My dad and I arrived to the Tampa World's Greatest Hobby on Tour at 3:30 PM, well out of correspondence as opposed to the 12:30 PM arrival originally intended. Tired by the Miami-Orlando equivalent of a drive, we chow down on a cheap hot dog meal and talk LEGO trains with the GFLUG gang. I took photos which will be available online soon. It is 4:40 PM and I decide, unfortunately, time to go. The traffic enroute, jetlag dealt with, and Amtrak 92's scheduled Tampa departure warranted us to get out soon enough. The event was airy. If one of my friends were there, it would be rated as "kinda sucky". At least there were the good old LEGO trains.

East on I-4 we probably eclipse Amtrak P092 when it stopped at TUS. We head out at Alexander St (wrong turn) but still that road leads us to the tracks. At the Wheeler Crossing I see the signal's green, confirming my good timing. Just three minutes pass and Amtrak 92 races through.

Plant City, FL
MP A861.1; MP S823.1
CSX Yeoman, Plant City, and Lakeland Subdivisions

Lakeland Sub - MP A861.2 Wheeler St
5:45 PM
Amtrak 92 (Silver Star-Outbound)
Miami, FL-New York, NY
AMTK 121 (P42DC)
AMTK 835 (P40DC !!!!!!! )
coach-diner-café-viewliners-baggage

I then go to the Depot and see Joshua Kintner. Minutes later he tells me that Danny Harmon is on the southeast side of the diamond; I look out the window, and there is YouTube's famed Distantsignal lounging around his conspicuous blue explorer. You can see him as I catch Q741 (5:09)

I see him and say hi to him, how's it going, stuff like that. Aaron (CSXBOY187) calls me and tells me he's at the Church crossing. Meanwhile O825-19's signals are lined north. I meander to Aaron and meet Jay (Fedotenkofan17) and a few other folks. Matt Bryant (distantsignalcsx) and Rodger Bryant (his dad- mjbr1010) are both there. Soon I take pose and set up at MLK/Hines St.

Yeoman Sub - MP S823.2 Hines St.
6:25 PM
CSX O825-19 (the famed "Truck Eliminator")
Hookers Point (Tampa, FL)-Crystal Springs, FL
CSX 4310 (GP39-2)
CSX 4308 (GP39-2)
29 phosphate empties + 19 anhydrous ammonia tanks= 48 cars

We all end up gathering by sundown and I have a burger.

Then a conflict between Q188 and Q741. Oh wait, Q741's coming first.

Q741 with two ES40DCs roll by soon after.

Yeoman Sub - MP S823.05 Reynolds St. / US Hwy 92
CSX Q741-17 The Tropicana Juice Train
Greenville, NJ-Tampa, FL
CSX 5212 (ES40DC)
CSX 5386 (ES40DC)
26 empty juice cars

Lastly, actually penultimately, was Q188-19. On a hold at Plant City Siding, surprise surprise, is also Q251-19. Obviously 188 would get there and be my slated finale, much to my knowledge then. When Matt and I heard the power, high-fives flew like birds. Holy crap! 5003 (AC6000CW) would lead the horses.

Lakeland Sub - A861.1/Palmer St.
8:14 PM
CSX Q188-19
Tampa, FL-Jacksonville, FL
CSX 5003 (AC6000CW)
CSX 804 (ES44AH)
CSX 7898 (C40-8W)
CSX 7586 (C40-8)
CSX 240 (AC4400CW)
CSX 5417 (ES40DC)
4,600' of intermodal empties

This would end it.... *tooooooot* ... Q251 was already cleared south of Plant City Siding. In minutes he would round the tight 10mph curve into the Lakeland Sub. Also in sight was the famed SUPER MOON which was known to illuminate shots all week long. Such an elegant backdrop for the grand finale!

8:25 PM
Yeoman Sub - MP S823.01 Reynolds St/ US Hwy 92
CSX Q251-19 (SB)
Waycross, GA-Palm Center, FL
CSX 7845 (C40-8W)
CSX 7805 (C40-8W)
19 autoracks

This train would end the day for me. Danny Harmon and company already set out for Lakeland.

These are the railfans I saw:
Joshua Kintner
Matt (distantsignalcsx), Rodger (mjbr1010)
Matt (scltrains)
Danny Harmon (distantsignal)
Aaron Van Amburg (CSXBOY187)
Jason (fedotenkofan17)
Amin Ricker (AmtrakSilverStar) -- LOL at how he missed Q188!
A few other non-YouTubing folks from what I remember....

(c) 2011 brickbuilder711
A Distant to Ojus Production

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