by Noel Weaver
First off, please let me make it very plain, this was NOT a railfan event. I was on both trains for good and legitimate
reasons as was Seth Bramson who is FEC Company Historian.
Of course there may have been others as well, after all railfans also work in the industry and in some cases are local, county
or other political office holders too.
The operation of these two trains were two separate happenings:
The southbound trip was truly an inspection train to demonstrate the condition of the Florida East Coast Railroad track
structure, signals and other operating aspects. Amtrak people from top down were very pleased with what they saw which
was a freight railroad that is more than willing to work and cooperate with them, that has a track structure second to none
with regard to freight railroads and an area that really wants Amtrak. We made only one stop from the Amtrak Station in
Jacksonville to the FEC yard in Hialeah and that was a Titusville for a minute or so to drop off a high official. With the
exception of Seth Bramson and myself, everybody else aboard the southbound train was either Amtrak or FEC.
The northbound trip which picked up passengers in DOWNTOWN MIAMI, the first train to do so in 47 years as the last
passenger train operated out of downtown in January, 1963 the day before the unfortunate strike. On this trip we did not
have quite as many officials but we had a lot of them along with politicians, commissioners, federal, state, county and local
officials and other involved parties. Governor Charlie Crist boarded the train in Miami and visited with everybody on board,
I felt honored to shake his hand. He was unable to ride due to the nasty oil spill which is or will affect the coast of Florida
as well as most of the southeast. Lots of well meaning folks said that we would not be able to go downtown but WE DID.
This particular section of the Florida East Coast would require a total rebuild in order to be a part of the operation but the
important thing is that it is still available and the work could be done. It is only 5 miles from the Little River Connection to
the main line to downtown. On the northbound trip we made various stops at the cities where stops are planned.
Now the big question is what will come of this? Only my opinion but I think there will be more meetings between interested
parties, maybe some more stimulus money can be had and maybe some local support to help build suitable passenger
facilities at the various localities where it is proposed for these trains to stop, all will help. Will the trains switch to the
CSX/Tri-Rail line at West Palm or will they continue down the east coast to Downtown Miami? Who knows, we have to get
some commitments from various parties and some agreements between various parties, this will take time but it is
possible. After riding both directions it is very clear to me that there is a huge desire on all parties to make this happen
and I think the chances are much better than they were the last time such an operation took place.
Finally, I recall a remark on here not long ago about scenery on the FEC, and his reply was a picture of the Stuart Bridge,
This is probably the most scenic area but this is a far more scenic route than the present route via Orlando and the former
SAL. There are many scenic vistas along various waterways, substantial bridges, nice parts of many of the cities and much
more to see than on the present route. More important this route is about 65 miles shorter and far faster than the present
route.
I will be putting out appeals in the future especially to those who live in Florida to write to their government representatives
and leaders encouraging that happen and the sooner the better.
I might have more to say about this at a later time.
Noel Weaver
reasons as was Seth Bramson who is FEC Company Historian.
Of course there may have been others as well, after all railfans also work in the industry and in some cases are local, county
or other political office holders too.
The operation of these two trains were two separate happenings:
The southbound trip was truly an inspection train to demonstrate the condition of the Florida East Coast Railroad track
structure, signals and other operating aspects. Amtrak people from top down were very pleased with what they saw which
was a freight railroad that is more than willing to work and cooperate with them, that has a track structure second to none
with regard to freight railroads and an area that really wants Amtrak. We made only one stop from the Amtrak Station in
Jacksonville to the FEC yard in Hialeah and that was a Titusville for a minute or so to drop off a high official. With the
exception of Seth Bramson and myself, everybody else aboard the southbound train was either Amtrak or FEC.
The northbound trip which picked up passengers in DOWNTOWN MIAMI, the first train to do so in 47 years as the last
passenger train operated out of downtown in January, 1963 the day before the unfortunate strike. On this trip we did not
have quite as many officials but we had a lot of them along with politicians, commissioners, federal, state, county and local
officials and other involved parties. Governor Charlie Crist boarded the train in Miami and visited with everybody on board,
I felt honored to shake his hand. He was unable to ride due to the nasty oil spill which is or will affect the coast of Florida
as well as most of the southeast. Lots of well meaning folks said that we would not be able to go downtown but WE DID.
This particular section of the Florida East Coast would require a total rebuild in order to be a part of the operation but the
important thing is that it is still available and the work could be done. It is only 5 miles from the Little River Connection to
the main line to downtown. On the northbound trip we made various stops at the cities where stops are planned.
Now the big question is what will come of this? Only my opinion but I think there will be more meetings between interested
parties, maybe some more stimulus money can be had and maybe some local support to help build suitable passenger
facilities at the various localities where it is proposed for these trains to stop, all will help. Will the trains switch to the
CSX/Tri-Rail line at West Palm or will they continue down the east coast to Downtown Miami? Who knows, we have to get
some commitments from various parties and some agreements between various parties, this will take time but it is
possible. After riding both directions it is very clear to me that there is a huge desire on all parties to make this happen
and I think the chances are much better than they were the last time such an operation took place.
Finally, I recall a remark on here not long ago about scenery on the FEC, and his reply was a picture of the Stuart Bridge,
This is probably the most scenic area but this is a far more scenic route than the present route via Orlando and the former
SAL. There are many scenic vistas along various waterways, substantial bridges, nice parts of many of the cities and much
more to see than on the present route. More important this route is about 65 miles shorter and far faster than the present
route.
I will be putting out appeals in the future especially to those who live in Florida to write to their government representatives
and leaders encouraging that happen and the sooner the better.
I might have more to say about this at a later time.
Noel Weaver
