RAILFAN GUIDES of the U.S.

Todd's Railfan Guide to
SANFORD FL
Amtrak's Autotrain Southern Terminus

In General
Getting Here
Map
Pictures
Amtrak Info
Floobydust
 


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In General

Location / Name:
     Sanford FL

What's Here:
     Amtrak's southern terminus for the Autotrain.
     CSX Yard.

Data:

     GPS Coordinates: 28.807114,-81.288893

     Amtrak station: SFA
    
600 South Persimmon Avenue Sanford, FL    32771

 

Scanner Frequencies:
     CSX: 160.230,

 

Access by train/transit:

     No regular passenger service by Amtrak, Autotrain service only.
     Closest regular service is ~10 miles south in Winter Park.

 

The Scoop:

The Autotrain is scheduled for arriving in Sanford (as well as Lorton) at 09:30, and departing at 16:00.  You should be able to get daytime shots without any problem.

 

For food and hotels, it looks like exit 101 off of I-4 is a good place, on the east side around the mall.

 

CSX tracks are on the Jacksonville Division, Wildwood Subdivision.  The subdivision runs from Baldwin FL (Jacksonville) to Zephyrhills FL (Tampa).  It

is part of the S-Line. Former ACL line from Zephyrhills to Trilacoochee, and former SAL line from Trilacoochee to Baldwin. (from Wikipedia)

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to Denver Todd for his help with my railfan guides and suggesting welcome changes to help all ya'll.

Websites and other additional information sources of interest for the area:
        http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=SFA

Aerial shots were taken from either Google Maps or www.bing.com/maps as noted.  The snap-shots from Bing are made with Snagit, a Techsmith product... a great tool if you have never used it! 
 
Pictures and additional information is always needed if anyone feels inclined to take 'em, send 'em, and share 'em, or if you have something to add or correct.... credit is always given! Contact info is here

Getting Here

Sanford is north of Orlando Florida, off of I-4, which runs between Tampa and Daytona Beach.

Take exit 101, and head east on W 1st St, state road FL 46.

After you go over the railroad tracks, take a right onto Persimmon Ave.  This takes you to Amtrak.


Maps


Pictures

Most of the pictures below come from a search on Google Images.....

  1970's, the original Autotrain

  1980's

  The Autotrain making it's way south thru Jacksonville FL


Amtrak Info

  The Autotrain schedule can be found on this schedule.

  

  Closest regular passenger station is about 10 miles south in Winter Park.

 


Floobydust


Hobbytown USA

GPS Coordinates: 28.808324,-81.337787


Caboose

GPS Coordinates: 28.806629,-81.276196


Wye

Situated in the entire middle of this spread out wye is a manufacturer of all things concrete, and the caboose above is on the northern side of it.


  South Florida RR station, Sanford

  The Lake Monroe Swing Bridge


Disclaimers: Every effort has been made to make sure that the information contained on this map and in this railfan guide is correct.  Once in a while, an error may creep in, especially if restaurants or gas stations open, close, or change names.  Most of my maps are a result of personal observation after visiting these locations.  I have always felt that a picture is worth a thousand words", and I feel annotated maps such as the ones I work up do the same justice for the railfan over a simple text description of the area.  Since the main focus of my website is railroad signals, the railfan guides are oriented towards the signal fan being able to locate them.  Since most of us railheads don't have just trains as a hobby, I have also tried to point out where other interesting sites of the area are.... things like fire stations, neat bridges, or other significant historical or geographical feature.  While some may feel they shouldn't be included, these other things tend to make MY trips a lot more interesting.... stuff like where the C&O Canal has a bridge going over a river (the Monocacy Aqueduct) between Point of Rocks and Gaithersburg MD, it's way cool to realize this bridge to support a water "road" over a river was built in the 1830's!!!  

Beware: If used as a source, ANYTHING from Wikipedia must be treated as being possibly being inaccurate, wrong, or not true.

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NEW 01/03/2014
Last Modified 03-Jan-2014