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Welcome to the last classic American railroad! The FEC has survived years of mergermania to become the last truly independent "steam era" railroad in a land of look-alike giants. Watching FEC's group of highly dedicated and professional employees hustle tonnage across the sunshine state is one of the best shows in railroading today. Here is a short look at the railroad from my three visits to Florida in 2000, '02 and '03. They are arranged in geographical order from north to south and cover the railroad from Jacksonville to Jupiter. Enjoy!
Photography
by James House
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FEC train #226 races northward at Bayard Fl., on the morning of May 3, 2003. |
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Hot pursuit! FEC #226 is gaining ground on the photographer
along US 1 north of St Augustine, Fl., on May 9, 2003. |
| #226 makes a fine sight sprinting northward in the early
morning sunshine near Bayard, Florida . Of course the photographer is keeping
as close an eye on the road as he is on the trio of chanting EMDs making
track speed just outside of the driver's side window. |
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Not many railroads can boast an operating headquarters building
as beautiful as FEC's. The imposing structure is located in downtown St.
Augustine within sight of the railroad's mainline. |
| Local #905 takes the siding southbound at Bayard, Fl for
a meet with northbound #226 on April 26, 2002. |
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On a nice April '02 day, southbound train #117 skirts along
the banks of the San Sebastian River at St. Augustine, Florida. |
| Just after sunrise on May 3, 2003, we catch overnight Hialeah-Bowden
train #224 bridging the San Sebastian River at St. Augustine, Florida. |
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On May 9, 2003, venerable north end local #905 crosses the
San Sebastian River with a publicity photo style consist of all FEC equipment. |
