Qwest equipment in North-west Florida
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In March of 1999 I started seeing railroad equipment lettered for Qwest along the CSX mainline in Crestview and Mossy Head, Florida. Through correspondance with others on the internet, I was able to find out that they are a firm that installs fiber-optic cables along the railroad right-of-way. While I have seen locomotives, cabooses, a boxcar, flat cars converted to racks for carrying the cable spools, ballast cars, and finally the ditching tool itself, I have never seen any of it in operation, nor have I talked to anyone who operates the equipment. I have no idea when they "do their thing", but suspect it is at night, since whenever I see the locos, they're idle. At any rate, here are some pictures of the equipment, along with brief descriptions. Hope you enjoy them! If you can provide me with any substantive information about Qwest, please do so and I'll include it here. Thanks!
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. This is Bay window caboose 51, in the short spur at Crestview, FL.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. Another shot of caboose 51.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. A gondola that's likely used for scrap. Crestview.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. The east end of the trenching machine sits in the spur in Crestview, FL.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. Another view; this appears to be a control cabin. Crestview, FL.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. Hydraulically operated trenching tool. Crestview, FL.
	Photo by Ron Kohlin, taken 03-19-99. This appears to be the power equipment. Crestview, FL.