RAILROADS IN THE AREA:
CSX "S-Line":
- Belleview - Ocala - Citra:
This is the CSX mainline that runs from Jacksonville, through Marion County on south through Lakeland and to Miami. This is a very busy line and has trains at various hours during the day. Southward this line proceeds along HWY 301 through Belleview and into Sumter County and northward along HWY 301 through Western Alachua, Bradford, Clay and Duval counties.
This is the southern branch of the Florida Northern railroad in Ocala. The line is based at the center of the FNOR railroad which is just north of downtown Ocala at the northwest corner of the intersection of N. Magnolia and Bonnie Heath Blvd (aka NE 14th St, or NW 10th St). The line also has a connection to the CSX line that stretches from the central location, and meets the CSX "S-Line" just west of the Ocala Amtrak Station. There is also a small spur that heads west from the connection that serves a few small industries on over to NW 27th Ave. The main section of the southern part of the line heads from the Central point, south crossing the CSX mainline, and passing directly next to the Amtrak Station the Ocala square, As the train comes into the Ocala Square (downtown Ocala) there is several blocks of street trackage which can lead to some very intersting pictures! After passing the downtown area, the track following SE Magnolia for a short distance to Rt 464. Eventually this crosses Baseline Rd, and ends in Candler along Maricamp Rd (which again is 464). The train has several stops it makes on the line, unfortunately many of them are dificult to access, there are stops just east and north of baseline rd as well as in Candler.
This is the Northern half of the Florida Northern line through Ocala. Starting from the central point at N. Magnolia Ave, the line creeps up through woods and fields to Lowell. This line is seldom used, but a good treat if you can find a train to follow on it. There is a train that serves the rock mine just north of the Central point, often these trains will store cars and use the track at the MLK JR crossing NORTH of HWY 27.
This section of track is also operated by Pinsly and is [art of the Florida Northern Railroad. Though I have spotted Pinsly locomotives on this line, the large majority of the trains are CSX coal trains, which are still pulled by the CSX lcomotives. There are usually only about 1 - 3 trains a day on the line, with no specific schedule. Often, in Dunnellon, on HWY 41, just behing the Kentucky Fried Chicken (and at E McKinney Ave)you can find a train waiting for a train to pass from returning from the Power facility this track serves just north of Crystal River in Citrus County. This line heads south to the Florida Power Facility and north through Williston up to Newberry where it connects to a CSX line and heads to Starke, where it finally connects to the CSX "S-Line" and heads north to Jacksonville. Much of this line can be followed northward Marion, Levy and Alachua counties on HWY 41, then in Newberry the coal trains will head northeast toward Alachua along Rt 235.
FREQUENCIES USED IN AREA:
Frequency Description:
- 452.9375 Mhz - Redman Front
- 457.9375 Mhz - Redman End
- 161.1000 Mhz - CSX "S-Line"
- 160.5900 Mhz - Often used on FNOR line through Dunnellon
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.