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Bright line information

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 12:02 PM

The only thing that I would consider is safety cables in addition to the crossing gates similar to those used by the City of Chicago on vertical lift and single-leaf bascule bridges.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 10:17 PM

54light15
Have a look at this and see 4:27. I thought there would be something more secure with Brightline regarding crossings. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeQoJs4hoyM 

What more do expect beyond 4 quadrant gates?  Stupid is as Stupid does.

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Posted by 54light15 on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 10:06 PM

Have a look at this and see 4:27. I thought there would be something more secure with Brightline regarding crossings. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeQoJs4hoyM 

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, December 4, 2022 3:09 PM

rdamon

I found it odd that the signal masts we after the switch points. I thought the switch would be past the signals. 

 

If it's just an automatic signal (intermediate), then you want the switch points before.  You enter the main and prety much instantly get signal indication - limits time you spend delayed in block. 

  

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, December 4, 2022 11:50 AM

It looks to me as if the northbound signals are right at the switch points with the indicator for entry into the siding only for clearance.  If it were a power switch it would have to be interlocked with that mandatory derail; I'd suspect that (as noted) both the switch and derail will be manually actuated in use... going and coming.

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, December 4, 2022 10:33 AM

BaltACD

 

 
rdamon
I found it odd that the signal masts we after the switch points. I thought the switch would be past the signals. 

 

I concur in your surprise.  The narrator stated that the signals were Intermediates, not Absolutes.  If that is the case I suspect the switch will be an electric locked hand throw switch, not a power operated switch.

 

Makes sense.  It does not look like they are adding any signals on the north end that is on the VRF camera.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, December 3, 2022 10:56 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, December 3, 2022 6:23 PM

rdamon
I found it odd that the signal masts we after the switch points. I thought the switch would be past the signals. 

I concur in your surprise.  The narrator stated that the signals were Intermediates, not Absolutes.  If that is the case I suspect the switch will be an electric locked hand throw switch, not a power operated switch.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rdamon on Saturday, December 3, 2022 3:26 PM

I found it odd that the signal masts we after the switch points. I thought the switch would be past the signals. 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, December 2, 2022 11:34 PM

More info on the Oct 29 cut over just south of Cocoa that became 32 miles of 2 main tracks  plus several miles of 3 and 4 tracks & Cocoa yard lead..

(1) Brightline Construction: Installing the Cocoa Yard Lead South Turnout - October 2022 - YouTube

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Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, December 2, 2022 10:06 PM

n012944
Even when Joe Lunchpail gets in the way?

It's not his fault its the "Metra Express" and Metras operational procedures which have largely not changed since inheritance from the private railroads.   Though dare I say it, if the Milwaukee Road was still in charge on that corridor of the Commute Trains the Chicago to Milwaukee Trains would always arrive on time to the minute (not to Amtraks 15 min padded min).  We would be back to the true definition of ON TIME arrival vs the Lets Pretend.

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Posted by n012944 on Thursday, December 1, 2022 4:29 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
CMStPnP
This is why Chicago - Milwaukee is rapidly becomming the most successful Amtrak corridor in terms of ridership and cost recovery.    The trip time while slighly slower than car is overcome by the downtown to downtown convienence, cost and time savings of avoiding rush hour traffic & parking fees but most importantly the increasing RT trainset frequencies make the train almost as convienent as taking a car.

 

At certain times of day and with highway construction, the trains are  faster, too.

 

 

Even when Joe Lunchpail gets in the way?

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, November 27, 2022 11:25 PM
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Posted by York1 on Sunday, October 23, 2022 7:12 PM

Very neat.

York1 John       

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, October 23, 2022 6:25 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 7:37 PM

Orlado's airport terminal C is now open for business.  At first mainly for international travelers.  Time for Brightline to continue its progress and get service started there.

Automated TSA lanes and an airside Disney Store: Orlando's Terminal C is now open (msn.com)

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Posted by rdamon on Sunday, September 4, 2022 10:40 AM
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Posted by JC UPTON on Sunday, September 4, 2022 9:52 AM

blue streak 1

Here is video of installing southbound CP Cocoa signal bridge. 

 

Where is the link to the Video?

from the Far East of the Sunset Route

(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, September 2, 2022 8:09 PM

Here is video of installing southbound CP Cocoa signal bridge.  It is amazing how this installation may have no other RR in the USA looks.  Especially note the higher speed turnouts.   Wonder if FEC  anticipates some reduction in running times between MIA ( Hialeah ) and thru COCOA north. 

https://youtu.be/ZCYiJtaG2Fk

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Posted by D.Carleton on Friday, September 2, 2022 1:43 PM

Gramp
Well, having spent a couple days navigating the Disney neighborhood, even at Disney's lean season and Disney having ticked off a large part of their fan base, the number of autos there is astounding. I would not want to live there. 

And for those of us who do live here we avoid that area like the plague. But it's also where SunRail shines (pun intended). SunRail was built for us, not the touristers. It makes travel between the downtowns of Orlando, Winter Park and Kissimmee very pleasant. Adding a major feeder like Brightline will ruin the gentrified nature of SunRail but has become necessary due to the aforementioned large "number of autos."

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Posted by Gramp on Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:53 PM

Well, having spent a couple days navigating the Disney neighborhood, even at Disney's lean season and Disney having ticked off a large part of their fan base, the number of autos there is astounding. I would not want to live there. 

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Posted by D.Carleton on Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:14 PM

Gramp
On the flight down, I sat next to a guy who owns a commercial building across the street from the Kissimmee railroad station.  He said his retail tenants were excited when Sunrail started up, thinking there'd be much more foot traffic to draw business from.  He said it's turned out to be a bust.  Hasn't helped at all.  Said many times the trains have an engine on each end with one passenger car in between.  He's not moved about Brightline.  Said people want to drive their cars.  Hope he'll see something different with Brightline.

The SunRail extension to Kissimmee opened in 2018 and has suffered from the Covid pandemic like everyone else.  SunRail trains are always one or two coaches and a cab car with one locomotive. 

Brightline has one major obstacle to mitigate: lack of access to downtown Orlando. In Miami the station is on the north end of town astride the city offices, convenient access to the Miami Metro and people mover, and eventually the station will also be used by Tri-Rail. Thus far there is nothing like that on the horizon for Orlando. Some means of making SunRail and Brightline feeders unto one another is necessary for their respective successes.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:10 AM

CMStPnP
This is why Chicago - Milwaukee is rapidly becomming the most successful Amtrak corridor in terms of ridership and cost recovery.    The trip time while slighly slower than car is overcome by the downtown to downtown convienence, cost and time savings of avoiding rush hour traffic & parking fees but most importantly the increasing RT trainset frequencies make the train almost as convienent as taking a car.

At certain times of day and with highway construction, the trains are  faster, too.

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Posted by Gramp on Thursday, September 1, 2022 5:46 AM

That was his experience and opinion of Sunrail and Brightline, not mine. 

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Posted by CMStPnP on Thursday, September 1, 2022 12:37 AM

Gramp
Sunrail

So one item that has been lost in the public takeover of commute services from the private railroads is why people drive vs taking the train.    It's not that people like their cars better as you surmise.     It is because the infrastructure of the automobile makes the choice of the automobile more convienent and offers a faster trip time.

This is why Chicago - Milwaukee is rapidly becomming the most successful Amtrak corridor in terms of ridership and cost recovery.    The trip time while slighly slower than car is overcome by the downtown to downtown convienence, cost and time savings of avoiding rush hour traffic & parking fees but most importantly the increasing RT trainset frequencies make the train almost as convienent as taking a car.

Sunrail is just in the startup phase my guess and their trip time with all the stops is probably no where near as convienent as the car, speeds are probably not all that great either.    So I would not expect Sunrail to carry a decent load of passengers at this point.    Brightline should do a LOT better than Sunrail just based on the for profit business model as well as their higher speed and dare I say they will probably have more train frequencies than Sunrail.     So I would not use Sunrail as a predictor of how Brightline will do.

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Posted by Gramp on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 10:15 PM

Spent a long weekend at Epcot for a destination wedding.  Had flown into Sanford airport.  On driving back to Sanford on Sunday on 417, crossed under the new Brightline line.  An RC Corman self-propelled unit was crossing above as I approached the bridge.

On the flight down, I sat next to a guy who owns a commercial building across the street from the Kissimmee railroad station.  He said his retail tenants were excited when Sunrail started up, thinking there'd be much more foot traffic to draw business from.  He said it's turned out to be a bust.  Hasn't helped at all.  Said many times the trains have an engine on each end with one passenger car in between.  He's not moved about Brightline.  Said people want to drive their cars.  Hope he'll see something different with Brightline.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 11:31 PM

The last train load of rail delivered by CSX to  Orlando utilities spur.  Has started unloading at the west end of track.  This load is the last needed of 136 # rail for the project.  Includes MIA to Cocoa and Cocoa to Orlando. 

Final Rail Train for Brightline's Orlando Expansion - August 2022 - YouTube

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Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 1:46 PM

Nice presentation from FEC

https://youtu.be/OMsV_-6U6xo

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, August 20, 2022 4:44 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 6:39 PM

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