Sanford, FL - CSX and Amtrak operations.

[Anonymous]

I am interested finding out about commuter, Amtrak and freight trains in the Sanford, FL area. Also, is there anything interesting going on during the month of July in this area regarding railfanning, rail photography, etc.?

[Modelcar]

....Of course the AUTO TRAIN Terminal and loading area is there. I've spent quite a few winters down there in the area and have nosed around that facility some. You can go in and watch them make up the daily train that heads north in the afternoon. Watch them load the autos on the auto carriers and prepare the passenger cars for the trip and then put it all together...This info is from 2001 and I assume you can still do so.

The Amtrak passenger station is in the nearby area too...but not a nice part of town...and several Amtrak passenger trains go through there each day. Slightly north of Sanford on 17-92 you are near a R R drawbridge the CSX and Amrtak travel over and is a good spot to photograph. Just some of the ideas for the area. You might take a look at Deland RR station too...All the traffic I just mentioned goes past it and it is easy to get to.

QM

[Anonymous]

QM

Thank you for the valuable information. If it ever dries out a little, I may be able to report back some positive results.

DOUG

[Modelcar]

...Good luck.

QM

[Anonymous]

QM

Had a great five days - covered a lot of ground-stayed away from some areas like you suggested-enjoyed DeBary and DeLand. A hot spot for me was the portion of the old swing bridge along the St. Johns River. Hope you remember Lake Monroe Wayside Park... The other areas you described were very much the same. Thanks again.

DOUG

[Modelcar]

....Doug: Glad you got to enjoy the area. Amtrak has quite a bit of action coming down through Deland and south through Sanford and on towards Orlando. The schedule used to allow boarding at Deland and go to Winter Park [Orlando], and allow one to spend a few hours in all the shops there and then head back to Deland on the north bound all in one afternoon arrive back in Deland early evening. A few years ago fare was around 17 dollars...a bargin just to be able to ride the train and back "home" all in one afternoon.
One afternoon while watching the make up of the afternoon Auto Train I was talking to a gal host and she said go ahead and take a look and I got aboard and the train was really ice cold...really cooled down for the passengers to be boarding in a short while. Lots of passenger railroading in the area if one looks for it.