Hello gang!
This year we all get to go to Florida for our March Break. I'm not sure if our friends to the south have a March break. In Canada we take a week off school and tons of us head south, mostly to Florida, but lots go to Arizona and other warmer states too. The truth is that we all want to go south by this time of year but it might be a bit awkward if we all left the country!
As is our custom, we include a list of fallen modelers who have made great contributions to the hobby and the forums:
Enjoy the sunny weather!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Here is a bit of early Florida railroad history:
Although the period of Reconstruction (1865-1877) had resulted in Florida rejoining the United States, many Floridians found themselves cut off from the rest of the country. Florida had few roads and needed to build more railroads. Unfortunately, the state was in debt from the Civil War and had no finances with which to expand.
Northern businessmen, however, did have money and saw investment opportunities in Florida. In 1881, a man by the name of Hamilton Disston bought 4 million acres of land from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee for 25 cents an acre. This single investment helped get Florida out of debt and back on the road to building!
A year later, Henry B. Plant began building railroads throughout the state of Florida. He also connected Florida's railways to Georgia, opening the way for interstate trading and travel. He constructed many hotels along the railways. His most famous hotel was the Tampa Bay Hotel, which was built at a cost of nearly 3 million dollars. It was the most modern hotel in Florida at the time with 500 rooms and electric lights. Plant also owned and operated many steamboats and he continued building in Florida throughout the late 1800s.
An entrepreneur by the name of William Chipley built railroads that linked the Panhandle region with the rest of Florida. This enabled the goods being shipped to the Pensacola ports to be sent to the rest of the state by rail.
Henry M. Flagler settled in the east coast town of St. Augustine. He built its first big hotel, the Ponce de León, which was the most luxurious of its time. To encourage people to visit, he built railroads to help connect St. Augustine and Daytona Beach to railways that could bring guests all the way from New York. Flagler also developed the resort town of Palm Beach and connected it, of course, by railroads.
By 1900, Florida had more than 3,000 miles of railroad and its transportation problems had been solved. Its economy thriving, Florida's growth had only just begun.
Here is a more detailed history of Florida railroading:
https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/railroads/photos/
Thanks for opening the joint Dave.
I am enjoying the West Coast here as the temps should hit 15c next week. Been to Florida a couple of times, too humid for me, not like the South Pacific but I may stick my head out of the diner seeing as how we are there.
Daffodils are up 8" and the grass is growing like crazy. I usually have the Deere doing the first cut by mid-month.
Pass the alligator pie, please.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Here is the website for one of Florida's modern freight carriers, the Florida East Coast Railway. It is an interesting read if you want to take the time:
https://fecrwy.com/
Here is more information on the FEC:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_East_Coast_Railway
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks for moving us, Dave. Alligator pie????!!!
Hi Bear!
You are most welcome! I will dive into Florida's culinary delights in future posts. My next goal is to find a warm beach so that I can have my Pina Colada and bask in the sun.
We are getting desperate for some deck time! We were able to sit out for a couple of hours in mid February when it was above freezing for part of one day, but it has been so cold that we haven't even lit the bbq since the Fall. Normally we would be grilling a couple of times a week all year round.
I hope your winter isn't as 'wintery' as ours has been.
As promised, here are few pictures of Florida beaches:
These are not pieces of garbage. They are sea shells:
Somewhere in here there has to be a place selling pina coladas:
For Dave and Mrs. Dave.
Ahhh, thank you Bear! They look delicious!
Dave and Dianne
Thanks for the flawless move to the Flagler State, Dave!
Here's yours truly in St. Pete back in January of '71
Dec_2015_FLA1_74 by Edmund, on Flickr
My parents raised me proper-like. wearing a blazer while traveling
We took the original Auto-Train (pre-Amtrak) from Lorton, Va. to Sanford. Lots of fun!
Auto Train U25B 4002 by Edmund, on Flickr
Just reach out the window and pick yourself a nice, juicy orange:
Seaboard by Edmund, on Flickr
https://phenomenalflorida.com/where-are-most-of-the-oranges-grown-in-florida/
Cheers, Ed
Good morning Diners. A coffee and blueberry muffin please, Janie.
Here in the land of the former North British Railway the sun is shining. The temperature is rising. I think we are joining in on the Florida sunshine. LOL
The grandchildren are back home and at school now. It is rather quiet.
I want my layout to have a Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway influence to give it more credibility. I have joined the L&YR Society and have received a number of bookazines, book and literature. Full of interesting information and reading to go through.
Not heard from Ken for some time (amongst others) I hope all is well and will 'visit'.
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Morning gang. Zoe, black coffee in an Atlantic Coast Lines mug please.
Don't scoff at alligator pie. I'm sure it's a thing. We were at an alligator conservatory/farm/tourist trap place some years ago where at their cantina I ordered the alligator combo basket. The gator nuggets (come from the tail) were good. The gator ribs, not so much. The tail tasted very mild (yes, like chicken), the ribs tasted like bad fish. Yuck!
Last night I received the new Kathy Millatt scenery book in the mail, and WOW! There is a ton of info in it and it is loaded with photos of some outstanding modeling (not just by her either). The most recent scenery book I have was the one Dave Frary did and I honestly hesistated buying another one (I mean, come on, it's Dave Frary!), but first impression is I made the right decision. If anybody is considering it, just get it.
Later gators! (couldn't resist )
Mike
gmpullmanMy parents raised me proper-like. wearing a blazer while traveling Cool
Gee... I don't even have a blazer. I had to buy trousers and a shirt to attend a nephew's wedding.
MARCH in like a LION comes! ....
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Good Morning All,
Got back from Sebring yesterday via West Palm beach and Jet Blue. Saw what looked like a motley crew of model railroaders asking for directions to the beach when we turned the rent-a-wreck in.
The weekend went ok though I had to park one car with engine issues not of our doing. Best part was the driver and car we've had the most issues with of late made the podium and finished first in class. We were really pleased.
Interesting that the rail map circa 1900 does not include a link to Miami. It was a back water I think until the Barnetts started develloping it in the 20's. I know my fathers uncle settled at Miami Beach in the late 40's buying a house with it's own pier in the backyard but he was the successful one in the family. We used to visit when I was quite young but we went to and from by car up and down Rt1 from Connecticut. Yes the train would have been much better.
018 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
This is the view I usually get of Florida. In this case the garages at Homestead/Miami Speedway. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning
Thank you Dave. Your Diner hosting hospitality month to month does not go by unnoticed and is appreciated.
Kind of ironic the manager of the condo complex that supports my MR hobby by feeding me gigs went to Florida for a week this morning.
Florida does sound nice! March is the month when Winter drags on this time of year and a good time to find some place warm coming up soon.
I wonder where Kevin has been as he is missed and would make an excellent co-host being a Floridian Native and all
It's just another Tuesday in Minnesota and almost everywhere else.
This is our King Cake for Fat Tuesday today. We put our order in at Byerly's this year. Quite moist and tasty for breakfast with your coffee so everyone join me in having a piece
I know John can appreciate a good King Cake as he lived in New Orleans and of course is a Saints Fan.
I didn't have a purple one but close enough
Happy Mardi Gras Railroad Fans
TF
Happy Fat Tuesday! It's carnival day!
TF, thanks for the King Cake! I'll bet your wife misses the fun.
Out of everything I miss since leaving New Orleans, the food and Mardi Gras I miss the most.
My daughters all wanted some pictures of Mardi Gras, and I only found several that have been scanned. I've got a bunch of slides somewhere.
I had a friend who worked as a railroad inspector for the government. He was in charge of the New Orleans office. He had an argument every year about Mardi Gras. He told them the day was off, and Washington officials said he couldn't do that since it's not a federal holiday.
He said even if he wanted his people to work, they couldn't get to the office. There would be over a million people packed into the narrow streets around his office.
Here we are, many years ago, early Mardi Gras morning heading out to the celebration. We had a lot of fun making these costumes on the school's art department silk screen:
My wife and kids enjoying the day:
Rex, King of Carnival, toasting the city bigwigs on St. Charles. My wife is in the plaid shirt.
It's 9:00 a.m. here, time for a Dixie Beer.
York1 John
York1 My wife and kids enjoying the day:
John,
Ipso facto, any young lady who will don a rugby shirt is cool by definition. That she's one's wife and a mom makes it even better. As I recall back in the 60s and 70s, there was a sizeable Mardi Gras rugby tournament in NO. Ruggers organized these things merely as another excuse to socialize by knocking a few back. Did you play? Rugby, I mean.
Perhaps we need to take care that Fat Tuesday doesn't hijack the new Florida Diner thread? Nah.
(Another) John
Attuvian1As I recall back in the 60s and 70s, there was a sizeable Mardi Gras rugby tournament in NO.
To tell the truth, I don't remember the Mardi Gras rugby tournament. I was probably thinking (or not thinking) of other things back then.
I know that Tulane University has a men's rugby team and a women's team, and there is a Rugby organization in New Orleans with at least several teams that play.
Jim,
"Someone suggested Florida for March. That sounds fine. Don't know much about railroading in Florida. But, I'm also open to just about anyplace. If we do Florida, does that open the diner to Disney vacation pics?"
I'm with you. About the only Florida train I know is the DisneyWorld monorail. I've got some pictures of that, but I don't think that counts. This should be a good month to learn something about other trains there.
York1 About the only Florida train I know is the DisneyWorld monorail. I've got some pictures of that, but I don't think that counts.
Hi John,
Of course the Disney Monorail counts as a train! What else would you call it?!?
Please share your pics.
Hi guys, smoooooth move Dave, as always.
Time for some Jonny Cash. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPSiK5dCTCU
Here's another version, love those fiddles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIWzz6wcNug
Having trouble posting the actual videos, did something change? Again?
Mike.
My You Tube
For those of you following along at home:
Seaboard_Map-south by Edmund, on Flickr
Tony* Orlando:
1973: Champion, Orlando, Florida by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
also ton·ey (tō′nē)
OK, Ed, I see what you did there!
I may look dumb ...
Don't anyone say what you're thinking.
York1OK, Ed, I see what you did there!
Those shadows look awfully long there, do you suppose the photo was taken at — Dawn?
Leaving home… by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
CSX building in the background.
Good Evening,
Still cool here but sunny.
I was wondering about Rob who lives on the farm in Georgia. Last time he was in the Diner he was having some health issues. I can't remember his last name but he was a wildlife artist at one time.
Ed, have you spoken to Ken lately? Seems like the old guard is fading away.
Can't tear myself away from the news these days. Very distressing.
CN Charlie
CNCharlieI was wondering about Rob who lives on the farm in Georgia. Last time he was in the Diner he was having some health issues. I can't remember his last name but he was a wildlife artist at one time. Ed, have you spoken to Ken lately?
I heard from Kevin. He is again having computer issues logging into the forum. I hope he can get back in again soon.
CNCharlie I was wondering about Rob who lives on the farm in Georgia. Last time he was in the Diner he was having some health issues. I can't remember his last name but he was a wildlife artist at one time.
Good morning gents. Flo, coffee...stat! I had a horrible dream last night that woke me up about 2:30 am. Didn't get much sleep after that. It's going to be a long day.
JR, sweet car! I hope you get to take those things you work on for a spin once in a while. I'm not sure I could resist, even if told no.
Not much going here. Just trying to stay awake for the day. At least it's hump day!