Rollins College (Winter Park, Fla.)--History
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the Dinky Line. The track started in Orlando-Winter Park area and entered Seminole County near Oviedo. The Orlando-Winter Park Railroad officially opened on January 2, 1889. Shortly after the inaugural opening of the railroad, Francis B. Knowles became president of the Orlando-Winter Park Railroad Company. The original track spanned six miles from Orlando to Winter Park. The Dinky Line made eight round-trips per day and charged fifteen cents a ride. Students from Rollins College nicknamed the railroad the Dinky Line. By 1891, the Dinky Line extended to Oviedo. All of the tracks were removed by 1969 due to the popularity of the automobile.
Coordinates compiled as part of a RICHES student project.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the portion of the Florida East Coast Railway running through Central Florida. Henry Flagler, prominent entrepreneur known throughout the state of Florida, founded the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) in 1895 after purchasing the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Halifax, and Indian River Railroads. Flagler soon purchased other railroad companies and eventually spanned the whole state from Jacksonville to Key West. The FEC line runs through Seminole County just north of Lake Harney and continues south through Geneva and Chuluota. It eventually runs South into Orange County and ends in Lake Okeechobee.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the Florida Midland Railroad. Tracks were constructed and completed in the 1880s and ran along the current day State Road 434 near Ocoee, Florida. The Florida Midland did not last long , but did have a significant influence in the population and commerce growth in the particular area of Central Florida. The small line was originally used for logging and was pulled up after only a couple of years. The route then became a logging road.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the portion of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad running through Central Florida. The Atlantic Coast Line was formally established in 1889 and became a major interstate railway system in the southeastern United States. In 1902, the Atlantic Coast Line extended its services into Florida when it purchased all of the Plant tracks. In Central Florida, these lines included the Sanford and Everglade Railroad. In 1967, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was formed and took over all of the tracks operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Seaboard Air Line.
Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the portion of the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad running through Central Florida. The railroad opened in 1884 and reached Sanford by 1886. William Van Fleet was the railroad's first president. In 1883, the railroad caught the attention of Henry Plant, a prominent entrepreneur in the state, during a track construction project between Tampa and Kissimmee. He offered the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad all of the funds needed to construct the stretch of railroad. In return, it was agreed that Plant would own all rights to the route. The railroad began in Jacksonville and ran through Palatka and DeLand Junction. The stretch of railroad running through Central Florida ran from downtown Sanford east to the port of Sanford where it then turned north and crossed the St. Johns River.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the portion of the Sanford and St. Petersburg Railway running through Central Florida.Originally called the Orange Belt Railroad, the Sanford and St. Petersburg Railway started in 1885-1889. The tracks started at Port Monroe and later extended into Sanford. The Orange Belt Railroad was unsuccessful and was taken over by the Plant System in 1893. Henry Plant changed the three foot gauge rails to four foot gauge. The entire railroad started in downtown Sanford and ran along the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the Sanford and Everglades Railroad.The creation of a railroad through Sanford began when a group of celery growers expressed interest in extending railroad tracks to their farmlands. When the Atlantic Coast Line ignored the requests, a group of prominent local growers provided the funds and began construction of the Sanford and Everglades Railroad. With the help of A.T. Rossiter, J.N. Whitner, A.P. Connelly, S.O. Chase, and F.P. Forester, the railroad was built and opened in 1910. The railroad broke off from the Atlantic Coast Line near 15th Street in Sanford and ran east until Beardall. It then turned south and ran until Pine Way where it turns west and reconnects to the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. By 1913, the Atlantic Coast Line purchased the property and rights to the Sanford and Everglades Railroad. The railroad was nicknamed the Celery Belt Line.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the Sanford and Indian River Railroad.The Sanford and Indian River Railroad was built in 1886 by the South Florida Railroad. The line covered nineteen miles between Sanford and Oviedo and was used by growers to ship goods. The railroad began in downtown Sanford and ran southeast direction toward the intersection of State Roads 434 and 426. It then turns East along the southern shore of Lake Jessup and ends in Oviedo. The railroad did have a spur line into the Black Hammock that started at Yongel's Shingle. A biking trail known as the Cross Seminole Trail now spans the length of the old railroad.
List of latitude and longitude coordinates for the Sanford and Lake Eustis Railway.The Sanford and Lake Eustis Railway. The Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railroad built the road in 1886 and opened it in 1887. The track spanned 29.5 miles and started in the downtown Sanford rail station area and ran west towards the present-day 417 and I-4 interchange. The president of Sanford and Lake Eustis Railway, Dr. J. N. Bishop, sold the railroad to the Plant System in 1890.
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in 2014. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Original color digital images by Lehman Connolly, February 7, 2014.
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, Apopka, Florida
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, 1960s
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in the 1960s. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph: Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans, Apopka, Florida.
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot, 1988
The Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Station, located at 36 East Station Street in Apopka, Florida, in 1988. The depot was built in 1918 after a tornado destroyed the original brick building. It operated until the 1960s as a train station, primarily for passenger service though it did have a freight bay. The building was sold to a man who owned a meat store, and was used for storage until Matt Jordan, the current owner, bought the building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This photograph was taken by a Seaboard Air Line railway operator.
Photocopy of original black and white photograph, 1988: Apopka Historical Society and Museum of the Apopkans, Apopka, Florida.
The Oviedo Depot, originally located at 520 South Lake Jessup Avenue in Oviedo, Florida, in 1970. The depot was built in 1886 as part of Henry B. Plant's (1819-1899) railroad system. The Plant System ran from Jacksonville to Key West. The design of the depot was based on the design standards set by the Plant System. This standardized system for the Florida lines had three depot styles based on the population of the town or city it serviced. The Oviedo design was the small town wooden depot design, as opposed to the larger cities that had brick depots. The depot was later moved to its present location at 636 South Lake Jessup Road. During World War II, the roof of the depot was used as guide for patrolling planes that flew out of Sanford Airport. Along with the depot, there was originally a red warehouse for the produce and a water tank used for the train engines. In the 1970s, the depot was sold to the Connolly family, which chose to preserve it from demolition. The depot now sits on the Connolly's property as a guesthouse and its exterior is fully restored.
Print reproduction of original 4 x 3 inch black and white photograph by R. Randolph Stevens, 1970.
Arcadia Publishing
The Oviedo Depot, originally located at 520 South Lake Jessup Avenue in Oviedo, Florida, in 2014. The depot was built in 1886 as part of Henry B. Plant's (1819-1899) railroad system. The Plant System ran from Jacksonville to Key West. The design of the depot was based on the design standards set by the Plant System. This standardized system for the Florida lines had three depot styles based on the population of the town or city it serviced. The Oviedo design was the small town wooden depot design, as opposed to the larger cities that had brick depots. The depot was later moved to its present location at 636 South Lake Jessup Road. During World War II, the roof of the depot was used as guide for patrolling planes that flew out of Sanford Airport. Along with the depot, there was originally a red warehouse for the produce and a water tank used for the train engines. In the 1970s, the depot was sold to the Connolly family, which chose to preserve it from demolition. The depot now sits on the Connolly's property as a guesthouse and its exterior is fully restored.
Original 5 x 4 inch color photographs by Eric Smalls, March 2014.
The Old Orlando Railroad Depot, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida, sometime between 1881 and 1890. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad, it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail Tram system.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint: Reference Collection, shelf number 12360, call number RC18768, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
State Library and Archives of Florida
Old Orlando Railroad Depot, Orlando, Florida
The Old Orlando Railroad Depot, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida, in the 1970s. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad, it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail Tram system.
Digital reproduction of original 7 x 10 inch black and white photograph: Prints Collection, call number PR13725, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
The Old Orlando Railroad Depot, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad, it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail Tram system.
Original color photograph by John Bradley, April 21, 2007: Wikimedia Commons.
Wikimedia Commons
The Kissimmee Railroad Station, located at 111 Dakin Avenue, in Kissimmee, Florida, in 2014. This train station was first created in 1882 by the South Florida Railroad Company. It originally served as a means for the people of Allendale (present-day Kissimmee) to ship off their lumber and animal skins. As time went on, this depot was where orange farmers and cattle ranchers shipped their produce. Now this station is owned by Amtrak and serves as destination where railroad-bound tourists can go take the Greyhound bus to Walt Disney World or other locations.
Original color digital images by Marina Santos, March 2, 2014.
Kissimmee Railroad Station, Kissimmee, Florida
Lake Wales Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot and Lake Wales Depot Museum
The Lake Wales Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, located at 325 South Scenic Highway, in Lake Wales, Florida, in 2014. The depot was established in 1928 by the R. W. Burrows Construction Company. It was the second station built in Lake Wales since the coming of the railroad in 1911. It continued to operate as a functioning railroad depot for several decades. In 1978, the depot was dedicated as the Lake Wales Depot Museum, housing the local history of the Railroad Depot and the City of Lake Wales.
Original color digital image by Tyler Campbell, February 21, 2014.
Lake Wales Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot and Lake Wales Depot Museum, Lake Wales, Florida
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 1915. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph, 1915: Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.
Mount Dora Train Station, Mount Dora, Florida
Last Train at the Mount Dora Train Station
The last passenger train at the Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 2012. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Digital reproduction of original color image by Kevin Andrusia on RailPictures.Net, January 2012.
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 1920. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Print reproduction of original black and white postcard, 1920: Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly. Mount Dora. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2000.
Mount Dora Train Station Historic Marker
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places plaque at the Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida, in 2007. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Original color digital image by Ebyabe, May 20, 2007.
Punta Gorda Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot
The Punta Gorda Train Depot, also known as the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, was erected in Punta Gorda, Florida, in 1928. The depot was built with in Spanish style that was popular at the time and resembles a Mediterranean resort. It was built to service mostly freight but passengers were also carried. On east side of the building lay the tracks. During the segregation era, the depot's entrance had different doors for "whites" and "coloreds." Two different waiting areas and bathrooms were built to separate passengers.
Original color digital images by Joseph Ortner, March 2014.
Punta Gorda Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Punta Gorda, Florida
Atlantic Coast Line Workers at Sanford Railyard
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) workers at the railroad depot located on West Eighth Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, around 1906. This depot was originally part of the South Florida Railroad, which held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new railroad station on Oak Avenue in 1880, with former President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) in attendance. In 1893, the South Florida Railroad was bought out by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) to save it from bankruptcy and incorporated into his own railroad system. Shortly thereafter, in the winter of 1894-1895, a freeze hit Sanford, destroying the entire citrus crop. This brought an end to what had been Sanford's thriving citrus industry prompting the development of its vegetable industry. By the 1900s, Sanford was one of the largest vegetable shipping centers in the United States gaining the nickname of "The Celery City" for its most successful crop. Upon Plant's death in 1902, his widow, Margaret Josephine Loughman, sold his railroad system to the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL). The arrival of the ACL in Sanford brought many new railroad workers as the city grew into a hub for shipping produce to surrounding areas. Rand Yard, the ACL's freight yard, housed a car shop, engine servicing facility, small locomotive shop, and the state's largest railroad ice plant. In the early 1900s, Lake Jesup farmers began demanding that the ACL build a line for them to ship their produce into town. The ACL refused; in response, the give biggest growers chartered the Sanford and Everglades Railroad with Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) as the president. The new line was completed as an ACL branch at Lake Charm. The ACL was prompted to buy out the new line in 1913 when the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) showed interest in buying it, thus incorporating the branch which became the most profitable in the ACL system. By the mid-1900s, the amount of good farmland was shrinking in Sanford due to development, driving farmers further south to farms with much more acreage. This, coupled with the establishment of Naval Air Station Sanford (NAS Sanford), turned the city's focus from agriculture to the military. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) and later was acquired by CSX. Today, the railroad station originally built by the ACL is no longer in use.
Original 6.625 x 4.625 inch black and white photographic print: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Railyard, Sanford, Florida
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Passenger Cars at Fort Pierce
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) passenger cars at the depot in Fort Pierce, Florida, during the 1950s. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint by Harry Wolfe: Reference Collection, shelf number 14025, image number RC03667, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Fort Pierce, Florida
Florida East Coast Railway Company Engine No. 30 in Fort Pierce
The Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC) Engine No. 30 in Fort Pierce, Florida. This photograph is of the northbound FEC train and was taken from the viewpoint of the water tank. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 4 x 5 inch black and white photonegative: General Collection, image number N038573, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida East Coast Railway Company Railroad, Fort Pierce, Florida
Lake Wales Depot Museum Dedication Ceremony
The dedication of the Lake Wales Depot Museum, located at 325 South Scenic Highway, was part of a project in Lake Wales, Florida, to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States on July 4, 1976. The museum still exists today and houses a variety of exhibits on local and state topics. Mimi Hardman, depicted in the colonial outfit on the right, was instrumental in the renovation project of the train depot and still acts as the head of the Lake Wales Historical Society and runs the depot museum. The Lake Wales Depot Museum is housed in the Lake Wales Train Depot that was built in 1928 by the R. W. Burrows Construction Company along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). It was the second station built in Lake Wales since the coming of the railroad in 1911. It continued to operate as a functioning railroad depot for several decades. In 1978, the depot was dedicated as the Lake Wales Depot Museum, housing the local history of the Railroad Depot and the City of Lake Wales.
Original black and white photograph, July 4, 1976: Lake Wales Public Library Archives, Lake Wales Public Library, Lake Wales, Florida.
Lake Wales Depot Museum, Lake Wales, Florida
Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Station
The Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) Station, located at 1400 Sligh Boulevard in Orlando, Florida, in 2014. This station was constructed in 1926 at a cost of $500,000 and was originally part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). However, in 1967, the station was acquired by the SCL after a merger with the ACL. With stucco facade and towers flanking its entrance, the station has been studied for its Mission Revival-style architecture. After being in operation for 65 years, the station, then owned by Amtrak, was in desperate need of renovations. In 1991, a collective of local organizations, companies and groups came together to fund the needed renovations.
Original color digital images by Chris Clemente, March 24, 2014.
Amtrak Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Station, Orlando, Florida
The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) railroad depot located on West Eighth Street in Downtown Sanford, Florida, around 1900. W. H. Hill and Company can also be seen to the right side of the photograph. This depot was originally part of the South Florida Railroad, which held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new railroad station on Oak Avenue in 1880, with former President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) in attendance. In 1893, the South Florida Railroad was bought out by Henry B. Plant (1819-1899) to save it from bankruptcy and incorporated into his own railroad system. Shortly thereafter, in the winter of 1894-1895, a freeze hit Sanford, destroying the entire citrus crop. This brought an end to what had been Sanford's thriving citrus industry prompting the development of its vegetable industry. By the 1900s, Sanford was one of the largest vegetable shipping centers in the United States gaining the nickname of "The Celery City" for its most successful crop. Upon Plant's death in 1902, his widow, Margaret Josephine Loughman, sold his railroad system to the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL). The arrival of the ACL in Sanford brought many new railroad workers as the city grew into a hub for shipping produce to surrounding areas. Rand Yard, the ACL's freight yard, housed a car shop, engine servicing facility, small locomotive shop, and the state's largest railroad ice plant. In the early 1900s, Lake Jesup farmers began demanding that the ACL build a line for them to ship their produce into town. The ACL refused; in response, the give biggest growers chartered the Sanford and Everglades Railroad with Sydney Octavius Chase, Sr. (1860-1941) as the president. The new line was completed as an ACL branch at Lake Charm. The ACL was prompted to buy out the new line in 1913 when the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) showed interest in buying it, thus incorporating the branch which became the most profitable in the ACL system. By the mid-1900s, the amount of good farmland was shrinking in Sanford due to development, driving farmers further south to farms with much more acreage. This, coupled with the establishment of Naval Air Station Sanford (NAS Sanford), turned the city's focus from agriculture to the military. In 1967, the ACL merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) and later was acquired by CSX. Today, the railroad station originally built by the ACL is no longer in use.
Original 7.125 x 5 inch black and white photographic print: Vincent Collection, Sanford Museum, Sanford, Florida.
Atlantic Coast Line Depot, Sanford, Florida
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) Depot, located at 3 North Museum Avenue in Avon Park, Florida, was built in 1924 after the company acquired the right of way in Avon Park. The station primarily carried freight, including consumer goods shipped to Avon Park and citrus that was exported from the town. It also carried passengers, including tourists from the North on the famous Orange Blossom Express that went from New York to Miami. The line also carried soldiers and their families during World War II. In 1967, SAL merged with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) to form the the depot became the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL). After this SCL Depot was closed in 1978, it was purchased by the City of Avon Park. It was then leased by the Historical Society of Avon Park and has operated as a museum since 1981. It is located in the Avon Park Historic District which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Original black and white photograph, 1924: Railroad Collection, Avon Park Depot Museum, Avon Park, Florida.
Avon Park Seaboard Air Line Depot, Avon Park, Florida
Avon Park Atlantic Coast Line Train Station
The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Train Station was first built in 1912 in Avon Park, Florida. The station primarily carried freight, including consumer goods shipped to Avon Park and citrus that was exported from the town. It also carried passengers, including tourists from the North on the famous Orange Blossom Express that went from New York to Miami. The line also carried soldiers and their families during World War II. In 1967, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) merged with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) to form the the depot became the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL). After this SCL Depot was closed in 1978, it was purchased by the City of Avon Park. It was then leased by the Historical Society of Avon Park and has operated as a museum since 1981. It is located in the Avon Park Historic District which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Original black and white photograph, 1912: Railroad Collection, Avon Park Depot Museum, Avon Park, Florida.
Avon Park Atlantic Coast Line Train Station, Avon Park, Florida
The Seaboard Air Line (SAL) Depot, located at 3 North Museum Avenue in Avon Park, Florida, was built in 1924 after the company acquired the right of way in Avon Park. The station primarily carried freight, including consumer goods shipped to Avon Park and citrus that was exported from the town. It also carried passengers, including tourists from the North on the famous Orange Blossom Express that went from New York to Miami. The line also carried soldiers and their families during World War II. In 1967, SAL merged with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) to form the the depot became the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL). After this SCL Depot was closed in 1978, it was purchased by the City of Avon Park. It was then leased by the Historical Society of Avon Park and has operated as a museum since 1981. It is located in the Avon Park Historic District which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Original color digital image by Nicholas Simons, March 13, 2014.
Avon Park Depot Museum, Avon Park, Florida
The Mount Dora Train Station, located at 341 North Alexander Street in Mount Dora, Florida. 1886 was when the first railroad stopped in Mount Dora, connecting Jacksonville to Tampa. The Mount Dora Depot cost $8,223 to build. The last passenger train left Mount Dora in 1950 and freight was discontinued in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Original color digital image: Examiner.com.
Orange Blossom Special Comes to Lake Wales
The Orange Blossom Special at the Lake Wales Train Depot. The coming of the railroad to Lake Wales, Florida, brought with it a connection to civilization. Prior to the coming of the railroad there was very little if any development in the area. The first rail line came to Lake Wales in 1919 and from that point until the end of the boom period of Florida history the city expanded extensively. This photograph shows the inaugural run of the Orange Blossom Special from New York to West Palm Beach on the second rail line to arrive in Lake Wales, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) , on November 22, 1925. The Lake Wales Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot is located at 325 South Scenic Highway.
Original 7 x 11 inch black and white photograph, November 22, 1925: Historic Lake Wales Society, Lake Wales, Florida.
Lake Wales Train Depot, Lake Wales, Florida
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Dedication Marker for the Lake Wales Train Depot
The U.S. National Register of Historic Places dedication marker for the Lake Wales Train Depot. The Lake Wales Train Depot, which is currently the Lake Wales Depot Museum, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, along with several other buildings in Lake Wales, Florida, in 1990. The train depot was built in 1928 by R. W. Burrows Construction Company. It was the second train depot to be constructed along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) in Lake Wales. It was built to house the large influx of train traffic through the city. The Lake Wales Depot Museum is located at 325 South Scenic Highway.
The Port Orange Train Station in Port Orange, Florida. Originally built in 1894, the Port Orange Train Station was a part of the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) and was used as a flag stop for freight and passenger transport as late as 1955. In 1966, it was moved 500 feet north of its original location. On February 5, 1998, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building is now privately owned and used as a storage facility for a construction company.
Original color digital images by Roy McKinney, April 2, 2014.
Port Orange Train Station, Port Orange, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the Sunrail Tram system.
Original color digital image by Ebyabe, April 21, 2007.
The Ocala Union Station, located at 531 Northeast First Avenue in Ocala, Florida, in 2014. Built in 1917, the Ocala Union Station was not the pioneer depot for Ocala's booming phosphorus mining, citrus cultivation, and Silver Springs tourism. Ocala was a developing city for transportation long before Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) and Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) crossed lines and created Union Station. According to the Historic Ocala website, Ocala had achieved its population, well-developed system of transportation, and prosperous economy by 1895, well before the arrival of the Ocala Union Station, Periodic recessions, however, from 1890 to 1920 took an especially hard toll on Florida. U.S. Census data shows that the Marion County population fell from 26,941 in 1910 to 23,968 in 1920—an 11 percent drop. As the Ocala Union Station grew as a result of tourism, trade, and the Florida Land Boom, it helped reverse the trend. Census data from 1930 shows 29,578 people living in Marion County, which houses the station to this day.
Original color digital images by Carlos R. Mercado, March 12, 2014.
A postcard of Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail tram system.
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2012. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the SunRail tram system.
Community Redevelopment Area Design Studio
A sign for the Community Redevelopment Area Design Studio, located at the Ocala Union Station at 531 Northeast First Avenue in Ocala, Florida, in 2014. The Office of Long Term Planning & Sustainability in Ocala has designated Ocala Union Station as a redevelopment area and hosts weekly lectures, presentations, and design exercises. Built in 1917, the Ocala Union Station was not the pioneer depot for Ocala's booming phosphorus mining, citrus cultivation, and Silver Springs tourism. Ocala was a developing city for transportation long before Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) and Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) crossed lines and created Union Station. According to the Historic Ocala website, Ocala had achieved its population, well-developed system of transportation, and prosperous economy by 1895, well before the arrival of the Ocala Union Station, Periodic recessions, however, from 1890 to 1920 took an especially hard toll on Florida. U.S. Census data shows that the Marion County population fell from 26,941 in 1910 to 23,968 in 1920—an 11 percent drop. As the Ocala Union Station grew as a result of tourism, trade, and the Florida Land Boom, it helped reverse the trend. Census data from 1930 shows 29,578 people living in Marion County, which houses the station to this day.
Original color digital image by Carlos R. Mercado, March 12, 2014.
The Ocala Union Station, located at 531 Northeast First Avenue in Ocala, Florida, in the 1920s. Built in 1917, the Ocala Union Station was not the pioneer depot for Ocala's booming phosphorus mining, citrus cultivation, and Silver Springs tourism. Ocala was a developing city for transportation long before Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) and Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) crossed lines and created Union Station. According to the Historic Ocala website, Ocala had achieved its population, well-developed system of transportation, and prosperous economy by 1895, well before the arrival of the Ocala Union Station, Periodic recessions, however, from 1890 to 1920 took an especially hard toll on Florida. U.S. Census data shows that the Marion County population fell from 26,941 in 1910 to 23,968 in 1920—an 11 percent drop. As the Ocala Union Station grew as a result of tourism, trade, and the Florida Land Boom, it helped reverse the trend. Census data from 1930 shows 29,578 people living in Marion County, which houses the station to this day.
Digital reproduction of reprinted black and white photograph: Kevin McCarthy and Ernest Jernigan. Ocala. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2001.
Florida East Coast Railway Fort Pierce Station
The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Fort Pierce Station in Fort Pierce, Florida, in the 1900s. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. Henry Flagler expanded his railroad down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the Florida East Coast Railway Company. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint: Print Collections, image number PR00824, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida East Coast Railway Station, Fort Pierce, Florida
The Fort Pierce Florida East Coast Depot in the 1940s. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 4 x 5 inch black and white photonegative by William Monypenny: General Collection, image number N029509, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
Avenue A in Fort Pierce, Florida. To the left is the first Fort Pierce City Hall, with the Hendry House and First Baptist Church of Fort Pierce just behind it. To the right of the church and across the street is the East Coast Lumber and Supply Company. On the far right is the Fort Pierce Train Station, Florida East Coast Railway main line in the early 1900s. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photograph: Print Collections, image number C0PR03369, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.
St. Lucie County Regional History Center
St. Lucie County Regional History Center, located at 414 Seaway Drive in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 2014. The history center is located in what was once the Fort Pierce train station. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his railroad down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the Florida East Coast Railway Company. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room", which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Original color digital image by Samantha Moore, 2014.
St. Lucie County Regional History Center, Fort Pierce, Florida
A pineapple packing house in Fort Pierce, Florida, located long the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) siding. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 4 x 5 inch black and white photonegative: General Collection, image number N031005, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida.
A map of St. Lucie County, Florida, in 1907. Present-day St. Lucie County was originally inhabited by the Ais tribe. During the early 19th century, Spain issued a 2,000 land grant to James Hutchinson, but the area remained largely uninhabited. During the mid-19th century, Seminoles and runaway slaves took refuge in the area. The county seat, Fort Pierce, was established in 1837 during the Second Seminole War and named after Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin K. Pierce. Under the Armed Occupation Act, the U.S. government began issuing land grants to American settlers. Fort Capron was established in present-day St. Lucie Village during the Third Seminole War in 1851. Henry Flagler's (1830-1913) railroad system expanded to the present-day St. Lucie County area in the 1890s, allowing the area's pineapple, fishing, seafood canning, and cattle industries to expand. Citrus became another prosperous industry in the area during the early 20th century. St. Lucie County was officially created from the southern portion of Brevard County in 1905. Indian River County separated to form its own county in 1925 and Martin County was established from the southeastern portion of St. Lucie County and the northern portion of Palm Beach County that same year. The western part of the county was used to form Okeechobee County in 1917. St. Lucie County benefited from Florida's land boom in the 1920s, but was also affected by Florida's bust in 1929 and the Great Depression in the 1930s. During World War II, the U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base was established in Fort Pierce, marking the beginning of the county's population boom that would last throughout the 1950s. St. Lucie County saw a population boom in the late 20th century. In the 21st century, the county was devastated by two major hurricanes in 2004 and from the financial collapse beginning in 2008.
Digital reproduction of original color map: New Encyclopedia and Gazetteer: Chicago: Dodd, Mead, & Company, 1907: Exploring Florida Maps, Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
Florida East Coast Railway Workers in Fort Pierce, 1947
Florida East Coast Railway working grading for railroad expansion in 1947 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion. The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.
Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint: Reference Collection, shelf number 14029, image number RC02257, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida.
Florida East Coast Railway Train Station, Fort Pierce, Florida
Church Street Station, located at 127 West Church Street in Orlando, Florida. The station was first constructed in 1880 connecting Orlando to Sanford. After the railroad was bought up by the Plant System in 1883 from the South Florida Railroad it was extended to Tampa. This brought a large boom to Orlando's economy shipping cattle and lumber, but chiefly citrus. By 1926, the depot was becoming too small for the volume of trade going through, so the depot was moved south to what is today the Amtrak Station. The depot became run down until the mid-1970s when Church Street Station opened up around the depot and stayed open until the early 2000s. Now the station is used as a stop along the Sunrail Tram system.
A map of St. Lucie County, Florida, in 1911. Present-day St. Lucie County was originally inhabited by the Ais tribe. During the early 19th century, Spain issued a 2,000 land grant to James Hutchinson, but the area remained largely uninhabited. During the mid-19th century, Seminoles and runaway slaves took refuge in the area. The county seat, Fort Pierce, was established in 1837 during the Second Seminole War and named after Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin K. Pierce. Under the Armed Occupation Act, the U.S. government began issuing land grants to American settlers. Fort Capron was established in present-day St. Lucie Village during the Third Seminole War in 1851. Henry Flagler's (1830-1913) railroad system expanded to the present-day St. Lucie County area in the 1890s, allowing the area's pineapple, fishing, seafood canning, and cattle industries to expand. Citrus became another prosperous industry in the area during the early 20th century. St. Lucie County was officially created from the southern portion of Brevard County in 1905. Indian River County separated to form its own county in 1925 and Martin County was established from the southeastern portion of St. Lucie County and the northern portion of Palm Beach County that same year. The western part of the county was used to form Okeechobee County in 1917. St. Lucie County benefited from Florida's land boom in the 1920s, but was also affected by Florida's bust in 1929 and the Great Depression in the 1930s. During World War II, the U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base was established in Fort Pierce, marking the beginning of the county's population boom that would last throughout the 1950s. St. Lucie County saw a population boom in the late 20th century. In the 21st century, the county was devastated by two major hurricanes in 2004 and from the financial collapse beginning in 2008.
Digital reproduction of original color map: Rand McNally, 1911: Exploring Florida Maps, Florida Center for Instructional Technology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
Rand McNally
Especial Announcement to Visitors to Savannah, Florida and the South
An announcement from the Atlantic Coast Line of Railways dating back to December 29, 1877. At the time, the Atlantic Coast Line was an informal name that was adopted in 1871 by railroads paralleling the Atlantic Ocean. The flier advertised a new luxurious tourist train that eventually became considered the first deluxe tourist train in the United States. Speaking specifically to Northerners, this flier offers five different railroad lines to the South, while also offering different kinds of boxcars. The first offer is the completion of the Ashley River Railroad. The second offer is a double daily service to Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. The third is a semi-weekly service of sleeping cars between Boston, Massachusetts, and Savannah. Additionally, the fourth offer is also for sleeping cars from Washington, D.C., to Savannah, and connecting with Boston and Washington. Finally, the fifth offer is from Richmond, Virginia, to New York City, New York. The flier then offers the location of the company’s headquarters in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. Lastly, the flier lists the names of agents for southern travel: W. J. Walker, General Agent; A. Pope, General Passenger and Ticket Agent; and J. H. White, Passenger Agent. The flier itself was printed by Munroe and Metz.
Original advertisement, December 29, 1877: Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.
An oral history interview of Warren McFarland, a telegrapher, train dispatcher, railroad station agent, grocery clerk, Railroad Safety and Service Agent, Assistant Regional Director and Regional Manager for the Interstate Commerce Commission, and Director of the Office of Compliance and Consumer Assistance. The interview was conducted by Geoffrey Cravero at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, on January 28, 2016. Some of the interview topics covered include McFarland’s early years and formative experiences, his family life, growing up as the son of a railroad station agent and telegrapher in a railroad depot, World War II, railroad work and telegraphy in his time versus his father’s time, his first job as a grocery clerk, the “extra board” and railroad seniority, working for the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the Morse Telegraph Club, female telegraphers, American Morse Code versus International Morse Code, acquiring a piece of the first transcontinental telegraph line, train dispatching, overcoming communication limits, an explanation of telegrapher’s paralysis, and Guglielmo Marconi’s contributions to wireless telegraphy.
McFarland, Warren. Interviewed by Geoffrey Cravero. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.
RICHES of Central Florida
Frances Perkins Building, Washington, D.C.
Golden Spike National Historic Site, Brigham City, Utah