny, I learn something fascinating with every video you produce. Thanks. As a resident only an hour away from Tampa, I now know where to go to train spot. Is there a way to find out in advance what the operating schedule is for any specific freight line?

[@rechelieu]

Another stellar piece. The narrative is superb quality. Looking forward to the next one.

[@KG-xt4oq]

$10+ for a chili dog, ff, and a drink? Yeah, I think I CAN miss Mel's...I guess "Chicago-style" means to charge double.

[@distantsignal]

Been to a Chik Fil A lately?

[@KG-xt4oq]

@@distantsignal Yes, as a matter of fact...a couple weeks ago. It had been a couple months since the time before that and the most recent trip reminded me why I haven't been going there as much as I used to; it's too expensive now, as are most fast food joints. But the point I was trying to get across was I can go to several hot dog joints in my area and get 2 hot dogs, ff, and a drink for what you paid. Not telling you how you should spend your money or you don't deserve it; just think paying $10+ for what you got is high...

[@wfermier]

@@KG-xt4oq Not much longer for the small local joints, I'm afraid. Everyone is raising their prices these days. I'm old enough to remember getting a complete meal at McDonalds for under a buck! (Yeah, I'm that old!)

[@vrmntthb]

That street running just looks out of place that we re not used up here in the north but it gets the job done… another great entry sir and always look forward to the next one…

[@richardburns4593]

Hi Danny 👋 Saying Hello from Alameda California .

[@distantsignal]

Hello from Tampa! I sure would love to come out to your territory someday.

[@ChainsawNW1218]

ChainsawN&W1218, really enjoyed Your video, interesting, good 👍 shots of locals working and liked that vasquele draw bridge,caught a Loram rail grinder working on NS Christiansburg District VA, one of the places I film,first one I've caught, My Son really liked it, like filming trains highballing out on the high iron.

[@NotDaender]

Thanks for catching that remote controller in action! That controller looks pretty robust...if a bit heavy.

[@ReflectedMiles]

Several IKEA locations _would_ have regular need for, and use of, rail service from the ports, except for one thing: the railroads priced themselves out of most of the general freight market long ago. They claim their wild mpg/ton efficiency numbers, but they aren't able to translate that into their prices, whatever the cause. This is one of the main reasons that the ranges of loads carried on the rails now is so much narrower than it was back in the day. As a logistics manager for one large company put it, a container of bananas at the port will make it 1,300 miles down the road with a big savings in both time and money if it is on a truck instead of on a railcar. Until and unless that changes, rail will continue to operate at the margins for most consumer goods, especially.

[@birbeyboop]

Wonderfully insightful comment, you describe exactly a large part of what's causing such a decline in rail freight these days. Rail generally offers many benefits in both cost and sustainability as it compares to truck freight, but the practices of rail companies and the refusal of the federal govt to nationalize the railroads drives prices through the roof.

[@TwoRibbonRailvideos]

Always enjoy the local ops from time to time. Great video!

[@SCLModeler]

Trying their hardest to eliminate as many contract jobs as they can, but yet want to “do right” to their employees. I wondering how (or if) they got a waiver from the FRA to run remotes over multiple grade crossings…

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

They don't need a waiver if they have an RCO on the point of movement every time.

[@trapdriver7006]

Excellent informative video I enjoyed watching 👍😀😀😀😀😀🚂🇬🇧

[@davidkalbacker6033]

Yet another additional great video - and so informative right down to the restaurant footage. This train video made me hungry so off to the kitchen!! Many thanks Danny 😀

[@michaelqualkenbush1391]

Another amazing video! I love watching the Florida/CSX railroad video you get, especially up here by the Canadian border!

[@mikesmith4644]

Very cool Danny. Love these videos of Florida freight traffic! Greetings from Pennsylvania!

[@U_ever]

Mr. Harmon, Love your content. Not from very far away actually, South Tampa, South of Gandy even. Its always a pleasure to log onto KZbin and see a new Distant Signal video but I recently made a pleasant discovery in that I often hear your fabulous velvet pipes doing amazing voice over work here on local television and it also makes me smile. I don't know that we will run into one another out there on "the high iron" as you often like to say but I do hope to see you at Hula Bay or the Salt Shack some day soon. Keep 'em coming good sir !

[@rayhjohnson]

Thanks Danny. All us old guys grew up with trains as part of our lives here in Florida. Ft Lauderdale for me. Keep up the great videos and info. Appreciate your love of trains.

[@SebastianLandrus]

Nice work catching those trains Danny keep it up and be safe while you’re Railfanning out there please😊😊😊

[@legs4ever1]

GANNY YOU ARE STILL THE BEST !!!!!!! THANK YOU

[@BigSmokeRailfanning]

Hey Danny, have you heard that CSX has changed some of its train prefixes? Ex: Q to M and M to L? I wonder if you would cover that change in a future video. Cheers, Big Smoke.

[@distantsignal]

Yes, I heard they did that back in the winter. I guess I'll have to spend a day out there chasing some of those down.

[@BigSmokeRailfanning]

@@distantsignal Wish i could too, but it would be nice!

[@MrTomb1976]

i like hearing about the best places to eat and then when im down on vacations i try to stop in at those places

[@greatlakesrailroadvideogra1792]

Outstanding Video and Production again Danny. Great Job

[@kellymcdonald1895]

I miss those old Atlantic Coastline days when my mom and dad both work for the company, we came from Wilmington where the corporate headquarters was located and move down here to Jacksonville in 1960. Great days they were!

[@CarsSimplified]

I'll have to try out one of those chilli dogs next time I'm in town! I can't believe I lived near Tampa for 25 years and never went there.

[@jasonk9779]

Nothing better after a long day at work than coming home to a cold drink and a new Distant Signal video. Love it! Locals are often the best railfanning :)

[@georgettedebuhr2660]

Did you know MulleneniumForce made a video of that CSX train streetrunning through Tampa a few years ago? I loved hearing the horn bouncing off the buildings

[@barillius]

Holy cats.. 1 hour after release, already over 1K likes and hundreds of comments. Wow, Danny, looks like you've developed a winner. Congrats!!

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Another interesting Florida railfan video. As a Canadian who used to travel to Florida once sometimes twice a year since the 70's I really enjoy seeing the switching videos. I used to follow spurs I came across to see who they served and if they were still being used. Caught a lot of trains to shoot that way too. With the pandemic I haven't been back since 2019, that should change this year. Hope to see you out there ! Thanks for sharing Danny.

[@sunnysiderails397]

Very well put together video and that radio voice is just excellent, top shelf work here my friend!