GA: Waycross Camera - what am I seeing? (2024)

The relatively new Virtual Railfan cameras at Waycross GA offer a busy busy view of this yard and diamond. But, what are these lines?

From the depot camera, there's a track in front. Looking to the left, that track continues straight, with a branch off to the right side.

Looking to the right from the depot, there's an overhead bridge with a track underneath joining from the right. Trains joining the depot track usually change crews at the crossing (Jenkins Street). There's also a track joining the depot track at that point from the left.

Past the overhead bridge is the diamond. What line is to the left and what is to the right? I'm guessing these lines feed the tracks leading into the depot track.

The yard is past the diamond. Looks like a mix of general freight, auto carriers, etc.

Last question - which of these tracks feeds the CSX line to Cordele?

Thanks!

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If you look at a map of Waycross, the CSX lines form an X through town. Rice Yard itself is on the Thomasville Sub (a.k.a. “The Bowline”). It runs compass southwest towards Valdosta and Montgomery. The line that runs compass northwest towards Cordele and Manchester is the Fitzgerald Sub. The line that runs compass northeast towards Jesup and Savannah is the Jesup Sub. The Brunswick Sub branches off of the Jesup Sub, just past the depot, and heads compass east towards Nahunta and Brunswick. The line that runs compass southeast towards Folkston is also the Jesup Sub.

As for the Waycross Depot Cam, the view is looking compass southwest towards Rice Yard (seen in the background). The line next to the camera is the Jesup Sub from Jesup and Savannah. Just beyond the bridge, the Jesup Sub can either:

1. Go straight across the diamonds and enter the yard.
2. Turn southeast (camera left) and continue on the Jesup Sub towards Folkston.
3. Turn northwest (camera right) and enter the Fitzgerald Sub towards Cordele.

The other main tracks running straight across the diamonds (from camera right to left) are those of the Fitzgerald Sub from Cordele going to the Jesup Sub towards Folkston (or vice versa).

Beyond the diamonds, you can see the connector tracks that allow trains from the Jesup Sub (from Folkston) and the Fitzgerald Sub to access Rice Yard.

Andrew

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thanks for that explanation andrew. much appreciated..........

66

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Thanks from me, too

Posted from Android

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What is the lineage of these assorted lines back to prior to the SAL/ACL merger? Are they all associated with one of those railroads or an amalgamation of more than one railroad?

Tom.

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They were all ACL. If you go back even further they were Plant System. That goes back to the early 1900's. The street in front of the old passenger station is named Plant Avenue. This was Henry B. Plant who build a network of Flordia railroads in the late 19'th century. The Fitzgerald sub was at one time the Atlanta Birmingham and Coast. I don't know when i became part of the ACL.

Sam

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CSX spent $30 million back in 2006-2007 to improve operations in Waycross. The main benefit is for trains moving between Manchester and Callahan that don't have to enter Rice Yard. They used to crawl through Waycross at 15 mph on a single track. Now they can run 40 mph on either of two tracks.I should add that the City of Waycross is delighted with the outcome, too.Bottom line: don't trust any track diagram older than 2006.

The ACL had controlled the AB&C (formerly the AB&A) since1926, but it wasn't until 1946 that ACL took totalownership and began integrating it fully.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/22 12:27 by ctillnc.

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I’m a fan of good ol’ analog maps too (I.e., maps made out of paper)! I’ve got a stack next to my recliner where I watch cams a lot, incl the new one at Waycross. I also found out about openrailroadmap.org. I found the Waycross diamond there, expanded it to fit my computer monitor, and printed a paper copy. That map labels all four of the lines crossing at the diamond, as well as streets, etc, around it. I refer to it almost constantly while,I’m watching that cam. It can even be blown up enough on my computer to see every track on the whole yard! Which is humongous.

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In the usual view from the new Waycross yard-facing cam, the Fitzgerald sub to Cordele is the curve to the right, off cam, right in front of the diamond, right behind the large signal in the foreground of that shot.

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I would also add that the more familiar cam of the entire diamond has been OOS for at least the last couple days.

Finally, if you do view the new cam on vrf, you’ll no doubt hear many comments from the regulars about Otto, the camera operator. His last name is Matic! He runs on a routine that ottomatically makes him do a 180 degree pan and zoom from the yard facing view to the reverse view. And he usually does that right when something really cool has finally happened in the yard-facing view that the humans really don’t want to miss! It’s all great fun to chat about.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/22 14:59 by dadonatrain.

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