Trains destined for the Downtown Spur originate out of Hialeah Yard. While the preferred schedule is to do the switching during the graveyard shift, it is relatively common to see the train during the day. As heavy as automobile traffic in the area is during business hours I don't envy the crew that has to work the job during the day shift. When the crew arrives on duty generally the cars for the train have been blocked by the previous shift and air tested. If not, the crew will have to block the cars themselves before leaving the yard. At one time the train was labeled Y120 (i.e. Yard 120) although I don't know if it still carries that name. Once out of the yard, the switching procedure is relatively straightforward, probably because there really is only one way to do the job. Heading downtown the local switches the industries with trailing point switches. When it reaches the end of the line, any moves on the Produce Center switchback are performed and then the engine runs around its train and heads back up the spur towards Hialeah. On the return trip it works the remaining industries with trailing point switches. Trains generally consist of 10 to 15 cars. In terms of volume of cars handled, the most active shippers are FP&T, Trujillo and Sons, and Family and Son.
The above photos were taken June 26th, 2008. The local has worked to the end of the spur and the engine has just run around its train. On this day, the train carried 11 cars - 6 loads of scrap, 2 reefers, 2 boxes, and a tank car. The left image is of the front of the train, the right image of the rear.