A Short History of Florida Railroads

by Gregg Turner

Book Overview

Florida's railroad heritage began in the 1830s amidst Native American upheaval and territorial colonization. Surpassing waterways as the primary mode of transport, the Iron Horse linked practically every town and city, carried tourists and locals, and ably conveyed the wealth of Florida's mines, factories, forests, groves, and farms. Nearly 175 years later, railroads still remain a dependable source of transport within the Sunshine State.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738524212
• ISBN13: 9780738524214
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.8" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Spotlight on an Overlooked Part of Railroad History

Even though Florida has had many railroads both large and small that were unique and interesting in their own rights, it was never a hotbed of railroading action like the states in the northeast or out west. As a result, finding books dedicated to Florida railroading is a bit of a chore. Being 1) from Florida and 2) a rail fan, this book immediately caught my attention. Mr. Turner's objective for this book was to give a short but inclusive history of the railroads of Florida from their earliest beginnings in the 1800s to today. He succeeded admirably. His chapters cover everything from the aborted attempts by state lawmakers and businessmen to get railroads going to the state of modern railroads at the dawn of the 21st century. In between, he covers the successes and failures of the shortlines like The Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay and Lake Wimico along with the big guns like Florida East Coast and Seaboard. Key players like Flagler and Chipley are followed as well, lending a personal aspect to the historys. Many pictures accompany each chapter, each clearly reproduced and offering a fine window into their respective era. Rounding out the book is a detailed bibliography that provides a wealth of reading material should the reader want to dive deeper into Florida's railroad history. About the only thing I can fault Mr. Turner on is a slight lack of structure to the book. At times the chapters follow a chronological flow while at others they follow a geographic flow. Overall, a fine book that details a part of railroad history passed over by the larger publishers. A worthy addition to any railroad library.