J and E Trains

10/11/2024

Train layout update: Most of the bench work for the left side extention has been completed at the end of the summer and track layout planning is underway. Lately we have been working on rewiring the outside passing tracks to operate independently and start serving a runaround tracks into the new switching layout in the extension.

07/19/2024

In Bradenton, we found the CSX train L700 "the Juice Train" about to cross the Manatee River. It had two locomotives fueled by biodiesel and a few Tropicana Juice cars.

05/26/2024

Got some framing done tonight on the left side extension of Grandpa's layout.

05/05/2024

05/05/2024

Doing some track planning with real pieces on the new corner expansion. Hope to get some framing doe this weekend. Presently, we have 2 complete loops with temporary connections for continuous running while we work out the details of the corner extension.

04/11/2024

Layout update: After 1 week of a temporary connection to allow the inner loop to function, the control panel has been reinstalled so that all of the inner blocks and switches are operable again. A temporary jumper was added to electrify the old main line (now the outer loop). Now track planning is being done on how to connect the outer loop and the new L-shape extension.

03/26/2024

Good news is that Grandpa's HO scale layout survived the move and is at its new Florida home! Other priorities to set up the rest of the house first .

03/23/2024

We're happy that a portion on Grandpa's HO scale layout in Maryland is being disassembled and being moved to their new winter home in Florida. In the coming months we'll be reworking some of the track and rewiring. We'll be documenting the progress here.

06/30/2023

Got to see some shiny GP-40's and Tropicana Juice cars on FEC Train 105 this evening.

Thursday evening we caught Florida East Coast Railway's Train 105 past Suntree Blvd., the former south end of the Pineda siding. In trail behind the LNG set ...

06/10/2023

https://youtu.be/1b2tUD6JYBc

Now that the double track is completed and operational in Melbourne, Brightlight ran 2 test trains or qualifying runs through the corridor on Saturday June 1...

08/28/2022

Well this is a first for us, seeing a quarter mile of welded rail moved down the line on little dollies.

Sunday afternoon we heard on the radio something going north, cleared through work zones. We stopped at Post Rd, MP187.0 to see what would come by. The AFW ...

04/05/2022

We caught the Brightline test train today!

Brightline test train was running really late today so we got to catch it going northbound through Melbourne. it had to stop short of MP188 to get permission...