Brightline is making big news on the Florida East Coast with passenger service on FEC's rails. Here's what I got from a couple of trips to West Palm and Fort Pierce.
Those are the brake indicator. Solid green = released, solid yellow = applied, flashing yellow = parking brake applied, solid red = door open. I worked for Siemens as part of the Brightline project before revenue service even started.
I agree with that. On my trains (I am a train conductor for a class 3 Shortline) we have a blue indicator for parking brake applied. Otherwise the colors are the same on our trains.
About the lights on the cars - green is when brakes are released, solid yellow for applied, red for doors open, yellow flashing is for hankdbrakes applied. Upon departure, the cars may show green and red simultaneously, or red and yellow. Depending on if the engineer released the brakes or not. Once the doors have been closed, the red lights turn off and yellow will turn to green. Highball. Train is going to depart.
@@distantsignal I should actually edit my comment. I got something wrong. Red is doors open and solid yellow is brakes applied. My apologies, got those 2 backwards for some reason in my original comment.
ive used the brightline 4 times since it opened. literally wpb to mia was 1 hour flat, very comfortable experience and is like riding a mansion compared to the tri-rail or a national rail trip. its a very under-rated and superior rail system
Unpopular european opinion: It is a slow as heck barely decent train that is probably the only "modern" thing about the current US system. And by modern, it means not 70 years old.
@@marcbuisson2463 The reason Europe has such plentiful fast trains, is that they have many congested cities in a relatively small geographic area. It's much more conducive to running trains and doing it cost efficiently. America is less dense and way more spread out. It's often less costly for us to simply drive to where we want to go. We have large wide roads that are easily navigated, where in Europe, they have narrow congested roads, and often in cities that are hundreds of years old, the pathways were built around buildings on top of each other before automobiles were even ever thought of. It doesn't mean Europe is better, and that he USA should copy Europe. What works in Europe, may not work well here. and what works well here, may not work well in Europe. All things considered, I feel blessed to be an American, and would NEVER want to live in Europe at all.
@@robk1310 I mean, you guys have the East Coast. And our roads, while being a bit narrower are faaaar less congested than in the US. Like, seriously, our "rush hours" are usually of around an hour. In France, we have another specificity where a third of the country goes in Holiday for the entirety of July and another third goes on August (it's called chassez-croisé, but we have a vacation culture the US don't have. Outside of this, roads are overall not congested. What we point out is that we never allowed a situation such as the ones in Austin, San Francisco or Los Angeles to happen. That's the benefit of trains and public transports, we have the choice, and if a solution is less cost-efficient or takes more time to go to work, we can choose the other one. On the long run and just as in the US, a trip from point A to point B in a dense neighborhood/city takes as much time in car than in public transports. This also applies to US cities. Good public transports means far greater car circulation, and less costs to build and keep car infrastructure up to date. I'm really sorry, but rolling on US roads can be huh... well we like to joke about Belgium for having bad car infrastructure but the US are on another level x). The argument of "it's cheaper like this" could be right... if you guys simply put enough money to make these roads good and keep them in shape. Which huh... sorry, but you don't. Also, I went to Canada last month, I don't know if it's the same, but having to pay nearly 50 dollars to travel 150 kilometers is purely insane. It's me being curious, but is it really that expensive to travel around the USA? No because, if we take a slow train, Paris-Strasbourg is 10 dollars ^^".
"Often" is relative. Many YTs seem to think that videos every day or week are what keeps the buzz going, but it's the quality of the content. I'd still call dozen(s) of videos a year "often."
Every time I hear that FAMOUS phrase “Hello again Railfans” I know I’m about to be in for something very good. This was epic to watch over my pre-dawn breakfast today. Fantastic work as always Danny!! You are amazing!
I just read an article about how Brightline is hoping to open a high speed rail line between the L.A. area to Las Vegas. Apparently the funding is there, but there are some who are skeptical that the venture could fail, based on the perception of low ridership in Florida. There is also some concern that many people won't be in a hurry to give up their cars. But Brightline is convinced the project will be a success. Based on your latest video on Brightline, I'd convinced Brightline has the right idea to relieve the congestion along the I-15 corridor. Love your videos Danny! John Tyson, Virginia city, Nevada
My first reaction to the seemingly low ridership is partly due to the hours - 9:45pm is far too early for the last run imo. Two or three more departures at minimum!
@@InternetKilledTV21 Frequency and capacity are important factors too. If you only have trains arriving and departing at hour intervals, that's an hour of wait time, and if your train is only four cars long it'll only carry a handful of people. On top of that, delays caused by sharing trackage with freight trains present as an issue, one that double tracking can help solve. The amount of level crossings combined with poor drivers license standards and too many cars on the road give rise to plenty of collisions with car traffic, documented by news stations and used as an excuse for bashing trains by carheads. The quiet zones forbidding trains from using their horns doesn't help either. There really is a lot of bad public perception of trains, and underlying reasons for that. That shouldn't stop progress, we need good alternatives to cars, because car dependency makes traffic congestion and death by car inevitable. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Bad experience with trains leads to low ridership, leads to cutback on trains, leads to bad experience with trains. Same with buses, cycling and walking infrastructure, urban density and mixed use zoning, etc. These are all things we need more of, and we need them to be good in quality and experience.
@@InternetKilledTV21 They do late night trains when there's pro games being played. Heat, Marlins, and Panthers. Other things too, will get late trains. They call them the Buzzer beater.
@@InternetKilledTV21 Not really, Brightline operates more so like an express commuter rail line than a regular commuter rail line. Compared to Tri-Rail, it has lower ridership due to serving fewer destinations.
Up in Canada Via Rail just purchased similar train sets. I am hoping this is the start of a resurgence of rail in my province. So many abandoned lines, would of been a site to see back in the day. Now all we see is mainly intermodal traffic. I love your narration you should have your own TV show talking about the rails that used to be and what the future will be, thank you for great content.
Nobody does train videos better than you! You are the Gold Standard against which all railroad videos must compare and compete! Thanks again, Danny Harmon!
I really hope Brightline is successful enough to spur more high-speed rail lines in the states. Thank you Danny and everyone else for another great video!
Not practical in most of the states. Florida may be the one place it works due to tourist locations that may support its operation. Covid hysteria cannot be helping through. Florida tries to be sane about these things at least.
Danny I want to thank you for your wonderful videos! I an a double amputee Marine Corp veteran & can't get out & railfan anymore, but you are doing that for me now. Keep up the good work, and once again, THANK YOU! Ron Stailey
DANNY,AS A RETIRED GENERAL ROAD FOREMAN 0F ENGINEES OF THE EL,CNJ MP AND AMTRAK AND REAL OLD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK , PHOTOGRAPHING, DRIVING AND FACTS OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEING REAL PROFESSIONAL. I HAVE BEEN A RAILFAN, LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER RF OF E.. FOR 87 YEARS NOW AND RETIRED AT 82 I HAVE PHOTOED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THANKS TO AMTRAK AND AS A LOCOMOTIVE INSTRUCTER WITH A SYSTEM POSITION THANKS FOR GREAT WORK HOPE TO SEE MORE OF WHAT YOU DO. THANKS AGAIN.................
Thank you Danny, for your footage from around the old Fort Pierce Port Lead. I used to work in that neck o' the woods many years ago. Sad to see those once-busy rails now overgrown and obviously abandoned.
This all works in South Florida because of the population density and that FEC is willing to work with Brightline. CSX probably couldn't care less in the same situation. FEC used to be double tracked, and thanx to Brightline it will be again soon. The space is there. Roaming Railfan has Brightline construction updates.
@@distantsignal Yes, they do. I used to ride the MARC train on the Camden Line from Laurel, MD to Union Station for a few years. I occasionally used the Penn Line from Odenton, MD to Union Station, too. It's worth mentioning that the Capitol Limited from DC to Pittsburgh uses CSX trackage. The Capitol Limited then takes a little used track under Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood to reach the Ex PRR, now NS mainline from "dahntahn" Pixburgh, n'at, on to Chicago via Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit.
Danny, your videos are top notch productions. I love how you edit in the drone footage with the ground shots. Your excellent voice is pleasent to listen to as you narrate the videos. I can't wait for the next one!
I'll keep watching this for a while. It's all so different from how railroading is done in my home country, Germany. Thanks for sharing and explaining.
1) Great to see yet ANOTHER high quality railfan video! 2) GREAT drone work, Danny! 3) I look forward to seeing more about the Brightline RR. My wife and I have talked off and on about returning to the Orlando area some day (we're in Illinois) and having a train to take from Disney to other points in Florida (such as near the Kennedy Space Center, et al) would be GREAT! 4) THANK YOU!
One big reason why FEC wanted to multi-track their main line from Miami to Jax has to do with the widening of the Panama Canal. With more freight flowing through the canal, Miami wants to enlarge it's container handling capacity which means more rail is needed to deal with the increase. In fact, even Port Canaveral has recently installed a few container cranes so as not to be left out and there is probably a spur on the drawing board to connect them to the FEC main sometime in the future.
3:30 When I saw that car past the gate, I thought of the numerous reports of people getting hit by Brightline trains recently. People need to show better awareness of crossings down there.
It seems like every couple of weeks our other Central Florida passenger rail, SunRail, hits a car at a crossing so, I am expecting the same for Brightline.
04:37 - That technique is called `Driving In`, and it takes a fair amount of experience and skill to get it right. Where typical logic would dictate that the Engineer cut power and coast before needing to use brakes to stop, most passenger operations are time sensitive, where keeping on schedule is more important than worrying about wear on the brakes. Most of these types of operations will employ disc brakes, where frequent stops, and `Driving In` will be the fashion of each stop. The disc brakes can better deal with more frequent stopping and dissipation of the heat. No, I am not an Engineman myself, but I`ve been fortunate to have known a few. And I have personally witnessed a `Drive In` where the train ended up slightly over-shooting, and was then forced to back up to the target stopping zone. The forced back-up was due to having missed the raised platforms on the accessibility coach, so that people with mobility needs and wheeled devices can have a level entry and exit, and avoid the very slight step up to bi-level coaches.
WOW!!! What a professional presentation. You must be a retired Radio/TV announcer. Clear and to the point, covering all the details. Great photography. I watch a lot train video's but it's rare that I ever subscribe...nothing compares to your projects. Didn't take me long to hit the subscribe button! Thanks a lot!
Very interesting stuff from a UK perspective, and beautifully shot as always! One thing: is there any chance you could subtitle the radio chatter in future videos? I always find it interesting to see the details of how different railways work, but it's not always easy to understand what's being said.
The LED signals are also nice because they can be viewed at nearly any angle, while incandescents are very dim at off angles. But LEDs can be almost too bright straight on. Up here in MN both CN and CP use them extensively, but BNSF has avoided them. I like the power and simplicity of LEDs, but I'll miss that nice fade-in/out of incandescent bulbs. I actually have the opposite opinion of approach-lit signals. Dispatchers up here tend to clear a route about half an hour ahead of a train, so for someone who as limited radio access, like me, it's far more useful than the couple minutes' warning approach lighting provides
I have caught these Brightline trains several times from West Palm going to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami to catch cruise ships. Very clean stations, very clean trains, first class all the way. They will even shuttle you over to the the cruise ports. No better way to travel South Florida. They will get my business every time. Sure will be happy when they expand their tracks North.
EXCELLENT, as always !!!! I have ridden the Brightline frm WPB to MIA and back. EXCELLENT equipment and service onboard. As soon as they open another station, I'll be heading that way to make that ride. Florida is finally getting into real public transportation.
There is a lot of Big interest in seeing how Brightline makes out in Florida. I personally am hoping that this service sets the standard for a new US rail system. Also interesting to note the I-4 corridor from east of Orlando to Tampa is the fastest growing in the country. High tech, education, healthcare and Banking. Disney even announced it's moving most of it's "Imagineering group" here from California.
I'm so jealous. I've probably got more years than almost anyone at the FEC. They get the great scenery though while I'm stuck on a very boring CSX line. Mostly just yard work. How I wish I'd of made better decisions in my younger years.
3:30 I don't expect anything less from Florida drivers. Quad gates at this point should be standard on all tracks that get more than a few trains a day. The Venture cars are based on the Viaggio Comfort from europe. They've got 5 more sets coming but aren't increasing the length yet. Amtraks got over 600 cars on order, VIA cars 160 Its funny that most of the short distance passenger fleet will be some version of a Charger with Venture coaches in the next 5 years.
What a great installment in your series!! I love railfanning the FEC when I come down yearly to visit my son in Port Orange...You're right FEC freight trains do certainly sneak up on you. In January when I was there I was in Cocoa and saw the work being done on Brightline's new track. Can't wait to ride it...thanks again
This old retired Railroader from Boca Raton sure enjoyed your latest video, you do a stand up job Danny! Old school, I also know it’s hard work and expensive! I appreciate your effort thanks! Too bad Brightline is having so much trouble with auto’s not respecting the crossing gates and signal’s!!
Visited Ft Lauderdale last week, had breakfast on a patio next to the tracks - son tells me that our granddaughter (age 2) loves when the BL train runs by! Sure enough the yellow train zoomed past as we ate bacon & eggs. Timely video, as always Danny!
@@distantsignal It's called Cyth & Co., corner of NE 12th Ave & NE 34th Ct. It's actually in Oakland Park, first town north of Ft Lauderdale. The 'Hash Smash' is pretty tasty!
Great video Danny on bright line. Lot of driving u do for your fans. Thank you!!! Joey and I Are Much appreciative of the dedication of your work and your time.
Another USRA Choice video! If I knew half of what you forgot about railroads, I would be twice as smart, but... Here is one tip for you on tank cars and any placarded loads. Those four tanks on the bottom of what you believe was FEC 912 and further believed were propane can be identified by the placards. The number on the placards is 1075, which indeed indicates propane. I started doing this after watching Stephen Demboske videos. He would call out the placard number while watching the train pass. Looking them up allows for positive identification, and they actually help me with the planning and design of my future model railroad.
Fascinating video, Danny! I am so happy that Floridians are getting more and more travel options. The Brightline folks seem to be working well with FEC to get things moving. I love your video skills, narration skills, and editing skills. Huge thumbs up.
Awesome, beautiful video Danny. Also very appropriate for me as my Wife and I are completing a week long vacation in Melbourne. We saw a couple of Brightline trains this week. I hope they continue to be successful as they extend their service all the way to Tampa. It would be worth coming down and riding sometime to see the FEC territory.
Thank you for documenting the Bridgt Line and the Florida East Coast trains, Danny! The information in your narration is very interesting and informative. I really enjoy your narratives with all the information that you provide. I am looking forward to your future video on both of these railroads.
The state of Florida needs all the help it can get. There is no doubt in my mind given the current political situation that the money for Brightline had to come from the Feds. If the state had anything to do with this, they would have turned it down. If any high speed passenger service is to make a go of it, highway grade crossings have to be eliminated. Putting a sign up to warn motorists of high speed trains will do no good. Even if a few crashes occur that result in deaths, the folks who have a Darwin wish will continue to evade the crossing arms and warnings. Nuf said.
Incremental progress. What matters is getting the line built and your right. It seems like the US is so far up it's behind with car centric infrastructure.
1: Brightline is basically Privately Funded through Bond Sales. Some construction, i.e.: Miami and Orlando Intl Airport Stations surely involves public funds. 2: Yeah, there have been quite a few vehicle collisions at grades/crossings, especially in Palm Beach County lately. All are caused by reckless motorists not respecting the danger a train poses.
Very cool! I was down there last November and the line along 528 had signals that were lit but no tracks yet. I often wondered how that would even work? But I guess if they can get the signal contractors in there and have everything installed then when the track work is done all they need to do is plug wires into the rails and set their shunts at all the right places. These are exciting times for Florida's Railroad Infrastructure because for the last 50+ years all we have seen are major routes being dismantled. It's nice to see one being built.
Hi Danny, Glad to see another one of your videos. At 10:20 FEC 429 is a GP40-2 like you said but it was delivered in 1980 to the FEC there were 6 of these delivered in 1980. FEC 424-429 however FEC 424 was a rebuilt from FEC 402 which was first delivered in 1971 as a GP40 but was wrecked and final rebuilt as a FEC 424 now a GP40-2. There is a great article on the FEC in the Trains magazine dated July 1996 with FEC 403 GP40 on the cover. Robert a former FEC employee now retired in Lagrande Oregon.
Let's hope high speed rail really takes off. In the US as it has in Europe. Without a doubt in my opinion rail is the way to travel, whilst air travel is quick over long distances I do find air travel so obnoxious, what with the mucking around at airports for hours and stuck in some horrible seat designed by the Spanish Inquisition. To travel at 300kph racing past cars and to be able to go get up and buy a coffee is civilised.
I was really looking forward to the day you’d cover Brightline - can’t wait to see your take! Everything else you’ve done has been of the highest quality and I really appreciate your more in-depth look into railroad operations. I’d love to see you cover the NEC or the Charlotte, NC area sometime (big distance gap there I know).
We cannot thank you enough for the quality videos! My kids and I love watching and learning a bit while we check out all the sites and sounds Sure hope you continue to do your thing sir.
I have to say that as a european; my first thought was the front of these trains look so quintessentially siemens... And a whole lot like the Dutch NS SLT (sprinter light train) rail cars, manufactured from 2007-2012 to replace some of the oldest rolling stock still in service back then
i love how informative your videos are. i never get tired of hearing you talking about trains, explaining smaller details, and giving interesting trivia
