Aggregate Operations on CSX's Palmetto Subdivision

Welcome back, for another day within some very familiar territory. We'd make the journey north on a pair of days in July, to document some various rail movements along CSX's Palmetto Subdivision, between East Tampa, and Bradenton, Florida. Following the new local, L783, southward towards Palmetto, this train, and a few others, would make for a most interesting pair of outings, all making for a very intriguing return to some familiar territory that I haven't covered in quite a while. That said, I hope y’all get something out of today's video, whether that be a laugh, some new information, or just some general enjoyment. Let’s face it, I’m no professional, but railroading is my lifelong hobby. To those who are still watching after all this time, I appreciate all of the support, since I’m simply doing what I love. I attempt to upload railroading videos as often as possible, being limited by basic lively boundaries, whether it be school, work, or simply a packed schedule regarding the family.
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I hope that the content which I produce is somewhat enjoyable. My videos primarily show what railfanning is truly about. Whether that includes my friends, jokes from our boredom, or simply the trains themselves. I’m hoping that along this journey, new viewers will become regular fans of this channel, as I’m showing some things which others may neglect. Besides, I’m just doing what I love and it’s always nice to share that with people who share those interests. In the end, whatever I’m producing is meant for trainwatchers and railroad enthusiasts of all ages.
Thanks for Watching!!!

[@sdallas68]

Loved this. Well done. I like your style as your presentation has a good balance between details and action.

[@DoubleBRailz]

Just a quick heads up - CSX G575 is approaching central FL and passed me a couple days ago with 3 BNSF Units leading, and a Ferromex ACe and Bonnet 736 as end DPU's, just passed folkston Ga 09:58am this morning! I would recommend to go get it or maybe coming back north with the loads but idk! Just a little Heads up for ya!

[@Koenackman]

Best quality train videos on all of KZbin, it’s like 8k !!!

[@JodyBee]

Nice catch of the dash 8 and dash 9

[@AmtrakTBL]

Great vid bro wild seeing a GEVO on the Palmetto Spur 😂

[@kotabeaner]

Yeah it is, but go back far enough and you’d see lashups of Dash 7’s, 8’s, you name it. Simply go back to when Conrad got unit trains, and you’ve got 2 - 3 six axles on that spur already.

[@berkshiredave9766]

Conductors worst nightmare is forgetting the derail.🤪

[@SamTheRailfanner]

Great catch!

[@kennethhanks6712]

Sometimes it's funny how some things can come together. It struck me that your exposition and description of the Yelvington aggregate operation was one of the best overviews of this kind of set up I've seen, especially the car shaker procedure. Particularly appropriate today on the death of Jerry Lee Lewis of, amoung other hits, "A Whole Lot Of Shakin Goin On"! Yeah, you'll have to Google, as before your time!

[@kotabeaner]

Ha! Well, glad to hear I expedited it effectively. It was real convenient for us to have stumbled upon it, considering what we were planning for the next day. I’ve always, partly because of my early-on wishes to see one on the Palmetto Sub, been attracted to the idea of unit rock trains, or open-top hopper trains in general. Since the days of Conrad unit trains ended with Harrison in 2017, happenstance, extras, or locals are what I must settle with and work around, admittedly making it harder to see any nowadays.

[@tsrtrainproductions]

Amazing video love the different camera angles 🔥👌🏾

[@kotabeaner]

Well, ya need em where ya need em! Thanks my friend👊🏼

[@tsrtrainproductions]

@@kotabeaner 🤝🏾 No problem man

[@kennethgrimsley7656]

Awesome video 🔥🔥🔥

[@kotabeaner]

Thank You!

[@TwoRibbonRailvideos]

Good to see a classic rock video back on the channel> It's all about where you started from

[@kotabeaner]

Yeah it’s been a while, and will probably be a while again. Should they bring the unit trains back, I’ll stand corrected. Although, I think that’s a lot to ask of Mr. Heinrichs🥴

[@blanetrain9584]

I didn't realize Conrad Yelvington was receiving so much rock lately and I'm guessing that volume will increase with rebuilding efforts in Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian. I'm wondering if any of their other ALCOs will be replaced with other power over time given their other facilities have been known to have such engines like what used to be used at Palmetto (suprisingly that S-2m original worked in Canada until the early 70s when it was sold for use at a mine in the Bone Valley). A small correction about the Bradenton depot is that passenger service was discontinued upon the formation of Amtrak in May of 1971 which used to connect with the west coast trains at Tampa Union Station and swap cars with it. It also seems that the current connection between the old S-line and A-line at Palmetto was added sometime after the formation of SCL as it appears there was indeed a connecting track between the two near where the diamond used to be but it was in the northwest corner (also surprising is that the Tropicana Juice Train used the old S-line route to Durant at least once in the 70s as documented by some photos I've found online)

[@kotabeaner]

Very good information, and I appreciate the corrections. I do know that for a while, the SCL’s Juice Train ran that line supposedly to bypass Tampa, though it’s unclear for how long. What I will say, though, is that Conrad Yelvington (Palmetto’s at least), doesn’t typically receive quantities of rock like they did in this video, which is part of why I came out to document it, as their shipments, too, have been seemingly getting smaller over time. Ian may definitely have a part to play in future shipments, as will the Seminole Gulf’s Sarasota branch, as transloading ops were discussed heavily among Seminole Gulf as their other line took a huge hit. Should it become feasible here soon, I may make a trip down there to check on progress fairly soon.

[@sntrainzchaserguy6883]

I hope you had a good railfan trip on CSXs Palmetto Subdivision. I will see you later.

[@multicolorfilms]

Really interesting video, but informative nonetheless. Enjoyed that you put the drone up for the rock unloading. Nice one man!

[@kotabeaner]

It’s certainly a different life down here, and without unit trains, it just gets weirder and weirder. Appreciate it my dude!

[@cathyoldham7596]

Very interesting and very articulately done. Where do the rock loads originate? I'm guessing somewhere in Georgia - perhaps Brownsand or Camak? Thanks for providing a very nice look at Palmetto Sub operations!

[@kotabeaner]

Thank you! Normally the Conrad shipments come from the mine in Camak. Brownsand is usually shipping for other suppliers, such as Martin Marietta. I miss the days that Palmetto, or any other Conrad’s in Tampa bay used to get unit trains from Camak or South Florida, but at least for now, those days have since passed.

[@thechannel9637]

Idk why I they use big gevos when they could use an sd40-2

[@FL_GA_Videos]

Hey Kotabeaner! What’s some time we could meet up because I wanna soon and also one of my friends wants to see you through livestream

[@sophornnmun3479]

Very good video I also do content like that

[@TrainsAreReallyCool]

22:20 I hear Aria Math in the background. Do you like C418's music?

[@kotabeaner]

Absolutely. I have most of the Minecraft background tracks saved on my devices. I have a playlist of all of them that I sometimes listen to when I’m driving, especially at night - it’s quite the experience. Aria Math has always been my favorite of them all.

[@TrainsAreReallyCool]

@@kotabeaner That's awesome! Aria Math is one of my favorites. I think droopy likes your face beats it though.