Railfanning CSX#4315 from Palmetto, FL to Bradenton, FL on 11-25-09

On a boring on & off drizzling-rainy day on Thanksgiving Eve, I decided to go railfanning in Palmetto, FL despite that its a long drive from Sarasota. I continued driving further NB on US41 almost going toward Tampa & saw a large railroad yard in Palmetto! This was near a fertilizer transfer industry that transfers fertilizer from ships to trucks & trains! As I was driving NB & SB on US41 looking for action, I saw a glimpse of a CSX unit that appeared to be a GP39-2 switching the yard there. So being further fustrated that I couldn't get a good shot of it switching from the bushes & finding a good spot at 1 of the crossings to set up my tripod to railfan, I just drove by 1 of the crossings by the fertilizer transfer a # of times! So as I approached that crossing 1 more time, the gates were down & saw that EMD unit which was designated as CSX#4315!

0:07 = While waiting at that crossing by the fertilizer transfer, I saw CSX#4315 leading a small local freight SB from that yard after its switching operation there. The consist was an open hopper, covered hopper & 1 white oilcan! So I decided to chase it!

0:32 = While I was lucky that I beat that local to 1 of the crossings near the same location from my last post, I still was late setting up my tripod! But after I set it up, I had an educated guess that this unit would set out that tankcar on 1 of the sidings near the Thompson Aggregate Material Industry for later preparation for delivery to either Osprey Building Materials or Hendrix & Dail Inc across the highway aka US41! But was still late filming the complete consist though!!!

0:55 = As I chased the local further SB to 1 of the locations where I filmed that FEC train about maybe a month ago, I caught 4315 leading a Ringling Brothers circus car on the Palmetto Spur to add to its train waiting on the AZA which can't be seen until the next clip! I suspect that this RB car came from the Ringling Brothers Railcar Repair Facility which was further down the spur before the FPL facility!

1:27 = As I found a parking spot on 5th Ave W & quickly got out my tripod to set up, I was able to film this unit attaching this RB car to its 2 car local consist on the AZA by the Cemex cement plant! You can see the conductor walking on the right side of the RB car as it's being connected to its train! Lucky I had an umbrella over me with my camera & tripod from getting wet:=)!

2:53 = After adding the RB car to its train, the local finally departs Palmetto SB on the AZA to its final journey to the Tropicana railyard in Bradenton!

3:21 = As I chased 4315's local SB into Bradenton, I randomly stepped out my car after approaching the stoplight at the intersection to get 1 more shot of it arriving into the Tropicana Yard. Lucky there was no traffic behind me waiting, lol! But it was worth the shot:=)!!!!

CSX#4315=EMD GP38-2 (Ex-D&H) (Ex-RDG) (Ex-GTIS)

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CSX
• Local
• Freight
• Train
• Freightcars
• CSX#4315
• Ex-D&H
• Ex-RDG
• Ex-GTIS
• EMD
• GP39-2

[CRPULSE300]

The 4315 is a GP39-2. They are the staple for local power in Bradenton and Tampa.

[bitterman112]

@CRPULSE300 I just corrected it. At that time, railfanning was new to me & I didnt know much about the CSX Power Roster.

[lahluv]

nice

[bitterman112]

thanks

[pwalpar]

Good job chasing the local, why was a wringling car there, maybe it was set out of the monkey train for repairs

[bitterman112]

Thank You! You're correct! A track foreman from 1 of my other posts told me that there's a Ringling Brothers Repair Facility further down that spur! So I think they took it to Tropicana Yard to add on to some manifest for transporting it back to the main RB headquarters somewhere!

[lahluv]

anytime

[bitterman112]

Thanks a Lot! You're exactly correct & it's the 1st time I heard about this yrd & seen it in person!

[kenjr29mfl]

Great video. 5***** Are you refering to the yard along US41 at the Port of Manatee?

[bitterman112]

Thanks a Lot!!!!