So the regional FEC is the same as the old FEC? I thought the “old” FEC was merged into the Seaboard System? Did CSX spin-off FEC?
FEC has always been independant. It was a class 1 until 1992 when the threshold was raised to $250 million. It did come very close to being part of the Atlantic Coast Line in 1954.
Nope! FEC has been around since the early 1900s. Profitable railroad.
Right it was never merged & is the same FEC that once went all the way down to Key West Fl. [:o)][8D]
[quote]
Originally posted by BNSF4ever
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Some confusion may exist because up to the time of a strike in the 1960’s, the FEC as an independent operated itself as the Jacksonville - Miami extension of the double track Atlantic Coast Line main line from Richmmond, VA. All the ACL’s Miami streamliners ran over the FEC except the West Coast Campion which didn’t serve Miami. FEC passenger rolling stock was identacle to and painted in the same colors as the ACL. When the FEC was struck, the ACL quickly negotiated a deal with its arch rival Seabord, and ran the Miami service on its own line through Orlando to a connection with the Seabord at Auburndale, and this is the main passenger Amtrak route to Miami today. When the FEX resumed operations as a non-union company, it was ordered to operate a daily passenger train of its own, and this was a classy little pocket streamliner complete with round-end observation-lounge-diner and two or three coaches, all stainless, with one E-7 A unit. It did not last until Amtrak, and I am unsure when it quit. Restoration of passenger service on the FEC would mean return of pasenger service to St. Augustine, an imortant vacation spot.
Thanks but I think the starter of the thread was talking about freight not passenger. You are aware that the FEC was started by Flager & has from the best of my knowledge ALWAYs been a seperate RR & operated there own trains between Jax & Miami & then on to Key West when that extension was finished. If you are saying that ACL used to turn there trains over to the FEC @ Jax that maybe correct. From time to time History channel runs a program on how the highway was built between Miami & Key West & discusses how the FEC built the route from key to key from Miami to Key West. [:o)][:p][:)]
[quote]
Originally posted by daveklepper
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The court-ordered Jacksonville-Miami passenger train ran until 1968 or 1969 when it died for lack of customers.
FEC, until about the 1960’s, could hardly be considered a profitable operation. It went into receivership shortly after the collapse of the Florida Boom of the 1920’s and was one of the few railroads to have motive power repossessed by its creditors.
Actually I think it went bankrupt several times. [:o)][:p][:)]
[quote]
Originally posted by CSSHEGEWISCH
Thanks everyone–you learn something new everyday! I will give FEC this–their well cars were the cleanest I saw!
and most of the engines I see they are all clean maybe some little dirt on the EX UP’s
kevin
He must have been thinking about “way back when” the hurricane destroyed much of the line to Key West.
Id say they are alive and doing good…from what I hear.
here is a something that happened Sunday that proves FEC is nice.
On Sunday I went down to FEC’s bowden yard when I went down there I was wearing WSOR stuff(shirt and a hat)then took pictures and etc.Then my family allowed this one guy and his grandson to follow us.when we saw the FEC 2000 he(the guy) started asking questions to a yard person(that works there) about the FEC 2000 we talked to the guy for about 3 to 5 minutes then he reached into his FEC truck and gave me a hat and quickly put it on.the hat has a SD70 in UP color sand says Flordia East Coast Railway sorry WSOR I guess he didn’t want me to like WSOR when I am in a FEC yard.
also I belive you cannot buy this hat in a store very comfortable also.
kevin
Thanks FEC