Patrick's Central Florida Train Watching Guide

Hillsborough County


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GREEN Lines represent the CSX "A-Line"
BLUE Lines represent the CSX "S-Line"
RED Lines represent Pinsley Railroads (FNOR, FCEN, FMID)
PURPLE Lines represent general CSX railroads

RAILROADS IN THE AREA:

CSX "A-Line":

- Tampa - Plant City and Northeast:

     This is the Tampa end of the A-Line, which has many trains, including amtrak which is served by the Amtrak station near Ybor city. This line heads ease into Polk County


Standard CSX Railroad:

- Tampa - Valrico - Plant City:

     This line heads southeast from Tampa to Valrico where it splits, one line heading south into the Bradley Jct area in Polk County and another north to Plant City where trains can head north crossing the A line again and eventually connecting to the S line at Vitis Jct far north near Dade City / Zephyrhills in Pasco County.

- Valrico - Lithia - Bone Valley:

     This is the southern branch of the line above, which connects to Bradley Jct, and serves some of the trains from the Seminole Gulf RR.

- Tampa north through Lutz:

     Starting in the yard at Ybor City, this line heads north through Tampa, which makes it very difficult to follow, eventually the line begins to parallel Nebraska Ave, which is HWY 41, you can follow this line north into Pasco County and Hernando County via this road; if you can find a train there.

- Tampa north then west to Pinellas County:

     At Busch Blvd just a few blocks east of Nebraska Ave, another line splits from the line above (Tampa through Lutz) and heads west paralleling Busch Blvd for a while then continuing west into Pinellas County.

- Tampa west to Tampa Bay:

     This track weaves its way through downtown Tampa and then heads southwest along the Crosstown Expressway, eventually crossing Gandy Blvd, and and serves many industries / ports along West Shore Blvd and just north of the Picnic Island (Port Tampa / Commerce St) area.

- Tampa South to Seminole Gulf RR:

     Probably the most famous train that comes from this line is the Tropicana orange juice train, which originates south of the area at the tropicana plant in Bradenton, and is also a connection to another portion of the Seminole Gulf Railroad.

- Sparkman Channel / East bay Peninsula:

     This line serves numerous industries located on the peninsula located just east of Harbor Island,and Davis island, west of East Bay. The track often trails along Maritime Blvd and Guy N Verger Blvd.



FREQUENCIES USED IN AREA:

     Frequency Description:
- 452.9375 Mhz - Redman Front
- 457.9375 Mhz - Redman End
- 160.5900 Mhz - Voice Communications
- 160.7850 Mhz - Voice Communications
- 161.3700 Mhz - Voice Communications

    It is always possible other frequencies could be used, I recommend having all frequencies from my Railroad Frequencies page for best possible chances of catching that train.