Florida Railfan Routes
Driving across Florida? Why not enjoy trains at the same time. Here you will find highways that allow a look at the railroads as they travel across the state. Only routes that run along side rails for long distances are featured.
Rolling along the lagoon, a FEC / NS extra slides under the US 1 overpass in Titusville Florida, in August of 1998.
HIGHWAY US 1 (CSX - FEC - Metrorail)
This was once one of the main highways into Florida before the Interstates. Now it offers some of the best railfanning in the state.
North of Jacksonville, the highway follows CSX. There are many places to find a side road to access the CSX line.
South of Jacksonville, US 1 is all FEC territory to Miami, over 300 miles. Some of the best pacing can be had for a 20 mile stretch south of Jacksonville.
The FEC main swings west to Hialeah in Miami, but US conitinues southward, and through Downtown Miami. From downtown, US 1 offers several places to watch the Metrorail rapid transit line, running above former FEC right of way. If you follow US 1 down to Key West you will be traveling on the old FEC route that was destroyed in 1935. A number of old railroad bridges are still visable in the Keys.
FREQS
160.59 CSX
160.53 FEC
In April, 1995 a CSX eastbound freight roars into Lake City Florida. Union Pacific power is frequently seen on the line west of Jacksonville.
On a spring morning is April, 1995, a Norfolf Southern local is seen in Lake City Florida. This train, had just crossed CSX, and US 90, and is heading to a mill about a mile away. This line once ran all the way to Palatka but now ends in Lake City. NS now reaches Palatka via CSX.
US 90 (CSX, NS, AND AMTRAK)
This is the main highway through the panhandle from Jacksonville Florida, outside of I-10. US 90 follows the CSX line all the way to Pensacola Florida. Though not a busy line, the trains seen can be unique as UP, SP, and other foriegn power can be frequently seen. The Sunset Limited also rolls through every other day.
The NS line intersects at Lake City. The NS line runs northwest from there, along US 41. Several NS moves a day can be seen.
FREQS
161.100
160.590
161.370 (west)
160.950 NS
A CSX intermodal train blasts through Deland Florida in September of 1996. This station is reached by traveling west on SR 44 from US 17 in Deland.
US HIGHWAY 17
This road follows the ex ACL line of CSX from the Florida Border to Tampa. North of Jacksonville, only local freights heading for the paper mills can be seen. However south of Jacksonville, it is a main line, hosting CSX and Amtrak Trains. It sees the most passenger traffic, outside of the southeast rail corridor from Miami to West Palm Beach.
This line does not have the traffic levels that the route through Ocala does. However, intermodal traffic, locals, coal trains, and Amtrak can be seen.
Chasing is not easy, due to traffic congestion, especially in the Orlando area. However, north of Sanford, to Jacksonville, several rail bridges can be seen, crossing the St. Johns, river, and others.
FREQ
160.590
In Waldo Florida, a CSX northbound rolls around a curve into the small town in April of 1993.
US 301 (CSX AMTRAK)
This highway runs from the Jacksonville area to Tampa, and follows the busy CSX line between those two cities. Many trains can be seen on a good day, and there are places where the rails are right next to the highway. The area around Ocala often resembles Lexington Ky., with large rolling fields and horse farms. Some places near Lawty Florida are known for extreme speed enforcement, so be careful.
FREQ
161.100