Danny: What a brilliantly crafted and edited video. After shooting the motion video, doing the edits, and then adding narrative audio, you've hours of time invested for this thirty-seven and one half minutes long presentation. It obvious you do all of it by yourself, and that is what makes it so special. Bravo!
I’ve lived in Cordele most of 71 years. Before the overpass was build it was said you would have better luck not getting stopped at a traffic signal than not getting stopped at a rail crossing. I ran the Helena Industries plant at Ross siding for many years, and actually built several turnouts into the plant off CSX. The Cordele local ran over one of our delivery trucks in the early 80s at Ross, and the debris knocked out the signal house. The line became unsignalled for months due to soil cleanup. Traffic on CSX was backed up from Waycross to Manchester for a couple of days. When it opened back up there were trains nose to tail for days.
I've been on the Dearing!!! I met the owners while they were in Tampa on the trailing end of The Silver Star Dec 23, 2018... I actually talked to the owner Mrs. Black as she was sitting comfortably on the vestibule while they were waiting for the green on Neve Wye, turning the train around to back into Tampa Station. I showed up at the station and she invited me aboard for a tour of the Pullman Car... AWESOME!!! I got lots of pictures of the inside of that awesome car... So happy to know that it's still running the rails. She wasn't sure what they were going to do since Amtrak stopped trailing private cars... Glad she found a useful home for the Dearing...
Mr Harmmon you are second to none when it comes to Rail Fan Content in the Great Nation of the USA. It seems you impress many, many Rail fans from across the world with your incite full yet easy to understand Videos that make it very easy to share this passion of Trains with others not familiar with this enthusiasm. Your the David Attenborough of Trains and i thank you for sharing your immense passion of Watching and Tracking the Business of these impressive and awesome Trains. Bless you.
@Walker Lancaster I’ve seen only the Spirit of Ravenna, and the Georgia Road unit. whats strange is that I’ve seen 3 of the new EMD tier 4s but only 2 special units on the CSX CC Sub. Ain’t that strange?
Thanks for this video. My paternal grandfather who was born in the 1880s in Plains, GA went to work for one of the railroads, becoming a conductor. He had taught my father a lot about train technology of the day, and if possible, traveled by rail. As a child, my mom and I would see him off at Terminal or Union stations in Atlanta. Before he would board, he always walked the train looking for "hot boxes" , loose brake lines and other hazards. Just before his early death, he took me on a business trip to Blackshear which involved a train to Macon and a pullman car swap on a train to Waycross. I'll never forget that ride. I lament the passing of passenger rail service in most of the USA.
What a great video. I used to own a trucking Company in Maine and ran Maine to Florida and return. Watermelon season brought me to Cordele every year in July. I picked up at the farmers market there and remember hearing train whistles all day long. Thanks for the memories
Drayton, you are getting as classy as Danny...all you need is some gray - thinning hair and you will be right up there. If Danny is the #1 videographer of the rails, then Drayton, you are 1A!
Danny, Cordele is a fascinating town. Google mapping the diamonds and other stuff. Thank you for the dropped signal at 20:00 AND the Cordele 'holdout' Danny you are the best! I'm looking forward to your DPU research. Once again, thank you
We Cordelians avoid the trains in town by using I75 for just one exit which sounds crazy but it works. On the other side there's an overpass. There needs to be an overpass built in the middle on Pecan street too because you get stuck there half of the time
I spent a lot of time in Cordele when I was a kid, and it's where my lifetime love of trains was born. My grandparents lived two doors down from the CSX Fitzgerald Sub at 3rd. Street South. Back in the late 60s, at least 30 or so Seaboard Coastline freights rumbled through every 24 hour period. In later years - early 90s through 2010, when my Grandmother passed away, this line was almost dead. There were times I was there for several days with not a train in sight. The rails had shine on them so I know it was being used. Glad to see the traffic picking up there once again! I can still hear that raspy growl of those Leslie air horns atop the GE U-boats that powered most of the SCL freights in the 60s. Thanks for the great video, Danny!!!
On the first train CSX QO25 had CSX number 1 which is the spirit of West Virginia Heritage unit I live on the CSX main line and I've only seen 2 heritage Units and it was the second locomotive on CSX QO25 great video keep up the work
I grew up literately 100 yards from a railroad and wooden trestle outside Oliver Springs , Tn . in the 50's ,60's and 70's watching those Southern Railway E-8's .These vids take me back in time . Much appreciated Danny ... Eddy out !
Because of this video,,,, I now have to make a trip from Missouri to Cordele! Well on the way out and back I get to see 2 of my brothers in TN! Thanks for the invite!
@@jeffreygosselin1143 If you enjoy railfanning, Cordele is the place for you. Train horns blowing all night long too. Oh, and there is absolutely nothing else to do except rail fanning. LOL
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this video. I have been all around Cordele, Plains, Waycross and had no idea of the importance of the rail lines here. Awesome.
Fantastic video. Your videos are some of the best railroad videos on RU-vid I can't get enough of them; brilliantly filmed, great commentary, informative. Much more than just watching an entire train go by like most of the others. Yours are edited great capturing the action without boring us with just rollby after rollby of the entire train, viewed from different angles with some drone footage, lots of educational commentary and some footage from around the location as well as the trains. The action at Cordele is one of your best. Only problem is you aren't uploading them often enough!
your videos tend to make 30 minutes feel like a flash, so enjoyable and you're such and kind a respectful man, it comes off in the tone of your voice, so soothing to the mind, love all these professional takes too, you're really good with your camera!
11:58, I did the math; at the rate of speed, times the time it took to pass, plus a couple of other small figures, the train should be about 19470 feet in length. If you average 60 feet for car length, you are looking at about a 320 car train.
I'm just a casual consumer of railfan art, but this channel is among the best I've ever seen (or heard, especially). I can't help but believe these are historical documents that will outlive us and inform our descendants, down to the last detail.
Another high production value video, Danny! Thank you for your tireless work. I also especially notice how your ad breaks are perfectly timed, with naturally ending segments, just like broadcast TV. You’re the only youtuber I’ve watched that actually does this and it really makes a difference in the sublime viewing experience, so thank you.
My family is from Cordele. My mothers cousin told me about the platform. Suppose to have a cam on Virtual Railfan but by the looks of it, it’s not done. COVID probably stopped construction. The trains use to fly through town but that changed at some point. The bridge the goes over the tracks closest to the platform was built long ago because an ambulance was trying to get to the hospital on the north side but a long train was passing. The person died I believe. My mother told me the story when I was younger. I love going to Cordele and the only one that does in my family. It’s home really but because of the lack of well anything, I don’t think I’ll live there. Maybe after retirement later in life. I have always wanted to be buried at Sunnyside cemetery next to the tracks. My mothers uncle owned a concrete plant next to the tracks but it closed. My great grandmother/father who owed the plant have a plot there. We go every time we are there. We stayed with them every time we visited. She lived 2 houses down from the tracks on 3rd street. I would run out to watch the trains every day.
Anyone see the deer jump across at 8:34? Also that old whistle sign at 22:58 caught my eye. Anyway, the way American's pronounce names in their own dialects has always interested me, especially you southerners, yes I am speaking about you: Vienna, GA, Buena Vista, VA, Dante, VA, and a few others, but then again, I come from a place where "Bethlehem" is pronounced "Bethlum", and we can tell who is from out of town by the way they say "Lancaster". Oh, and if you've ever heard the way Vermonters pronounce Charlotte, us northerners are guilty too. Well done with the research and video, a lot to take in here.
Danny, if you ever plan a trip up to Ohio give me a heads up. Several great areas with multiple railroads. The Marion Depot is a favorite with it's high volume of traffic, the depot, museum, interlocking tower, and Erie bay window caboose. Several nice places to eat also from an original 1924 Stewart's root beer stand (seasonal), some friend's 90ish year old tavern/ pizza/ sub joint, or his bbq place, a lee's famous recipe chicken, The Warehouse, or Amato's - hopefully The Shovel will be reopening soon right by the Depot. The iron triangle in Fostoria, limited traffic but good food in Sterling, the Ohio Railway, Dennison.or Conneaut museums all have active lines close by. The Age of Steam Roundhouse has the largest privately owned steam engine collection in north America. Jerry had quite a dream. The CVSR is always worth a stop. For some short line action the Ashland Railroad still moves some tonnage around Mansfield, Medina, etc. Thank you for the great videos. Several of the grandkids really enjoy them.
Danny, you have taken complicated info and made it more understandable to the layman. Thanks to you and Paul for doing this. Be safe out there on the high rails and beyond. Waiting anxiously for your next video. Ron Copple
Spent the first working years as a tower operator with the B&O RR in Columbus, Oh. What used to be the C&N Division. In 1969 they started using radios. I knew it would be the end of my love for the railroad. In 1973 I left the B&O for another job but never lost my love for the RR. I live by a short line from Lancaster to Columbus.
Not the largest rail fan in the world, but do watch a few when they get suggested up on youtube. I do have to say these are some of the best quality videos on youtube that I have ran across on any topic from a single man operation. Great editing, shots, production, information, and just overall flow of the videos. Great work Danny. Keep it up.
Right above Vienna is a small town called Pinehurst. I lived there most of my life. The tracks went right past a private school football field where my granddaddy coached and at every Friday night’s game I’d sit and wait for the train to come through. Such an eerie satisfaction listening to a train pass by at night. Loved the video. Brought back so many memories of the area.
A compliment: It is soooooo nice to hear some very informative monologue to go with your outstanding videos. I watch these videos in an attempt to LEARN something. One can't learn much from watching a train pass by, not knowing a thing about it other than what can be seen. Thanks.
Been there several times in 2005 and 2006, and every time I was at trackside NS and CSX did not disappoint. And the HOG (pre- G&W) was a pleasant sight.
Im having withdrawals, its been a month since the last vid. I know, greatness takes time... When i see a hempvana commercial on tv, i feel a little better 😁
I was driving up I-75 the day after Christmas right by Cordele. Now that I've seen this wonderful video I have to find out when my daughter is off work so we can make a day or two in Cordele!! This was a great video.
Danny's videos - much more than railfanning. His smooth speaking voice and well crafted video make for very pleasant viewing. Each video is full of facts and history and everything railroad. It doesn't get any better than a Danny Harmon video. What a pleasant way to spend nearly 40 minutes.
Danny, One of your best videos yet! Love the combination of showcasing many different aspects of the railroad in this town. Local switching is always a favorite of mine.
Being retired I have time to watch a lot of railfan videos ( not much train traffic in my part of New Hampshire). I always love coming to your videos. Full of trains and great info. I always learn something.
My Dad was the Trainmaster for CSX railroad in Cordele for 30+ years until he retired some years ago. I ran across this video by chance in my RU-vid suggestions. I grew up in the old CSX depot in Cordele, so I really enjoyed this video! Thank you for making it!
Hey Danny. Haven’t commented in awhile. Love the way you have integrated the ads in the video. I keep expecting you to say “We’ll be right back”. Your videos are among the best on RU-vid without a doubt. I still hear you on All Girls Garage. It would be a hoot if you would say..ok, they’re doing some car stuff but let’s talk about trains! Love your channel Danny. Thanks 😊
Many, Many thanks, Jeff. Yes, I've discovered that RU-vid will let the content creator position where the breaks fall so I started building my longer videos with pauses in them. I think it works well and thanks for mentioning it.
I plan on visiting Cordele this year, it's only about a seven hour drive for me. This gives me a lot of insight on what to expect. Great video Danny, I enjoyed every second of it!
Hi Danny ... John from Melbourne, Australia here. I've been a train fan on and off since I was young. It was still steam in those days and diesel was just coming in. My mother used to take me to the local level crossing to watch The Overland; an intercity overnight passenger express. She used to tell me not to stand too close to the edge of the platform because, apparently, I could get sucked off the platform onto the track by the vacuum caused by the speed of the diesels. I've been scared of diesels ever since! Anyhow, I really enjoy your channel ... I particularly enjoyed the drone shots at the end of this one. These drone cameras are real game changers. Thanks again.
I was born and raised in cordele ga, and It's a great pleasure to see my hometown on your channel. My mother's home is a few blocks over from the diamond, and surprisingly along with the inland port / intermodel service we have that observation station caused alot of controversy in our small town but honestly I love it and I sit there every chance that I have😎😎
I am a retired ex railroader from the 1970ies on Erie Lackawanna.Your shots,your information,and landmark information are great. I come to the Bradenton Florida area about every other year, maybe we can hook up next year. Thanks and Stay Safe 🙂
Great video. I grew up in the then small Virginia city of Suffolk with the Norfolk & Western, Seaboard, Atlantic Coast Line, and the NF & D (Norfolk, Franklin, and Danville). This video brought back so many memories for me. Thanks so much.
5:15 this is also where pagans go to summon cross roads daemons for evening tea. Humor aside, thank you for a very enjoyable vid. Best wishes from England.
We really enjoy your videos. We visited Folkston last Saturday and enjoyed seeing two CSX trains. Boy were they long. I got so excited. And here in Kingsland ,two newly painted orange trains with new horns and new bright led lights bring tankers, box cars and more from Florida. Also we have two Norfolk Southern locomotives. They serve Kingsland ,Kingsbay and St. Mary's.
Great Video, Danny, Listening to the horn echo, is like here, in Buffalo Valley, just north of the Erwin Tn. CSX yard,,, mostly on early foggy mornings,, The CSX horns echo on and on,, the sound is so incredible. Thanks for sharing your vides,, I always enjoy them.... Florida Boy, transplanted to the Tennessee Hills
First Train, Great Catch. I saw CSX Engine 1 which is the Spirit of West Virginia. I remember seeing that engine when it was brand new servicing coal mines in Southern West Virginia in the 90's. I lived in St. Albans where CSX tracks had a wye that is still active today pulling coal from the West Virginia Mountains.
Great Job Danny. That really looks like a fun way to spend a couple of days and it really doesn't matter what businesses are open and closed. You get to get away, do a little drone work, meet other railfans, and watch the railroads moving the freight. I may take a trip down there myself some time.
I'm happy to see Cordele building a viewing platform. It shows this hobby is alive, and even growing. I'd say the same about model railroading. Traditional hobbies seem to be dying off, but model trains have become more advanced than ever before. I think the last time I was there, 8th St. still crossed the HOG and CSX tracks. I'm sure CSX had some close calls there and closed it out of liability.
The view at 16:09 was nice. Would suspect end of the day. Thanks for your work. Love the empty. Gravel and small industrial middle of nowhere...so relaxing.
Danny, there should be an Emmy award for you tube. You would be a shoe in for best production value. Absolutely professional! I Sure wouldn’t want to be the conductor on a 13,000 ft train. Especially if there was a broken hose or knuckle.
Danny, My home state South Dakota, has a town called Vienna, pronounced the same as Georgia's!!! Best pheasant hunting in the country in Vienna, SD when I was a kid!!!! Also where I learned to LOVE trains, There used to be two railroads that crossed in Vienna which was always a tiny little prairie farm town, but oh how we loved to run see the train coming from the west (from Huron, SD) running full bore because that one didn't stop at Vienna! WOW! The ground SHOOK under our feet as we watched it! I even remember riding the passenger train from Sioux Falls to Vienna when I was a little girl. My grandfather would come to the station in Vienna driving his Overland car to take us to their house! LOVE your videos, and I have added Cordele to my "road trip" destinations! I live in Florida now. And out here in the panhandle must north of Eglin AFB THERE ARE NO TRAINS!!!!! Sad me! But so glad to learn about Cordele!
Thanks very much Kathy. Never heard of Vienna, SD before reading this. It sounds great. Sounds like you live around Crestview or Maybe Defuniak. I was born on Fort Walton but grew up in Tallahassee. Yep no trains out there to speak of. First train I ever saw as a kid was in Panama City on the Bay Line.
@@distantsignal I'm in Niceville. Love this little town! You can't even find poor little Vienna SD on road atlas maps anymore. Its west of Watertown, SD.
