The Orange Blossom Special, 2001
Dublin Core
Title
The Orange Blossom Special, 2001
Alternative Title
Orange Blossom Special
Subject
Orlando (Fla.)
Buildings--Florida
Railroad stations--Florida
Railroads--Florida
Railroad trains--History
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company
South Florida Railroad
Description
The Orange Blossom Special, the last train at the Church Street Station, located at 76-135 West Church Street in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2001. The original site was occupied by a railroad depot built around 1883 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The depot was designed by T. B. Cotter in the Queen Anne/Eclectic Victorian style and constructed by Henry Bradley Plant. The building was demolished around 1890.
The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972.
In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after.
The Orange Blossom Special, remained at the station until January of 2012. The 100-year-old engine was transported to the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish in order to make room for the new SunRail platform. Church Street Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The current Church Street Station was constructed by the South Florida Railroad on the same lot. The site also served the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad, and the Orlando and Winter Park Railway. In 1926, the Orlando Health/Amtrak station took over passenger operations, but Church Street Station continued to serve as a ticket outlet and freight station until 1972.
In 1973, a Dixieland-theme entertainment complex was established between the railroad tracks and Garland Avenue in seven vacant buildings for $22 million. The depot itself houses retail shops. The depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and named an Orlando Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1988, the complex was expanded to include the Church Street Exchange and the Church Street Market. The development was led by Bob Snow and Steve Fuller and sold in 1989 for $61 million. The complex peaked in the 1980s, drawing approximately 1.7 million visitors a year. Due to failure to compete with major theme parks, visitor attendance dwindled and the complex was sold in 2001, only to close shortly after.
The Orange Blossom Special, remained at the station until January of 2012. The 100-year-old engine was transported to the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish in order to make room for the new SunRail platform. Church Street Station is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Creator
Cook, Thomas
Source
Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2001: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Publisher
Date Created
2001
Contributor
Cook, Thomas
Is Part Of
Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
144 KB
Medium
1 color digital image
Language
eng
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
South Florida Railroad Depot, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Church Street Station Entertainment Complex, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Thomas Cook and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private Collection of Thomas Cook
External Reference
Schlueb, Mark. "Orange Blossom Special starts leaving Church Street Station in Orlando." The Orlando Sentinel. January 17, 2012. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-01-17/news/os-church-street-train-move-20120117_1_church-street-station-sunrail-transport.
Murdock, R. Ken. Outline History of Central Florida Railroads. Winter Garden, Fla: Central Florida Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, 1997.
Turner, Gregg M. A Journey into Florida Railroad History. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2008.
"RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 25: The Railways of Central Florida." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/2477.
Antequino, Stephanie Gaub, and Tana Mosier Porter. Lost Orlando. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub, 2012.
"Downtown Orlando Historic District Walking Tour." City of Orlando. http://sanfordhistory.tripod.com/Links/wtour.pdf.
Transcript
ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL
CHURCH STREET STATION R.R. CO.
3749
CHURCH STREET STATION R.R. CO.
3749
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 color digital image
Collection
Citation
Cook, Thomas, “The Orange Blossom Special, 2001,” RICHES, accessed April 26, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2159.