Agreed! I don't have a lot of time to rail fan out like you do. We have CSX and a couple of short lines but that pretty cool. The city I live in is really a cross road we get freight coming from north, south and east and west. Most trains just pass straight through with only about 25% of the freight staying here Nice video , nice comment thanks for keeping it clean.
It’s nice to watch someone who doesn’t pretend to know it all. Still working on the railroad for the last 17 years in the great white north, on the ground as a conductor and in the “seat” for the last 13 years, it gets exhausting watching people talk about things they have no idea about, EVEN I DON’T know everything and I learned from a lot of old heads with 40 plus years even learning their tricks behind the throttle. When you think you know it all, that leads to either getting hurt or killed because STEEL has NO FEELINGS...NOW YOU, say that you don’t know but I am sure if you asked a conductor or engineer they would tell you the why’s of something being done if you were to ask...Stay safe and enjoy rail fanning
Thanks EMS. Yeah, I'm certainly no Know-It_all. Just when I think I;ve got it all figured out, the railroad ups and changes it all around. Thanks very much for your comment.
Hello Danny! I actually work for CSX up north in MD. I just wanted to let you know my son loves trains and i always had a hard time finding decent videos for him to watch till I came across your channel! Now he watches it daily. Thanks for all the hard work!!
If you're into big rigs, you should check out Plaza Towing's channel. They have all kinds of POV clean up jobs from truck accidents. Guy on the channel is super nice and professional. I've been bingeing those recently.
Great video. Informative and professional. It’s nice to see a railfan that doesn’t pretend to know everything. You are a humble gentleman who admits that it’s never possible to be all-knowledgeable as a bystander.
Some nights I watch your oldest videos, some nights I binge the 2014-2019 era videos. Thanks for all you've done Danny, been watching since I was at least 9 or 10, 18 now. It's been great being part of the journey!
Danny, you do a great job explaining what's going on. I also appreciate the fact that you admit that a spectator can't know everything. I wish I had more time to watch your videos. I'll try.
Hi Sir, You know, you and your incredible acoustic golden voice, given at your videos a professional aspect and quality equal or better than as an documentary shows on classic television channels. You're the best.
As a train conductor myself, it’s very interesting to watch switching moves from a different railroad. In many cases it’s exactly the same, (calling for 3-step, telling the engineer which way to go, etc.) and in many other cases, it’s completely different!! lol.
As far as switching the reefers around goes; it’s a customer request. On the old MILW in Burlington, WI; there is a glassmaker that gets four covered hoppers at a time and those cars “must” be in the order of the customer’s “recipe” so once the process starts they just need to dump one carload after the other. If a car is missing the others sit in the local yard until it shows up and all four cars are delivered in the proper order.
As a long time viewer, I have to say that I really enjoy seeing you on video talking to the camera. I started adopting that to some of my content in the form of vlogs last year. It’s an added personal connection to the audience that I find adds a lot to the kinds of content we do (railfanning, transportation, etc).
Danny, absolutely wonderful upload as always. I grumbled a little to myself when you described the weather down in your neck of the woods as I glanced outside my window to see the snow flying with a windchill of 20 here in central Ohio. At least I got to enjoy the warm sunny day of your video for 8 minutes. My favorite part was the switching. I never get bored of observing crews do customer switching. It sure does look like those guys have been working together for some time--talk about making a nice easy coupling between cars.
Being from New Orleans I wish we had someone with his skills to do this here. Back in the mid 70's I used to follow a crew from the ICG, take pictures and kitbash some of the cars that caught my eye, only if we'd had and idea what our future had in store. Thanks for all your time..
I almost cried at the beginning when you were talking about the weather, while you were saying how nice it was, it was currently snowing and 19 degrees here in Missouri.
Dan, great job. Keep them coming. When I was young I lived in Seffner. My Uncle in Dover and Aunt in Lakeland. I remember very well Florida Coast Line, Atlantic Coast line, and Seaboard. Your bring back memories. Keep the film rolling
I am very happy to see things I can't see anywhere else except on RU-vid that make it possible for people like you to do what you do. I've been a fan of railroads since 1957 when I was 3 years old or maybe 2. I may have ridden on one of the last passenger trains the NYC ran powered by a steam engine from New York City to Cleveland Ohio to visit my grandparents. My real name is Mike. My RU-vid name is a variation of my nickname 'Wizard'. I'm not a real wizard, just self-taught and skilled at many things, like designing, building contraptions and fixing things and sometimes even things that are considered unfixable. I'm also a model railroad hobbyist.
Your commentary is great, your videos have great quality and you give great info on how freight hauling works in the USA. From Europe i salute you, Danny Harmon!
Danny, I work at 84 Lumber in Plant City, and I get a front row seat to Amtrack's daily runs plus we have a spur into our yard that we get up to 6 cars a week delivered to. CSX has 2-3 other customers they deliver to behind us. Ive been a railfan since the SCL days and still remember your voice as the station ID for FOX 13. I love your videos and am a loyal subscriber. If you need some good footage come by 84 Lumber in Plant City.
Thank you Railfan Danny I really enjoyed this video. My brother Lecester Johnson use to live in Plant City but now in heaven. A beautiful place on Florida. Love the trains.
Completely agree! Not that I don't enjoy seeing mainline action, but it isn't nearly as fascinating for me as watching a good crew switch out industrial spurs.
I'm from Alberta, Canada. Almost every freight train here both CN Rail and CP Rail use combinations of DPU's: one to three in front, one or two rear, and sometimes one in the middle. The maximum length is 14000 feet. Great video 👍🏻
They shuffle cars from time to time in accordance to where the car’s future destination is. Most will go to the Sam place but not all and it makes it easier in the yards to sort the cars. Your videos never disappoint Danny, keep up the great work!
I’ve only just found your channel but I’m fascinated from here in the UK. Such great production and explanation and these trains make our railroad stock look like toys. Awesome. 👍
Danny, Very enjoyable. Thank you. hey, I was thinking that a time laps cam of switching operations in some of those places might be neat. Also, basic map views of where of where we're going. it's nice to get the lay of the land for us who don't have the time to get out there and train spot. Of course, these take time and might not interest you but I figured I'd throw it out there. Tks again. Jon,
Enjoy your videos... I took to railfanning in memory of a friend who unfortunately passed away.... I always found it interesting to hear him talk all things Railroad!!
Hi Danny! My name is Christian. I’m a very amateur train enthusiast but I especially love your videos. Your commentary skill is of the upmost professional level. That keeps me very interested. I mean, it’s almost like I have listened to you before as a commentator for a History Channel documentary or a National Geographic special. Have you? Anyway thanks for some good quality entertainment in a world that needs way more of you. P.s My girlfriend and I have a small oil and gas production company in New York Sate. We produce wells that was once the worlds first oilfield. We do everything just the two of us. Everything from drilling to excavation to servicing. A lot like a small family ranch. So obviously we like your content. If you ever would like to do an interesting documentary, we have a good story! LOL anyway God Bless!
Another great video, hearing you talk about the nice weather is making me jealous! Great to get a peek into the local jobs, not too many people cover what really keeps the railroads going. Thumbs up 👍🏽
I only clicked on this because the text on the thumbnail of calling out the distance for coupling interested me, and I figured I would have to skip through to find it, but then you started talking, and I discovered that you are not annoying to listen to! And even interesting, and pleasant, and hold a good banter of what's going on and what you find interesting, plus you know a lot about the trains and common procedures. I did enjoy seeing how they couple (like butta!), and the rest of the video too! So, keep it up, this is the best rail fan video I have ever seen, and better than a lot of the professionally produced stuff I have seen over the years, which considering that this was one camera one take one day, is saying something! Oh, and great job on editing too.
Here in Brazil they use these DPU trains for a long time. Called "locotrol". They say it's more efficient, especially if the ground is not "smooth". Nowadays they're testing trains with 150+ wagons and three to four locomotives (DPU). Excellent video as well, I've been enjoying your channel.
Hi Fox Trot, we have a similar arrangement with our trains here at BHP in the Australian Pilbara. We have two rake trains totalling 268 iron ore wagons and four SD70 locos, two of which run in 'Locotrol' mode half way down the train. Each rake is generally two locos and 134 wagons. DPU works well... only one driver required... all single manned trains.
@@GaryNumeroUno That's so nice. In Estrada de Ferro Carajás (EFC) here in Brazil the trains run with 330 iron ore wagons, and locos which also run in Locotrol. DPU is very nice!
GaryNumeroUno no fireman? Engineer only. Wow. I believe they’re pushing for that here in the U.S.. Not sure if only in passenger service or freight as well. Cheers mate
Always love your videos. I love watching trains go be especially when no one gets hurt, mechanical problems are a fact of life, but no one wants to watch a tragedy unfold on film, and I am thankful you don’t show us that side of things. Thank for a great video. Kind regards
Yes. I enjoy the whole video. Educational to understand when the trains and cars intermix in the through affairs. Rate Time and distance Along with traction And being on Gods time is fun to enjoy. Playing with trains full scale is fun. Just watch. No mess no mistakes. Not to be blamed for anything. No cost just a trip in my mind. Watching a show. Much to learn. Thanks so much. God Bless Later.
Canadian Pacific has been using DPU’s for years. One in the end and one in the middle. So three locos. On freight trains, grain trains and coal trains.
As a retired yardmaster, I can appreciate the depth of your knowledge. Your productions are consistently good. You really seem to know a lot about railroading, even things I didn't know and I worked for CSX for 39 years. I enjoy your work, although I suspect it's not really "work" to you. If you haven't already heard about or seen it, the best railfan spot in Savannah, where I'm from, is in front of the Amtrak station off Telfair Road. Lots of activity there.
Yes sir! I love that spot at Amtrak in Savannah. I also enjoy Central Junction and Alabama Junction....though I never understood that one, a place named Alabama Jct. being on the east coast of Georgia
The Alabama, as we called it, connects the Georgia Central railroad (located at what we called "the old yard", which was the former Seaboard Air Line Savannah switching yard located off of Gwinett St., replaced by Savannah Yard which, if I remember correctly opened in 1956, the year I was born.) to either Savannah Yard or what we called the West End. Savannah Yard used to connect directly to the West End but pulled up the railroad when the GCRR leased the old yard from CSX in the 80's. The West End line goes through Collins, GA, Vidalia GA, Cordele GA, Americus GA and on to connect to Alabama although I'm not sure where in Alabama. Sorry if I blabbed on....
What another great video! One of my favorite things to watch are locals. It is so fascinating watching the crews pull a car out, switch it back and repeat. I would love to come down to Florida sometime and see CSX maybe Danny you could show me around! Again another great video done! 👍🏻
I watch many railfan channels and really enjoy yours. Great narrative. I lived in Sebring and Central Florida and enjoy hearing about the trains in the area. I’m now back to my birthplace of Texas. But love seeing Florida through your channel.
Hehehe... we use 3 step protection here on BHP in Australia as well. Three step means, 1. reverser in centre, 2. brakes applied and 3. generator field switched off. Supposed to ensure the train or locos won't move whilst personnel are in between wagons or inside the train profile. Nice video by the way. Its good to see some of our fellow railway persons in America are skilled, relaxed and happy with their jobs.
Great video and commentary yet again. Particularly love the videos you do about local customers, last mile switching etc. Totally different from our way of doing things in the UK but also totally fascinating. Keep em' coming!
I'm a retired quality auditor for one of CSX bearing suppliers. Those reefer cars run on 6 1/2X12 100 ton bearings on the wheel sets. That main you referred to is 100 ton rail stock. I am aware of the Plant City diamond. The east-west line is the CSX Lakeland Subdivision that runs between Lakeland off the Carters and Vitis Subs to just east of Tampa where it connects to the Tampa Terminal at Williams Road. The north-south line at the diamond is the CSX Yeoman Sub with the Plant City Sub branching off of the Yeoman. The Yeoman Sub runs between Zepherhills just west of the airport off the Wildwood Sub, and it runs just east of Tampa off the Tamp Terminal, meanwhile the Plant City Sub runs from the diamond south to just to the south-southeast of Keysville where it joins the Valrico Sub. The FRA crossing numbers surrounding the Plant City diamond are [624411F] on Reynolds Street north of the diamond, [624317S] on N. Lake Street to the east of the diamond, [624412M] on MKL/E. Haine to the south of the diamond, and [624318Y] on S. Palmer Street to the west of the diamond.
Danny, your videos are the best! Coincidentally, my family and I are visiting central Florida for two weeks the second half of the month. I’ll try to sneak in some railfanning. Hoping the good weather stays for us!
Absolutely love the commentary - interesting to hear what is going on . We don't all know the inner workings of railroads even though we are railfans. Keep up the videos and the explanations . Agreed south Florida early in the year is a great place to visit must be fun to live there. A video of the switching around Sebring or Avon Park would be appreciated, been there many times to see the CSX drop cars and Florida Midland ?? in Pinsly red pick them up. Cheers Danny !!
Probably request of the customer on those reefer cars. A lot of places I’ve switched want certain cars at certain doors for loading or unloading. Nice video Danny. Looking forward to the next one.
Comes from an old cowboy saying; "Got my rope...got my saddle..time for this cowboy to skeedaddle." It just means there's no time to waste so hit the dusty trail!
Another GREAT video DH! Always great productions and new things learned. Would like to see some Florida East Coast Railway action in the near future especially BrightLine!
Love all your videos, keep them coming makes me want to move down to Florida more and more. My wife and I live in Red Wing, Mn and we are so tired of snow this winter. Plus all we have up here is BNSF and CP units... yeah sure we get UP, NS every now and then but not to often.
i was born and raised in central Fla. We moved to Indiana exactly 50 years ago. Listening to Danny talk about Florida's weather and seeing the moss hanging from the trees in the background sure brings back good memories for me. Thanks Danny!
Our Kentucky short line, the Paducah and Louisville, hauls a lot of coal from western Kentucky, and they've been using DPU's lately. As always, excellent video! -John
Thanks, Danny. It's been a while since I have been railfanning, Got to get off my lazy butt and get busy on the UP Pacific Coast Line, Santa Barbara Sub. Jon
Ok, that was a great video. Love the editing, the footage, the commentary, the information going in step with what’s being presented. Very very cool. Thank you for sharing.
Nice video ! The most likely theory on that block signal was either A. the dispatcher made a medium approach down towards Coleman but made a mistake and took the signal back or B. The signal must have thought that the train was still in the block, and it thought it was going towards it so it got ready but once that DPU left the next signal it went to sleep.
I love the commentary, most videos that I watch are usually lacking there of and to find your channel is a blessing. Keep up the great work looking forward to seeing more!!
@6:10 my educated guess is, the customer wanted that car at a specified loading door, requiring the change. as to why they didn't shove it to spot may very well be because of the curvature in the track and the fact that in order to fit the cars in the track and get them to match up with the doors, they had to all be coupled. Coupeling long cars in a curve is difficult and if done wrong with a bypassed coupler can derail the car, so the adage is. never cut off in a curve. Locomotives, my area of expertise, are practically impossible to do in a curve. Not to mention, trying to m/u the things, I'm not the limber 24 year old I was when I became an engineer and couldn't get my self in between two snow plows in order to reach the cable and hoses 😂
Hey Danny, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your videos! Don’t normally comment because I watch them on TV from RU-vid streamed on my roku. I love trains and everything about them and you definitely have the best railroad channel. Great videos and educational at the same time. Just great 👍 Thanks! 😃
