A 1967 Trip From North Miami to Fort Lauderdale on the Florida East Coast Railway

Watch a vintage 1½ minute 8mm film of a 1967 trip from North Miami to Fort Lauderdale on the local passenger train #2. This was the mini-streamliner that FEC was required to operate daily except Sunday between North Miami and Jacksonville from 1965 to 1968. The regular trains to the Northeast and Midwest like the East Coast Champion and City of Miami had all been rerouted off the FEC because of the notorious strike that lasted from 1963 to 1977. The consist pulled by E9A #1033 on this date included coach "Bunnell" and tavern observation "Saint Lucie Sound", both delivered in 1946. The train and the 1950s era stations are but pleasant memories. More at http://rails.getcruising.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• north
• miami
• fec
• station
• fort
• lauderdale
• depot
• passenger
• train

[doulasc]

I do understand there are talks of Amtrak running their trains on the FEC from Jacksonville to West Palm Beach,for the rest of the way to Miami the train will

go over to the CSX/Tri-rail tracks. The FEC passenger station when was it built and torn down?

[binzoclone]

North Miami station opened in 1955 and Fort Lauderdale in 1956. Don't know when they were torn down but I am guessing sometime in the 70s. If anyone knows please post!

[Deafjerzy]

Is this railroad with Tri-Rail?

[binzoclone]

No, Tri-Rail runs on the former Seaboard line now used by Amtrak. FEC has not had regular passenger service since 1968 when permission was obtained to discontinue this train.

[cforssi]

Where were all of the passengers for this little train. Were you the only one riding? I remember after the strike they ran this for a few years. I guess people were scared of getting blown up by riding on the FEC back in the 1960's. Thank you for posting.

[binzoclone]

I think you got it right. There were no other passengers that day, and I think it was largely because of sabotage during the strike. But also because the through service beyond Jacksonville to key cities in the East and Midwest on the East Coast Champion, City of Miami and the others was rerouted. Permanently as it turned out.

[clam1fish1]

I grew up near the North Miami station as well. By the way, it appears in an 'I Love Lucy' episode (not a set piece---the actual station) when they did a few episodes set in Miami in the late 50s.

[sandspoint]

I was born in 1970 a few blocks from arch creek My dad bought house in 67 said is the reason why but then by the time I was born it was gone so ya late 60's early 70's that would today would be a great way to travel that track goes thru all the big cities now in miami to ft lauderdale.

[sandspoint]

I lived down the street the one in north miami became a drivers license bureu thru out the eighties and closed in the 90's was then torn down and a sef storage facility sits there today. Directly across from emerald lake what a way to get arround today that track runs thru all the great neighborhoods.

[sabethafiredept]

was this station torn down? and if so, when?

[ACLTony]

Thanks so much for posting this as it's so difficult to find videos of past Florida passenger rail service.

[dashell264]

Boy, do I remember those days. My favorite locos, E's and F's.

Dave(ECH)