Large Scale Central

Florida East Coast Railway

Prototypes
#1

The Florida East Coast Railway has a lot of interesting history. Built by Henry Flaggler to transport customers to his East Coast Florida resorts, it was once a Class I railroad. Today, it is a class II railroad. I was on Hwy 1, south of Titusville, when I spotted a slow moving north bound train. I got ahead of it, and shot a few stills.

Unfortunately, it was no longer moving slow. I chased it up Hwy 1, but lost it in Titusville with it’s red lights and 35mph speed limit. I chased it further north for about 15 miles. Caught the locomotives just south of New Smyrna Beach. About the same time, I hit the 35mph speed limit and lost it again. So my plan to shoot some video was foiled :frowning: But all was not lost, as the FEC maintenance facility was right there where I had caught the train. Generally I will go right into the mainenance facilities and yards and take pictures. But the FEC “No Trespassing” signs were huge, and numerous. So I decided to not push my luck.

This was the most interesting find. Sure wish I had gotten closer :wink:

#2

Nice Railfanning Ralph. Glad you’re enjoying your trip

#3

I’ve run across the FEC numerous times and unfortunately didn’t have my camera with me. I was in Vero Beach a few years ago waiting to back into a packing house and had one stop right next to my truck. It runs right smack dab through the middle of most of those little towns up and down the coast. And a lot of the packing houses are right near the tracks. I’ve noticed too, that they run a lot of old UP units, or maybe I’ve just seen the same ones all the time…:wink: Good pix, Ralph. I’ve seen the FEC operating as far west as Orlando and out to Plant City. And down south of Ft Pierce is the facility where they load the Tropicana Orange Juice train…huge place…

(http://www.trainweb.org/rgs/trop02.jpg)

#4

There is a story in the June issue of “Trains” that the FEC is going to start passenger service from Miami up the coast to Cocoa and then over to Orlando.
They are going to have to replace some double track from Miami to Cocoa that had been removed, and build the 40 mile connection to Orlando.
This will all be funded by the parent company of FEC, which also owns 59% of RailAmerica.
Pretty cool, privately funded passenger service in the USA. All this is supposed to be ready to roll in 2014.
Ralph

#5

If it’s smart, it’ll make a stop in Sandford and have a connection with the AutoTrain, which terminates there.

#6

Very interesting railroad history.

My Sister gave me a video disc on the history of Henry Flagler and his railroad that went “out to sea”
Hard to imagine a seven mile long bridge.

Glad to see it is still in operation and apparently prospering.