Railroad Day Festival "rolling along"

Railroad Day Festival "rolling along"

Trains of all sizes on display

Once a common fixture at the end of freight trains, cabooses are now mostly regulated to sidings, town parks and depots.        West Nassau Historical Society's caboose

Callahan is already the busiest rail junction in Florida, but for the last weekend in May more trains than usual will converge on this friendly community Northwest of Jacksonville. Ranging in size from a full scale "speeder" and 1960s era caboose to 7.5 gauge engines and cars to the smaller HO-scaled model trains, these railroad trains and more will be on display at this year’s Railroad Day Festival on May 30th and 31st.

Joining other towns along the historic rail line such as Archer, the West Nassau Historical Society is hosting the two day event to mark the important impact David Yulee’s Florida Railroad had on the development of the interior of the state. The Society uses events such as this to increase awareness of Nassau County’s rich history and to raise funds for the upkeep of the 1880s era Callahan train station.

Jim Hightower's "speeder."  Speeders were historically used by railroad maintenance crews to inspect and maintain the nation’s many miles of track.

Jim Hightower of Jacksonville, a member of the North American Rail Car Owner’s of America (NARCOA), is bringing his railroad motorcar or "speeder" to the depot grounds. Speeders were historically used by railroad maintenance crews to inspect and maintain the nation’s many miles of track. Replace by hy-rail vehicles, speeders are now owned by private individuals such as Hightower who have joined NORCOA to promote the hobby.

Also obsolete from the rails, but still beloved by millions are cabooses. Once a common fixture at the end of freight trains, cabooses are now mostly regulated to sidings, town parks and depots. The one that has been sitting idly beside the Callahan Depot for over twenty years now has a fresh coat of red paint. The bright red exterior is just the beginning of the refurbishing project the Historical Society has begun on the 1960s era former ACL train car.

Moving down in scale, there will be 7.5 gauge engines and freight cars on display on the depot grounds on both days of the festival. 7.5 is the distance in inches between the two rails, which is roughly 1/8 the size of a regular set of rails. Tom Hill, past president of the West Nassau Historical Society and other live steam enthusiasts are bringing their intricately built locomotives to Railroad Days for viewing. 

Tom Hill's 7.5 gauge locomotive

Visitors can get a close look at how detailed these railroaders build their locos. On Saturday, the Society has invited the general public to set up their model train layouts inside the County Building on Mickler Street at Dixie Avenue. Ranging from HO scale to O scale, citizens of the area get to set up their layouts for everyone to enjoy. The venue is just a short walk from the depot and is just yards from the junction of CSX’s two primary Florida rail lines.

So as the big trains speed through Callahan on their way in and out of the sunshine state, other  railroad items cars such as speeders, cabooses,

Model train layout at the Mickler Street County building in Callahan

7.5 gauge locomotives and model train layouts will vie for their attention the last two days in  May, For more information on the many train displays during Railroad Days Festival in Callahan, call the West Nassau Historical Society at 904-879-3406

(photos courtesy  of John Hendricks)