Brightline test train passed the Cocoa cameras around 12:54 eastern
Video of first training trip north of Wet Palm Beach.
Brightline Test Train and Florida East Coast Railway in Southern Brevard County - January 24, 2022 - YouTube
Jan 2022 Stuart to Jupiter construction. The Jupiter draw bridge appears that the bridge will be one of the last portions to be complete. Reusing that Bascule Bridge and improving it at the same time is going to be a difficult problem. As well the first track bridge west side has to be completed. Then the east track bridge will be replaced with the cranes having to reach over the completed bridge to finish the east track.
Brightline Construction: Stuart to Jupiter Progress - December 2021/January 2022 - YouTube
Great video of the delivery of "Bright Blue" to the Orlando facility
Brightline Orlando Vehicle Maintenance Facility - February 3, 2022 - YouTube
Sorry for this format. Regular posting kept getting 403 forbidden.
Feb 3rd.
First train on new Crane Creek Bridge
Jupiter bridge replacement.
Watch: Crews prepare to tackle complex drawbridge project on Brightline's Orlando route - Railway Track and Structures (rtands.com)
Fluff piece about Brightline that just touches on th politics.
ANOTHER TRAIN COMING TO DISNEY! - Brightline/SunRail Spring 2022 Update - YouTube
April 9th Bonaventure construction update.
Brightline Construction: Bonaventure Progress and Qualification Trains - February to April 2022 - YouTube
April 16th well edited video. The Loxahatchee old bascule bridge removal. Then the first time placing of temporary bridge which took a lot of time . Hope the twice daily operation will take less time. We all know about draw bridges. Swing bridge, Bascule which was the present bridge and replacement , and lift bridge. There are a few odd balls especially in PNW. Maybe we can call this temporary draw bridge a 2 crane lift bridge?
It will be interesting to warch the daily operation of the Temp bridge.
Brightline Construction: The Start of the Loxahatchee River Drawbridge Replacement - YouTube
There maybe a compromise solution. At first reading thought it was all settled but not so. Brightline seems to go with the convention center route?
How does anyone deal with all the parties? Brightline, Sun rail, CSX, FL DOT, possible Fl governor and legislature, Orange county, Oscelo county, Polk county, Disney ( who will not get the exclusive service they want ), Universal, Convention center, politicians, FRA, Federal funds dispenser, and who knows what else?
EDIT: Orlando city, Kissimmee city, Amtrak,
Compromise plan could extend Brightline toward Tampa, SunRail in Orlando (floridapolitics.com)
March 20,2022 Jupiter -Ft pierce
Brightline Construction: Jupiter, Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Fort Pierce - March 20, 2022 - YouTube
Long u tubes of construction dates are just below videos.
march 4 at COCOA - north FEC.
Brightline Construction: Laying Ties at City Point - March 2022 - YouTube
Nar 12 COCOA cut over.
Brightline Construction CP City Point Cutover - February 2022 - YouTube
Apr 1,2022 Cane creek bridge
Brightline Construction: Crane Creek Bridge Progress - January to March 2022 - YouTube
Apr 9, 2022 Bonaventure
Apr 16, 2022 Loxaharchee tiver draw
April 23, 2022 Brevard county bridges.
Brightline Construction: The 9th Bridge Edition - March/April 2022 - YouTube
Apr 28 th Baca Raton & Aventura stations.
Brightline Boca Raton and Aventura Station Construction Progress April 10, 2022 - YouTube
Mey 1,2022 West highland ave Cocoa
Brightline Construction: West Highland Drive Cut and Throw - May 1, 2022 - YouTube
What is a cut and throw subject of this last link?
blue streak 1What is a cut and throw subject of this last link?
They CUT (sever) the existing track and THROW (reconnect) an end of the active line to the New track. It would be like when a highway lane is blocked and all traffic has to move to an adjacent lane.
In this case, they have built a new section of track and are rerouting traffic onto it and taking the parallel old track out of service for either rebuilding or reconfiguration.
Will this new line connect with existing trackage at Orlando? Will any freight be moved on this line?
May 6th airport to CSX/OUC bridge.
Noticed that some signals are already turned to look along tracks. do not know if that means they are actually active. The turnout from single to 2 main tracks is a #32 which along with one on Amtrak's NEC are highest number in USA. Over 4000 feet long. Starts at time 7:45. Has 5 switch machines,
Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Part 1 - Orlando International Airport to Innovation Way - YouTube
Brightline runs Bright blue 2 into Orlando station to verify all clearanc specs are met. First time any Brightline train has entered the station.
SEE: Brightline high-speed train arrives at new OIA station for the first time (msn.com)
More construction activities.
HSR Constructors Brightline Phase 2 Construction Sizzle Reel - YouTube
For those who wonder about future freight service by FEC. No freight is planned thru the Orlando airport. If you go to10.40 and play on the following link you will see the connection OUC/CSX Stanton Rail line connection. That connection has been used to transport rail trains for mainly east directions to lay down rail. If and that is a big "IF" FEC gets permission to ever start freight to Orlando the bypass of the airport would be used to reach yard. That may require getting trackage rights on OUC/CSX. Also permission from turnpike authority.
Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Part 2 - Dallas Blvd to West of Interstate 95 - YouTube
Brightline Orlando Line Construction: Part 3 - Interstate 95 to Cocoa - YouTube
Thanks for answers. Will the 400 foot Y switch with the five switch machines allow passage at 125 mph?
Longer video of 1st test clearance to verify not any clearance problems such as happened to the Miami station.
First Brightline Train at the Orlando Station - May 17, 2022 - YouTube
Here is video dated June 1. All events started May22. FEC shut down over bridge with an AWW of 3 days. This is the procedure of installing the new Bascule over the Loxahatchee River. Old bascule was removed on April 16th previously with temporary span installed until this new Bascule installed. All work in just 5 weeks. Bet Amtrak cannot do that time. Final bridge work connection is not shown in this video.
(1) Brightline Construction: Installing the New Bascule at the Loxahatchee River Drawbridge - YouTube
June 4th release unloading last rail train on the FEC portion of Brightline.
Brightline Construction: Unloading a Rail Train - May 15, 2022 - YouTube
June 9th release for FtPierce and Jensen Beach.
Brightline Construction: Fort Pierce Yard and Jensen Beach - May 8, 2022 - YouTube
June 17 release for june 5 Bonaventure work.
Brightline Construction: North Bonaventure Cut and Throw - June 5, 2022 - YouTube
June 17 trlease with talk about Brightline . Mainly a PR type presentation.
Brightline: A Bright Future - YouTube
June 26 release. Happened earlier in June. Shows the change over of the Turkey Creek bridge old span to new span. Gives both a before cut over and an after cut over.
Brightline Construction: New Turkey Creek Bridge Cut Over - June 2022 - YouTube
July 12th release. A rail train is pushed back thru Cocoa tunnel going toward Orlando. Earlier laid rail not from this rail train allowed rail train to push thru tunnel.. You will note that the 2 GPs power up and smoke as train is pushed up the ramp. First train had about 7.5 miles of new rail. All rail was to all be pulled off rail train to allow rail train to return to factory.
A puzzle. When FEC brought the rail train in it had several Hertzog gondolas carrying ballast. That was a surprise. Is Hertzog short of standard hopper ballast dump cars? Could this possible shortage of dump cars be the reason that Brightline had Canadian ballast brought in by ship? Maybe more delays by CSX PSR?
Brightline Construction: First Rail Train Through The Cocoa Tunnel - July 2022 - YouTube
Missed july 6 release of Barton curve change increasing allowable speeds.
Brightline Construction: Barton Curve Shift - June 18, 2022 - YouTube
Brightline could not get all the ballast by rail so imported some from Canada by ship. The FEC portion of the rail train lead with Hertzog gondolas carrying ballast brings up a question., Is CSX delaying deliveries because of PSR meltdowns so much that Hertzog has run out of available empty ballast hopper dump cars?
Brightline could not wait for rail deliveries of ballast if it wanted to maintain its construction and opening dates. It also has to take time to have the ballast setteled and set to begin service.
Brightline Construction: The International Ballast Edition - YouTube
EDIT: This may be revelant. Have noticed several CSX ballast trains with Hertzog automated dump cars and old CSX manual operate ballast cars. In fact upon reflection the CSX cars might not be ballast cars but coal cars. That observation because could not see heavier balllast loaded to where it could be seen at top of car compared to regular ballast cars.
Maybe they are planning on a stop for the Cruise Terminal.
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/05/26/brightline-land-purchase-could-indicate-future-cocoa-station-down-the-tracks
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