If anyone is looking for some old pictures of Florida stations try this facebook link…http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.203935169617687.54820.154376811240190&type=1
Hey guy,
Thanks for posting that info! I live in Florida and appreciate this. Some of these stations have been long gone, but a good number of them still stand either as preserved historical landmarks, conversion to non-rail businesses or served by Amtrak.
What I find frustratingly sad is that so many people in Florida today migrated here from other states within the past decade so they have no clue that Florida at one time had an excellent freight and passenger rail network. Of course, I-95, I-75, and I-4 helped with its demise. A number of these people purchase homes next to or near a CSX or FEC mainline and start whining about the noise. I often assume these people have some fried brain cells. They look at the railroad as an annoyance rather than an important economic driver.
I become annoyed when city or county officials kick off history/heritage celebrations, make long winded speeches, and fail to acknowledge the solid contributions made by the railroads that served Florida, such as the ACL, SAL, FEC, and Gainesville Midland.
I have traveled the Keys a few times and a lot of railroad history there with a building constructed to look like the old railroad station in Key West.
A passenger car sits at Pigeon Key. When I was in the navy in 1960, aome of the road bridges where on the old railroad bridges after a hurricane back in the 1930’s. Many railroad workers died then.
Do a Google search for Florida Keys railroad.
Rich
Thanks very much for those. I’m modeling a portion of central Florida on my Bolero, Lindy & Tango RR and these photos will be useful. It’s interesting how simple these stations are; most look like warehouses with loading docks.
Incidentally, there’s a pretty station at Mount Dora that serves the Chamber of Commerce and another nice one at nearby Tavares that is the fire department now. There’s also a GREAT steam train ride at Tavares called the Orange Blossom Cannonball, pulled by a wood-fired locomotive and with vintage cars.
I’ve been looking for a front shot of the '60’s Lakeland Station. I think they might have knocked it down recently. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated in HO model form.
At the entrance to the Gulf Coast R.R. museum in Miami, we had the Princeton station. Looked like the Marathon station. Then Andrew blew it away. The building was gone. Just the stairs and the platform were left.
Flip