Folkston and Wilmington Train Love
All Aboard for All Those Recalling Railroading Romance
Folkston, Georgia banks on visitors with a passion for railroads. Rail fans, as they are called, make the small community, just north of the Florida border and a gateway to the Okefenokee Swamp, a must see in their lifetimes.
Here on a double track on the CSX railroad main line between 60 –70, both freight and passenger trains pass on a daily basis. Known as the “Folkston Funnel” they sweep along the former Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad and the Atlantic Coast Line tracks. Coal, grain, Amtrak’s Auto train from near DC to Florida, its Silver Service and Palmetto passenger routing and the famous Tropicana Juice train are just a few of the regulars which cause excitement.
The town of Folkston, 40 miles from Jacksonville FL, has embraced their fortunate setting by making it easy for rail fans to set up and wait.
A viewing platform was built in 2001. Complete with ceiling fans, restrooms and the newly added free WiFi service the city also provides benches and BBQ pits with picnic tables.
A scanner set to 160.590 and 160.320 MHz allows you to get in on all the talk betweens the trains.
Old Casey Jones never had it so good.
Neither will visitors to the newly inaugurated Wilmington Railroad Museum in the port city of Wilmington, NC.
Fun is its number one destination.
Good times are offered to all rail fanatics, historians or simply visitors looking for a different venue.
It was the railroad that helped build the city, and the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) was based here until 1960.
Now one her steam engines, #250 stands proud and refurbished, by the entrance. Also joining her are a bright red caboose car and a freight car with a hobo grabbing a free ride on the rails.
Inside it is easy to relate to the past.
A replica of a 1940’s ACL ticket office, complete with a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, baggage scales and a pot bellied stove remind the visitor of a time when a train brought the outside world to most of America.
At a time railroad advertising was on everything – like egg timers, thermometers, playing cards and sing along books. Before Ipods and the like, people used to entertain themselves by singing popular tunes and old favorites. You might just remember some and hum along after seeing the display.
Kids of all ages will adore the model railroads. The museum boasts over 500 feet of model train track and a section dedicated to the Island of Sodor’s favorite resident – Thomas the Tank Engine.
To further a little one’s entertainment ask for the scavenger hunt information at the front. The game is available for visitors as young as two in age.
It is never too young to learn the thrill of trains.
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