38 replies to this topic

[John Bobinyec]

Do they turn the train around in Tampa so that the locomotive always leads, or does the train back up one leg between Tampa and Lakeland?

JB

[Steve4031]

They turn the train on a "y" track just before the station.

[chrsjrcj]

About a mile or two east of Tampa Union Station is a wye that the Star uses to back into the station.

[Ryan]

The wye in question is shaped more like a "T". It's right in the middle of this map:

http://g.co/maps/tfut4

The train comes in from the east, turns north, then backs down the left hand side and into the station. When it departs, it just heads straight out.

[Traingeek]

It is quite unique as an experience to take the Silver Star into Tampa. I'm amazed that it works so well without major delays to it's on time status.

[Trogdor]

I'm amazed that it works so well without major delays to it's on time status.

Probably because the wye and backup move are already factored into the schedule.

[AlanB]

The wye in question is shaped more like a "T". It's right in the middle of this map:

http://g.co/maps/tfut4

The train comes in from the east, turns north, then backs down the left hand side and into the station. When it departs, it just heads straight out.

Of course back when Tampa was served by the Silver Palm, it went back out on the track that it backed in on.

[NE933]

I wish this silly operation would go away. Have Star go down Ocala to Tampa, then swing on Lakeland branch to Auburndale and down to Miami.

[MattW]

That wouldn't work either. As far as I can tell, the track from Ocala comes in at Plant City so you'd still have to turn right and head for the same wye the current Star uses. And even that's assuming that CSX would allow that without making Amtrak/Florida pay for a third track all the way down since traffic is being shifted to this line from the line that SunRail will, and the current Amtrak trains use through Orlando.
The only way that I see that you can prevent a backup move is to terminate at Tampa, and even then you'd have to turn the equipment somehow, or runaround AutoTrain style, or use push-pull.

Edited by MattW, 28 February 2012 - 11:49 PM.

[Swadian Hardcore]

That wouldn't work either. As far as I can tell, the track from Ocala comes in at Plant City so you'd still have to turn right and head for the same wye the current Star uses. And even that's assuming that CSX would allow that without making Amtrak/Florida pay for a third track all the way down since traffic is being shifted to this line from the line that SunRail will, and the current Amtrak trains use through Orlando.
The only way that I see that you can prevent a backup move is to terminate at Tampa, and even then you'd have to turn the equipment somehow, or runaround AutoTrain style, or use push-pull.

The old Florida trains pre-Amtrak split in three at JAX, one down FEC to MIA, one down current route to Tampa/Sarasota, and one through Gainesville to St. Petersburg.

With FEC route getting restored, I would love to see this happen again. Though the switching at JAX would be ultra-hectic and the consist would look like a mess!

[AlanB]

I wish this silly operation would go away. Have Star go down Ocala to Tampa, then swing on Lakeland branch to Auburndale and down to Miami.

That's what the Silver Palm did, it came down what's known as the S line, and it still had to go around the wye and make the backup move into Tampa. Then it would head out on the A line to Miami going south.

Coming north it came through Lakeland, went around the wye, backed into Tampa, then pulled out north on the S line through Ocala.

So it changes nothing as far as the required, "silly" backup move.

Matt is correct; the only way to eliminate the backup move for the passengers is to terminate in Tampa. And even then, you'd only eliminate it for the passengers as I said. The crew would still have to wye the train eventually.

[Devil's Advocate]

Seems like things are smoother than they used to be at least...

[chrsjrcj]

I wish this silly operation would go away. Have Star go down Ocala to Tampa, then swing on Lakeland branch to Auburndale and down to Miami.

The Tampa-S. Florida market makes up a good % of Silver Star riders.

Way back when, the Star wouldn't even switch to the A-line at Auburndale, but continue heading up the S-Line to Coleman (few miles south of Wildwood). Now that section of track is gone.

[Ryan]

That video is awesome - thanks for sharing.

[jphjaxfl]

The Palmetto formerly Silver Palm took the former S line through Ocala and Wildwood to Tampa. The Seaboard Airline Railroad 's trains to the west coast split at Wildwood. The would have to change the Tampa Union Station to avoid the backup move. ACL.trains terminated in Tampa so always backed in. SAL backed in and then continued forward to St.Pete. Ac's trains to St. Pete used the direct line through Clearwater to reach St. Pete.

[The Davy Crockett]

The old consist in the video is great. Anybody know the consist from then? Looks like two baggage - was the one with windows an old mail car? What about the coaches on the back, behind the sleepers? What was their story?

[Bill Haithcoat]

At the recent Gathering in Florida I took the Silver Star from Lakeland to DC after visiting my cousin in Lakeland.

A normal person boards the SS in Lakeland at 5.53 pm AFTER it has gone to Tampa and back. But I am not a normal person.

I had arrived at the station just before 4 pm. The train from Miami was due at 4.04

So on the the spur of the moment I asked the agent if I could board right now and ride to Tampa and back, just go ahead and board. To my pleasant surprise he said he would walk out with me and ask the conducter. The conducter said it was ok. and the sleeping car attendant could not have been nicer as the room was vacant anyhow.

I had not been to the Tampa station in decades. We arrived Tampa about 20 minutes early.

By the time we went through Lakeland finally headed straight to DC I was in my comfortable bedroom eating dinner in my room

I was happier than a pig in s---.

Oh yes, the long back up move was a treat. That because both stations in my native Chattanooga were stub end so it was always back in at one station and both back in for northbound and back out for southbound at the other.

[abcnews]

At the recent Gathering in Florida I took the Silver Star from Lakeland to DC after visiting my cousin in Lakeland.

A normal person boards the SS in Lakeland at 5.53 pm AFTER it has gone to Tampa and back. But I am not a normal person.

I had arrived at the station just before 4 pm. The train from Miami was due at 4.04

So on the the spur of the moment I asked the agent if I could board right now and ride to Tampa and back, just go ahead and board. To my pleasant surprise he said he would walk out with me and ask the conducter. The conducter said it was ok. and the sleeping car attendant could not have been nicer as the room was vacant anyhow.

I had not been to the Tampa station in decades. We arrived Tampa about 20 minutes early.

By the time we went through Lakeland finally headed straight to DC I was in my comfortable bedroom eating dinner in my room

I was happier than a pig in s---.

Oh yes, the long back up move was a treat. That because both stations in my native Chattanooga were stub end so it was always back in at one station and both back in for northbound and back out for southbound at the other.

Bill,

That Lakeland Agent is really nice. I once left my return ticket (roomette ticket) on the counter - he called me up on my cell number - confirmed it was mine, based on some info I gave him, and he said he would hold it at the counter for us. I was at a baseball game with my son (Tigers/Red Sox - spring game).

When we met him at the station he was very friendly and overall - we noticed that he was a great agent to all of the passengers. I had intended to write a letter to Amtrak, to mention the agents attributes. Also - what a really nice station they have in Lakeland. Overall - it seems like a perfect place to board or depart a train...

[Ocala Mike]

Here's a video showing the Silver Star's daily "ritual" on the Neve wye:



Some other thoughts about this thread:

1. Forget use of the "S" line through Ocala by Amtrak in the future; that ship has sailed.

2. Try booking a round-trip ticket from Lakeland to Tampa on the Amtrak website; verboten.

3. Is the Neve wye a "Y" or a "T". This video suggests it's a "K".



Ocala Mike

[fairviewroad]

The Tampa-S. Florida market makes up a good % of Silver Star riders.

Well in a perfect world you'd simply serve that market with a few daily corridor-style trains.