1/5/2024 0 Comments The railway lines![]() While the line was heavily damaged by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 it was in severe decline prior to this time. However, a few stand out, most notably the FEC's fabled Key West Extension. Most abandonments occurred after 1970 (over 1,700 miles) and were largely secondary or agricultural branch lines. While the FEC came to operate a very profitable regional system along the East Coast, most of Florida was served by the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line. Augustine & Halifax River Railway in 1885 and subsequently modernized it via a new company, the Florida East Coast Railway of 1895. (although it did extend as far south as Palatka).Īnd Louisville & Nashville only reached the extreme western regionsĪt its peak during the 1920's, Florida's rail network resembled a Midwestern state like Iowa, Kansas, or Minnesota tracks crisscrossed in every direction and served the smallest town to largest city.Įven more surprising is that railroads were late to develop the state while its first was the 5-foot gauge, mule-powered Tallahassee Railroad of 1837 it wasn't until Henry Flagler acquired the rickety Jacksonville, St. Northeastern corner of state where it reached Jacksonville The Southern Railway's Florida operations were limited only to the This number is not that unusual and quite consistent with what many other states have lost since the golden years of the 1920s. However, today that number has fallen under 2,800 miles, or about a 45% decline. For a more in-depth look at Florida in terms of rail mileage over the years please refer to the table below.Īs you see, during the state's peak years with trains it featured a rail network consisting of more than 5,200 miles. In any event, not long after the Tallahassee Railroad opened, Florida's railroad network began to grow rapidly and by 1880 boasted over 500 miles of track.ĭuring the industry's heyday, Florida was home to six major railroads, one of which is still operating. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park. However, in 1983 the Seaboard wished to abandon the line and today much of the route is preserved as the Tallahassee-St. Railroad would eventually become part of the Seaboard Air Line systemĪnd would remain in operation through the Seaboard Coast Line merger andĮven after the formation of the Seaboard System in the early 1980s. ![]() Later, by 1837 the line had been completed and was in operation. Tallahassee (the then capitol of the Florida territory, before it wasĪctually a state) with St. In 1834 the little mule-powered Tallahassee Railroad wasĬhartered by the state of Florida to build a 22-mile line connecting Photosįlorida railroads date back to nearly the beginning of the industry Finally, just so that you are aware, the article here provides various links throughout, which will take you to other pages here at the site which are related to the state's rail history. These were largely operated by the SAL and ACL. The state has lost nearly half of its rail infrastructure over the years most abandonments were branch lines or redundant routes which littered the state's interior. It was one the only service to Miami and attempted to open a deep water port at Key West, a failed venture that can still be seen from Highway 1 today. The FEC was the preeminent rail service along the Atlantic Coast, and remains so to this day. In any event, whether you are interested in commuter trains, high-speed freight trains, or short line/regional railroads the state of Florida offers all of these today. May feature a rather low-grade profile with little mountainous terrain, the state's interestingĭiversity of operations and usually fantastic weather make it worth theįlorida also has had quite an interesting history trains as most of the South's classic lines operated there such as the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, and the Florida East Coast. ![]() Florida railroads are as sunny and bright as the Sunshine State itself.
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