Bright line information

[Gramp]

Will this new line connect with existing trackage at Orlando?  Will any freight be moved on this line?

[Electroliner 1935]

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What 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.

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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

Brightline Construction: Bonaventure Progress and Qualification Trains - February to April 2022 - YouTube

Apr 16, 2022  Loxaharchee tiver draw

Brightline Construction: The Start of the Loxahatchee River Drawbridge Replacement - YouTube

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?

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March 20,2022  Jupiter -Ft pierce

Brightline Construction: Jupiter, Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Fort Pierce - March 20, 2022 - YouTube

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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)

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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 

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April 9th Bonaventure construction update.

Brightline Construction: Bonaventure Progress and Qualification Trains - February to April 2022 - YouTube

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Fluff piece about Brightline that just touches on th politics.

ANOTHER TRAIN COMING TO DISNEY! - Brightline/SunRail Spring 2022 Update - YouTube

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Jupiter bridge replacement.

Watch: Crews prepare to tackle complex drawbridge project on Brightline's Orlando route - Railway Track and Structures (rtands.com)

[rdamon]

First train on new Crane Creek Bridge

 

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Brightline Orlando Vehicle Maintenance Facility - February 3, 2022 - YouTube

Sorry for this format. Regular posting kept getting 403 forbidden.

Feb 3rd.

[rdamon]

Great video of the delivery of "Bright Blue" to the Orlando facility

 

 

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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

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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

[rdamon]

Brightline test train passed the Cocoa cameras around 12:54 eastern 

[Gramp]

Nice write-up about Brightline. 
https://www.yahoo.com/news/brightline-trains-begin-rolling-cocoa-171341194.html

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Rail installation Orlando - Cocoa.  Work is presently just either side of the Orlando Utilitties Commission line to the power plant.  Work going both east and west of the OUC rail line.  The OUC line is supplying rail and Ballast trains brought there by CSX.

Brightline Construction: Work Train on the Orlando Line - January 10, 2022 - YouTube

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Cocoa junction progressing rapidly as of Jan 5th

Brightline Construction: Cocoa Junction Update - January 5, 2022 - YouTube

 

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souh Brevard county

Brightline Construction: Southern Brevard County Progress - December 2021 - YouTube

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Mid December 2021.

Hear is the work in Brevard County.  It is from Cocoa junction south to Pineada.  Essentially from Cocoa of the post before this on south.

Brightline Construction: Central Brevard County Progress - December 2021 - YouTube

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Construction progress of the Frontenac improvement project.  This is the project that will connect a FEC double track about 3-1/2 miles north of the Orlando connection to Cocoa junction. This by constructing a 2nd main track to the Cocoa Junction / Orlando connection.

Brightline Construction: Frontenac Improvement Project & Cocoa Junction - December 2021 - YouTube

[ORNHOO]

Here in the pacific northwest we use "botanical razorwire', otherwise known as blackberry vines.

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Here is a link to railway track and structures which is a more detailed of the crossing protection.

Brightline investing millions of dollars in railroad safety and mental health awareness - Railway Track and Structures (rtands.com)

Edit found the bush it definitely is the one.

Elaeagnus pungens (Silverthorn, Thorny Elaeagnus, Thorny Olive) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)

EDIT:  Best way for Brightline to control is a sidewinder bush hog that can top hedge and vacuum pickup. Body armour defiinitely needed.  Roundup does not work too well either.

Thanks for the common name!

[Overmod]

You mean silverthorn? (Elaeagnus, not something easy to spell!)

Personal armor is desirable working with that stuff.  But good fences of it definitely make good neighbors...

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Do not know if they are in Florida.  I have a nuisance thorn bush that grows fast to about 10feet tall,  Cannot spell it but it is called Ilegiagnes.  Many 1-1/2 inch thorns on all shoots that grow up. Trying to cut it back have to wear hard hat, safety goggles, welder's gloves, and very heavy Zero degree coat with hood. 

[rdamon]

"Brightline partnered with the nonprofit Community Greening on a project to plant more than 3,000 native trees and shrubs along the South Florida railway. Combined with fencing, the native plants will cover more than 10 miles along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway corridor serving as a deterrent and channelization mechanism for trespassers."

Translation - Thorn Bushes :D

 

 

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Bright line going into tech for grade crossing incursions.  How is all this going to work without enforcement and penalties?

Rail News - Brightline steps up grade-crossing safety efforts. For Railroad Career Professionals (progressiverailroading.com)

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Dec 19th update of construction progress at Orlando airport.

Brightline Orlando International Airport Passenger Rail Construction Update - December 2021 - YouTube

[rdamon]

Here is the goole view of the link ..  looks like the overhead was shot before the turnout was installed on the Tri-Rail side.

 

 

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Here is the Dec 5th track work north of the Palm Beach maintenance facility  According to roaming railfan this work is almost complete north to the first major bridge.

You will note that there are two tracks that cross each other leading off to the west that connect to the TriRail tracks in both a northward and southward direction.  These tracks were constructed several years ago. The Trirail connections are between the West Palm Beach TriRail/Amtrak station to the south and the Magnolia Trirail station to the north.. The Magnolia station is the last station for Trirail to the north..  Those two connecting tracks may be used if TriRail ever goes north of this location on the FEC.

Brightline Construction: Northwood Signal and Track Cutover - December 5, 2021 - YouTube

EDIT:  Although it will not happen for 5 - 15 years these connections will give Amtrak access to its line on to MIA if Amtrak ever uses FEC to the West Palm Beach connecting track.  As wel If the Amtrak line from WPB south ever got blocked for some reason Amtrak could detour on FEC to the connection at IRIS to the Amtrak station.