View allAll Photos Tagged USSC404,
We still have absolutely no idea how it was pulled off, but me and Skylor would successfully catch up and get ahead of SCFE’s Fort Pierce Turn [FPT-15] around South Bay, refusing to let off the gas driving westbound on US-27 until we reached our destination. Despite viewing their EoT for most of the drive, we’d beat it to our final planned photo spot of the chase, ‘the best for last’, if you will, that being the popular trestle over the Miami Canal at Lake Harbor, FL.
Pulling off at the crossing and whipping out the binoculars, we’d breathe a sigh relief at the sight of the Turn’s head end clearing the west end of Buker in the distance. A couple minutes go by and the sickly wail of 6325’s fouled Leslie RSL-3L rings off to our east by Mutt Thomas Rd, paparazzi ready with cameras in hand for the climax of our one hour chase.
The last half hour of unobstructed golden sunlight beautifully illuminates #USSC6325 [SD40M-2] and #USSC3801 [GP38-2] taking charge of SCFE’s Fort Pierce Turn over the Miami Canal with their 20-car train received from the Florida East Coast Railway. A clear shot from the canalbank showcases U.S. Sugar’s new corportate look adorning the newest SD40-2 rebuild to their roster, along with the recently repainted #USSC404, now renumbered #3801. Upon entering the Keela Block [the block limit sign between there and Lake Harbor Block out of frame to the left], the crew will set out their last four covered hoppers at Calcium Silicate, and then continue west towards Clewiston to cap off their day. Skylor and I would end our chase here, parting ways with the Turn, turning east for home.
One can see the comparison between U.S. Sugar’s new look and the Seaboard Air Line Railroad’s last paint scheme when viewed on the broadside, ignoring the obnoxious, poorly contrasted billboard logo. Its ties to the SAL are nonexistent; the scheme intends to honor the agricultural communities of the region, which explains the prominent green and yellow palette. Hell, U.S. Sugar doesn’t operate over any former SAL trackage, but pay no mind to those foamer fantasies. It’s a new scheme, and I’m all for it after this shoot.
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Lake Harbor, FL
SCFE Fort Pierce Subdivision
Date: 11/15/2024 | 17:04
ID: SCFE Fort Pierce Turn [FPT-15]
Type: Local
Direction: Westbound
Car Count: 20
1. USSC SD40M-2 #6325
2. USSC GP38-2 #3801
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© Vicente Alonso 2024
Continuing back towards Clewiston from Palmdale, the SCFE Sebring Turn would work three assorted passing sidings on its trek eastward towards Moore Haven, and eventually its terminus. Their work done at the third stop, a siding in the center of Moore Haven, had the train see its highest car count throughout their journey, topping out at 46 cars. Before reaching their second customer to work, Wedgworth, the Turn’s conductor would activate the former Atlantic Coast Line Caloosahatchee River swing bridge to line the train over the vital waterway to allow them to continue on their way.
It takes the near century old swing bridge a few minutes to line and lock itself into position. From there, the Sebring Turn slowly creeps over the Caloosahatchee at about 10 MPH around 16:33, the afternoon summer sunlight illuminating the scene well enough to salvage the photo… even though winter light is overall preferred when it comes to shooting U.S. Sugar. With the surrounding riverside vegetation still lush and thick cumulus clouds floating off in the distance, the scene was set for the Turn’s crossing over the river.
The first five covered hoppers behind the duo of USSC GP38-2s, #USSC404 and #USSC407, are loads bound for Wedgworth’s fertilizer plant south of Moore Haven on a spur branching off of the ex-ACL mainline, the second customer the Turn is set to work. The colorful mix of said hoppers behind the power, including standouts such as the Burlington Northern and Atchinson, Topeka, & Santa Fe painted PS-4750’s, a Winchester & Western Portec 4000 3-bay, and an Incobrasa Industries LTD 67’ Trinity 6351 4-bay, really add some variety to what could’ve been an otherwise dull-looking train.
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Moore Haven, FL
SCFE Sebring Subdivision
Date: 09/15/2023 | 16:33
ID: SCFE Sebring Turn
Type: Local
Direction: Eastbound
Car Count: 46
1. USSC GP38-2 #404
2. USSC GP38-2 #407
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© Vicente Alonso 2023