…Anyone travel the area of Mt. Dora and Sorento…Several years ago I noted the line was almost filled with gondolas clear out to Sorento. Figured it was being used as a storage for the cars.
Florida Central was active on these lines {near Tavares and Eustes, etc…}, yet several years ago and wondering if the line from Mt. Dora is still in place.
This line used to go all the way to Sanford…Kinda paralleling Rt. 46.
Modelcar: You might try looking into the Central Florida Branch of NRHS. They are on the web at www.cfcnrhs.org at the Central Florida Railroad Museum. they are in Winter Garden but have information I am sure about the Central Highlands as they call them there. Good Luck - PL
…Thanks Roy…I looked at that web site and didn’t find much help…Maybe someone will see post that is familiar with the area I mention. By the way, daily driver here is a little pick up too…S-10 Xtreme…Spent 8 winters in central Florida and nosed around the Central Florida RR in that area. Doodlebug and even a steam train {at times}, there in Mt. Dora area…Power…{454 Chevy for Doodlebug}.
Ok I just came from that having lived there oh . . . 6 years: here’s the best scoop I get recollect:
CSX used to own the line from Orlando main line to Mt. Dora and a few points beyond (I don’t know that part) Florida Central reporting marks FCEN owns the line now and does only freight service. They used to run a downtown Orlando to Mt. Dora passenger doodlebug, steamer (at one time or another, never rode behind it though), and diesel CF7 powered passenger train. I think they stopped 2-3 years ago to focus more on freight.
I’m not exactly sure about the line paralleling Rt. 46 even though it did show up on maps, I’m not sure if it was operational.
If you ever stop by in Orlando, FCEN’s line starts at a pair of signals just north of Church Street station, the switch is south of Robinson St, actually W Jefferson St.
If you go into Mapquest and type in Orlando FL and zoom all the way in you’ll see that FCEN’s line is still labeled for Seaboard Coast Line.
Their assembled freight trains heading north or south goes to a rail yard in the southern part of Orlando; Taft Yard. Just take Orange Avenue to Rt. 482 (Sand Lake Road); the bridge stradles part of the yard.
If you’re wondering how i know all this, I used to railfan the area (it was quite brief at that, only about 3-4 weeks, this summer)
MAtt
…Thanks Matt for your info…Yes, I’ve ridden the Doodlebug out of Mt. Dora. And regarding the line beyond Mt. Dora…{east}, in 2001 the tracks were in as far as Sorento…Which is several miles beyond Mt. Dora. If you look closely along side the north side of Rt. 46 you can see the ex. ROW of the line all the way to Sanford {for the most part}, and doing some more thinking I believe at one time the line went all the way to the east coast at Mims…A small community. Yes, I watched the red engines of the Florida Central work around the area of Eustis and Tavares with their closed hoppers and occasional tank car…
This website will answer your questions about the tracks between Mt Dora and Eutis. The good news is that passenger trains are back but under a different name. Hopefully they will be successful.
http://inlandlakesrailway.com/index.shtml?home
I familiar with the former railroad between Mt Dora and Sanford that you refer to. The eastern half around Sanford has become part of the paved bicycle network that has been growing in the Orlando area over the last few years.
…Andrew: Thanks…Interesting web site and I’m happy to see someone else has revived the rail activity around that area…Hope it succeeds for them. Still leaves the question of whether the tracks are still in place from Mt. Dora to Sorento…Perhaps someone else will know…Old Timer, are you familiar with that area…?