Old Passenger Trains from Chicago to FLA

[Anonymous]

Howdy,
Does anyone know if there were any passenger trains that served from Chicago directly into the Florida market? If so, can you tell me what RR operated the train and if the train had a formal name.

Thanks -
Stack

[AntonioFP45]

Amtrak ran the Floridian between Chicago and Florida in the 1970s. Before Amtrak, Seaboard Coast Line and L&N had the service (feel free to correct me). Go to
www.aclsal.org You may have to do a bit of clicking but I believe the history on the service is on this website or the links.

[overall]

City of Miami was a train that ran over the IC, Southern and ACL to get to Florida. It passed by my grandmother's house on the Southern's Alabama Division when I was a kid.

George

[Modelcar]

....The Floridian ran until I believe about 1979...and it traveled down through Indiana and points south. There was talk of reviving it in the past few years but economics in the operation of Amtrak at this time makes it impossible. Too bad the service couldn't be revived. One sure sees a bunch of vehicles makng the trip from north etc...on our interstate 69 at various times of the year.

[CG9602]

I'll be glad to chime in here. According to "Night Trains," by Peter Maiken, there were four main routes from Chicago to Florida prior to Amtrak. The first route was via C&EI, L&N, NC&StL, then ACL (or C of GA) to Jacksonville. From Jacksonville, the trains severed both the Gulf Coast of FL and the Atlantic Coast. Trains on this route included the Dixie Flyer, Dixieland, Dixie Mail, and the Dixie Flagler.

There was also the route that was mentioned in an earleir post, down the Illinois Central to Birmingham, and then C of GA to Jacksonville. Trains on this route included the Seminole , Flordian, and the City of Miami.

The third route was from Chicago, through Cincinnati and Chattanooga, to Atlanta, and then to Jacksonville, or to the Perry, GA, by-pass (for trains that were going to the Gulf Coast of Florida. This track has since been removed). Trains on this route includeed the Royal Palm, Royal Palm Deluxe, Suwanee River Special,and the Ponce De Leon. Interestingly enough, this route was served north of Cincinnati by both the NYC and the Pennsy. The NYC being the third route between Chicago & FL, & the Pennsy being the fourth route. The NYC routed its' trains via Indianapolis, while the Pennsy went via Ft. Wayne, IN.

This has been gleaned from pg. 142 of the book mentioned above.

[Anonymous]

Also tehir was the CIty of Miami by IC and a other carriers

[CG9602]

I wi***he Amtrak still ran a Chicago to Florida train. I'd avoid travelling through Washington DC on my next trip to FL. One can always dream. [8D]

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

As mentioned above, there were several Chicago-Florida routes. The most interesting situation was the daily Chicago-Miami coach streamliner inaugurated in 1940. It was operated on three different routes on a rotating every-third-day basis:
Dixie Flagler via C&EI/L&N/NC&StL/ACL/FEC, Chicago-Evansville-Nashville-Atlanta-Jacksonville-Miami
South Wind via PRR/L&N/ACL/FEC, Chicago-Louisville-Nashville-Birmingham-Montgomery-Jacksonville-Miami
City of Miami via IC/CofG/ACL/FEC, Chicago-Carbondale-Birmingham-Columbus-Jacksonville-Miami

The Dixie Flagler was discontinued in the late 1950's (?) and the other two trains continued on an every-other-day basis until April 30, 1971 although the South Wind lost its through cars around 1969.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot guys. I really appreciate the data.
- Stack.

[overall]

We can thank Jimmy Carter for the Amtrak Floridian's demise. It was just one of many mistakes during his disaster of an administration.

George

[Wdlgln005]

The Auto Train had a branch from Louisville KY to Florida. It was combined with the Amtrak Floridian for a time. Problem is, most people had a day's drive to Louisville.

Another reason for discontinuing these trains was the poor track and connections in Indiana. This same condition doomed the Kentucky Cardinal.