Downtown Tampa has a rail line which seems to span the river. This is not the streetcar line.
I assume this is a CSX line, but is there much activity? Also saw the Tampa Union Station...nice looking facility, but it had an Amtrak branded bus outside.
If I recall there is considerable mineral mining somewhere in this area. Where is the local yard?Ed
MP173Downtown Tampa has a rail line which seems to span the river. This is not the streetcar line. I assume this is a CSX line, but is there much activity? Also saw the Tampa Union Station...nice looking facility, but it had an Amtrak branded bus outside. If I recall there is considerable mineral mining somewhere in this area. Where is the local yard?Ed
The Bone Valley is a phosphate mining area serviced by CSX and is located East of Tampa working out of Winston Yard.
The following YouTube is a primer on Bone Valley operations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TckHGVzvGeU
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
That line indeed runs several blocks in the street. That is the original line to hotel (now University of Tampa) and continues 5-6 miles to Old Port Tampa.
That was the port for the Tampa until the Hillsborough River and upper bay were dredged.
There is also a spur to MacDill Airbase. This is really interesting railroading. The area is rapidly gentrifying but there are RR cars moving around next to new highrises. I am sure gentrification will win but it won't happen anytime soon.
In the old days it was said it cost more to rail goods from Old Port Tampa to the town than to ship them from irigion to the Port. Mr Plant knew the power of monopoly but he didn't figure the City would be upset enough to find a solution.
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