W001 has been touring Florida most of January. Today began in South Clearwater, then to Saint Petersburg and now back to Tampa. They COULD have run in reverse back to Tampa, which they have done in the past, but chose to run around the train. The street running DID take place northbound, but at almost "high noon" for sun. I hate to say it, overcast skies would have been better. Still, the sight of the two red marker lights on what became the trailing car would have looked very "Floridian" running up the street. I opted for what was likely the most haunted of my Pinellas spots, once a thriving industrial park with half a dozen switches and a complete siding (between here and Belcher Road), Hercules Avenue. I really cut my teeth and honed my skills for being able to sense a train right here, due to all the waiting and zero tech I had at my disposal. Just a bicycle, a tape recorder and a manual camera. One of the things I remember most about northbound trains was hearing them sound off for the dual crossings at Highland and Palmetto, by the golf course a distance of about two miles as the crow flies, then a "warning" blast before they came into view around the curve. I often used to think that warning blast was for me. In any event, same as it ever was today, same scenario played out. There was an extra set of crossing chimes sounded as Keene Road was extended north across the tracks in the 90's. I still heard a "toot toot" outside that before they showed up. Mere coincidence I am sure, but once again proves the more things change, the more they stay the same.
