when did flagler build the railroad in florida

What was the name of the Flagler railroad?

On September 7, 1895, the name of Flagler's system was changed from the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Indian River Railway Company to the Florida East Coast Railway Company and incorporated. On April 15, 1896, track reached Biscayne Bay, the site of present-day downtown Miami.

Who developed the Florida East Coast Railway?

The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) was developed by Henry Morrison Flagler, an American tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and John D. Rockefeller's partner in Standard Oil.

Why did Henry Flagler build the railroad to Key West?

Henry Flagler saw the benefit of connecting Key West with the rest of the country after construction of the Panama Canal began. It was then that he decided to expand his railroad from Miami through the Florida Keys. He knew this would not be an easy feat and was told by many engineers that it could not be done.

How did Flagler contribute to the development of Miami?

Such incentive led to the development of Miami, which was an unincorporated area at the time. Flagler encouraged fruit farming and settlement along his railway line and made many gifts to build hospitals, churches and schools in Florida. By 1896, Flagler's railroad, the Florida East Coast Railway, reached Biscayne Bay.

When did Flagler build the railroad to Key West?

Completed in 1912 after seven years of unrelenting labor, it cost Flagler an estimated $50 million and required unparalleled vision and unswerving perseverance. According to a volume released in 1912 announcing the railroad's debut, Flagler possessed those qualities in abundance.

When was the first railroad built in Florida?

* Florida's first railroad was the 5-foot gauge, mule-powered Tallahassee Railroad, which opened 22 miles between Tallahassee and St. Marks, a port on the Gulf of Mexico, in 1837.

What Florida railroad did Flagler create?

the Florida East Coast RailwayHenry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was an American industrialist and a founder of Standard Oil, which was first based in Ohio. He was also a key figure in the development of the Atlantic coast of Florida and founder of the Florida East Coast Railway, much of which he built through convict leasing.

Where did Flagler build the railroad?

Henry Flagler saw the benefit of connecting Key West with the rest of the country after construction of the Panama Canal began. It was then that he decided to expand his railroad from Miami through the Florida Keys.

Who built the first railroad in Florida?

Railroads first came to Florida in the 1860s with a line running from Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key. However, real development arrived after the Civil War with lines eventually becoming of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad and Henry Plant's Plant System.

Who owned the railroad in Florida?

The Florida East Coast Railway (reporting mark FEC) is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida, currently owned by Grupo México. Three GP40-2s lead a southbound train through Lake Worth, FL.

Why did Flagler build the railroad?

Flagler wanted to trade with Cuba and Latin America as well as take advantage of increased trade with the west using the Panama Canal. Almost 4,000 men built the railroad bridge in seven years. They had to contend with mosquitoes, sand flies, and hurricanes. Hundreds of workers died in the storms.

Is there still a railroad to Key West?

The Overseas Highway (U.S. 1, which runs from Key West to Fort Kent, Maine) continues to provide a highway link to Key West. Many old concrete bridges of the Overseas Railroad remain in use as fishing piers and pedestrian paths called the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

When was the railroad built in the Florida Keys?

When the Over-Sea Railroad train made its first journey in 1912 it connected the previously isolated Florida Keys with the mainland and each other for the first time, forever changing the face of the island chain.

When was the Florida East Coast Railway finished?

1912Despite the hardships, the final link of the Florida East Coast Railway was completed in 1912. In that year, a proud Henry Flagler rode the first train into Key West, marking the completion of the railroad's overseas connection to Key West and the linkage by railway of the entire east coast of Florida.

Why did Henry Flagler build the railroad?

Flagler wanted to trade with Cuba and Latin America as well as take advantage of increased trade with the west using the Panama Canal. Almost 4,000 men built the railroad bridge in seven years. They had to contend with mosquitoes, sand flies, and hurricanes. Hundreds of workers died in the storms.

Who bought the South Florida railroad?

In 1893 the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway (Plant System) directly acquired the South Florida. Henry Plant died in 1899, which led his heirs to sell the Plant System to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.

Is there a train on the west coast of Florida?

The Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, LLC (FGA) operates 430 miles of track, running east/west along the I-10 corridor between Baldwin, FL and Pensacola, FL, with a branch line that runs between Tallahassee, FL to Attapulgus, GA. FGA is rated for 286K GWR and offers up to 1,300 storage spots.

What railroads did Flagler own?

Flagler soon purchased three more railroads: the St. John's Railway, the St. Augustine and Palatka Railway, and the St. Johns and Halifax Railroad so that he could provide extended rail service on standard gauge tracks. With the addition of these three railroads, by spring 1889 Flagler's system offered service from Jacksonville to Daytona.

When did Flagler's railroad reach Biscayne Bay?

In September 1895 , Flagler's system was incorporated as the Florida East Coast Railway Company and by 1896, it reached Biscayne Bay, the largest and most accessible harbor on Florida's east coast.

What was Flagler's greatest challenge?

When the United States announced in 1905 its intention to build the Panama Canal, Flagler embarked on perhaps his greatest challenge: the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, a city of almost 20,000 inhabitants located 128 miles beyond the end of the Florida peninsula.

What was the first railroad in Florida?

The Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad served the northeastern portion of the state and was the first railroad in what would eventually become the Florida East Coast Railway Company.

What was Henry Flagler's main industry?

Flagler's construction of hotels at points along the railroad and his development of the agricultural industry through the Model Land Company established tourism and agriculture as Florida's major industries, which remain so even now more than a century later. In essence, Henry Flagler invented modern Florida.

When did Flagler visit Florida?

Standard Oil remained the largest and most profitable corporation in the world for more than a century. When Flagler first visited Florida in 1878, he recognized the state's potential for growth but noticed a lack of hotel facilities.

What was the FEC in Florida?

The FEC was the product of Flagler's resources and imagination. Flagler's construction of hotels at points along the railroad and his development of the agricultural industry through ...

Why did Flagler build docks in Key West?

Building large docks in Key West to bring in trade from Cuba and the Panama Canal would also go hand in hand with the railway extension. When word spread about his plan, it received the nickname “Flagler’s Folly”.

What was the name of the hotel that Flagler built in Jacksonville?

The hotel, the Ponce de Leon, was a success. The trip from Jacksonville to St. Augustine required travel down the St. Johns River. Flagler purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax Railroad and built a bridge over the river thus creating a more efficient way to travel between the two cities. This was the beginning of what would ...

What hotel did Flagler build?

Here he built the Royal Poinciana Hotel and the Breakers Hotel. By 1895 he had changed the name of the railroad to ...

What was Henry Flagler's dream?

In 1912, the final extension of the Florida East Coast Railway was completed. Henry Flagler’s dream of a Jacksonville to Key West railroad had come true. Henry Flagler was best known for being a co-founder of Standard Oil. Along with John D. Rockefeller, they created a corporation worth ...

Why was the Florida Keys railroad impossible?

A railroad through the Florida Keys was thought to be nearly impossible due to the many spaces of open water and the harsh terrain. Flagler would not be deterred and in 1905, construction of what was to be called the Overseas Railway began.

What was Flagler's hotel called?

Fort Dallas was the earlier name of Miami, and Flagler’s railroad made it a place worth visiting. He built a three hundred fifty room hotel called the Royal Palm on Biscayne Bay.

Where did Henry Flagler and his wife Ida Alice go on their honeymoon?

From Oil Magnate to Railway Builder. Henry Flagler and his wife Ida Alice traveled to Jacksonville, Florida for their honeymoon. During this trip, they went to St. Augustine and the city intrigued Flagler. In 1885 he decided to build a luxury hotel there which would attract the country’s elite.

When did Flagler build the Over Sea Railroad?

Flagler’s Railroad, A Brief History. 1904 – Flagler decides to build the Over-Sea Railroad, but no official announcement is made. During that time, surveyors and engineers work to provide Flagler with data and information. In May, the United States formally acquires the Panama Canal Zone. In July, the rail line to Homestead is completed.

When was the first spike on the Florida East Coast Railway?

1910 – Workers drive the first spike at the Key West end of the Florida East Coast Railway on the Trumbo Island railhead. 1912 – A special Pullman sleeping car train leaves New York City Jan. 20, headed for Key West. On Jan. 21, FEC engineers place the final steel plate girder (span 36 of the Knight’s Key bridge) permanently in place.

How much did Flagler's Folly cost?

With Flagler gone, the FEC was unwilling to repair a line that had never repaid its construction cost — an unknown figure at the time only hinted at by the federal valuation of $12 million ($203,417,476 today).It was later determined that the total cost of what had been derisively nicknamed “Flagler’s Folly” exceeded $50 million ($1,293,333,333 today), all from his personal fortune.

How long did the railroad run?

The railroad operated from 1912 to 1935.

When did the FEC train arrive in Key West?

The first FEC train arrives in Key West at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 22 with Flagler, now 82, and his wife Mary Lily Kenan in his luxurious office car with three bedrooms, a kitchen, salon and private bath. Following a Jan. 23 parade to commemorate the opening of the Over-Sea Railroad, a banquet is staged in the marine barracks where a message ...

When was the landfill built in Key West?

1906 – The FEC Construction Division begins building a landfill for a railroad terminal in Key West that eventually covered 134 acres of land.

What is the FEC Railway?

The FEC Railway begins construction of the extension from the mainland to Key West and completes the first rail section connecting Homestead to Jewfish Creek. State Bill 11 becomes law granting the FEC Railway rights to build the Key West Extension and granting the company a 200-foot right-of-way down the Keys.

Where did Flagler build the railroad?

Flagler obtained a charter from the state of Florida authorizing him to build a railroad along the Indian River to Miami, and as the railroad progressed southward, cities such as New Smyrna and Titusville began to develop along the tracks. The Florida East Coast Railway depot in Sebastian.

When did Flagler's railroad start?

On September 7, 1895, the name of Flagler's system was changed from the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Indian River Railway Company to the Florida East Coast Railway Company and incorporated. On April 15, 1896, track reached Biscayne Bay, the site of present-day downtown Miami.

What is Florida East Coast Industries?

Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) incorporated in 1983 and was made the holding company for the Railway and the Commercial Realty/Flagler Development Company in 1984. The other subsidiaries are Orlando-based carrier, "EPIK Communication" and the logistics firm, "International Transit".

What locomotives did the FEC own?

The FEC completed its "second generation" dieselization with the purchase of 49 GP40s and GP40-2s and 11 GP38-2s, ranging in the 400's. Most of these locomotives have been extensively rebuilt with others being retired. In 2002, the FEC acquired 20 ex-UP SD40-2s, which were numbered in the 700s. These ex-UP locomotives remained in their original colors with FEC markings; however, as of 2014 seven of them have been repainted into the "retro" Champion scheme. As of 2015 the majority of these were leased to CSXT. In 2006 the FEC leased four SD70M-2's numbered in the 100 series (100-103) in a blue and yellow livery known by fans as the "Classic" or the "Alaskan" schemes. In 2009 when RailAmerica came into the picture, they added four more SD70M-2's (104-107) in the Red, Pearl & Blue scheme which was the standard RailAmerica scheme. That brought the total SD70M-2 count to eight. Seeking further power improvements, in 2009, the FEC leased three CITX SD70M-2's, making the count now of 11 of the big EMD's. These locomotives were numbered 140, 141 and 142; all are big blue and white striped units. All of the SD70M-2's served on the railway until the end of 2014, when they were replaced with new power. The fleet GP38-2s are used principally for yard and road switching as well as the occasional local. The others are used as available in road service. Some test runs have been made to observe the effect on fuel consumption of dynamic braking and combinations of new and old power. In 2014 the railway purchased 24 GE ES44C4s, the first General Electric and AC Powered locomotives to be owned by the FEC. All of the GE's have been delivered by the end of 2014 with the first run on November 21, 2014. In 2015 the railway will begin to experiment with LNG fuel that will help with costs and efficiency. With the arrival of the GE's the majority of the FEC's SD40-2's and a number of the SD70M-2's have been temporarily leased to CSXT. As of year end 2017, all SD70M-2's have been returned to their respective leasing companies. Most of the SD40-2's will remain on the FEC with the exception of leases to other companies.

How far is the Florida East Coast Railway from Jacksonville to Key West?

At its greatest extent, Florida East Coast Railway's Main Line ran from Jacksonville via Miami to Key West, a distance of over 500 miles. Today, the Main Line continues to run from Jacksonville to Miami .

What was Flagler's greatest challenge?

Flagler next sought perhaps his greatest challenge: the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, a city of almost 20,000 inhabitants located 128 miles (206 km) beyond the end of the Florida peninsula. He became particularly interested in linking Key West to the mainland after the construction of the Panama Canal was announced by the United States in 1905. As the closest deep-water port in the United States to the canal, Key West was positioned to take advantage of significant new trade with the west that would be enabled by the opening of the canal – this, in addition to the city's existing involvement with Cuban and Latin American trade.

When did streamliners start operating?

Streamliners plied the rails between 1939 and 1963, including The East Coast Champion (from New York), The Florida Special (from New York), City of Miami (from Chicago), and South Wind (from Chicago), all of which were jointly operated with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad .

How much did Henry Flagler make in 1844?

He recruited Henry Flagler to join him, and the youth went to Ohio at age 14, where he started work in 1844 at a salary of US$5 per month plus room and board. By 1849, Flagler was promoted to the sales staff at a salary of $40 per month.

Where was Flagler born?

Flagler was born in Hopewell, New York, the son of Isaac Flagler, a Presbyterian minister and his wife, the widowed Elizabeth Caldwell (Morrison) Harkness. She had brought two sons to the marriage with Flagler from her previous marriage to the widower Dr. David Harkness of Milan, Ohio. His son by his first marriage, Stephen V. Harkness, became Elizabeth's stepson. Together David and Elizabeth had a son Daniel M. Harkness before his death. He was of paternal German descent from the Palatinate region. The immigrant ancestor was Zacharra Flegler who first settled in Walworth, England and then left for America arriving in New York in 1710 eventually settling in Dutchess County. It was a grandson Solomon Flagler, who first used the different spelling of the surname. Solomon had eleven children including Isaac, Henry's father.

What did Flagler and Rockefeller see themselves as?

Flagler and Rockefeller saw themselves as the industry's saviors, "an angel of mercy" absorbing the weak and making the industry as a whole stronger, more efficient, and more competitive. Standard was growing horizontally and vertically. It added its own pipelines, tank cars, and home delivery network.

Why did Flagler and Rockefeller start a publicity campaign?

Flagler and Rockefeller began a publicity campaign to put the company and themselves in a better light. Though Flagler and Rockefeller had long maintained a policy of active silence with the press, they decided to make themselves more accessible and responded with conciliatory comments such as "capital and labor are both wild forces which require intelligent legislation to hold them in restriction."

Why did Flagler use the rebate system?

It was Flagler's idea to use the rebate system to strengthen the firm's position against competitors and the transporting enterprises alike. Flagler was in a special position to make those deals due to his connections as a grain merchant.

What was the cause of the oil battle between Standard Oil and the Pennsylvania Railroad?

Flagler and Rockefeller had envisioned the use of pipelines as an alternative transport system for oil and began a campaign to build and acquire them. The railroad, seeing Standard's incursion into the transportation and pipeline fields, struck back and formed a subsidiary to buy and build oil refineries and pipelines. This subsidiary, the Empire Transportation Company, which Joseph D. Potts created in 1865 and also ran, owned other assets including a small fleet of ships on the Great Lakes. Standard countered and held back its shipments and, with the help of other railroads, started a price war that dramatically reduced freight payments and caused labor unrest as well. Flagler and Rockefeller eventually prevailed and the railroad sold all its oil interests to Standard. But in the aftermath of that battle, in 1879 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania indicted Flagler and Rockefeller on charges of monopolizing the oil trade, starting an avalanche of similar court proceedings in other states and making a national issue of Standard Oil's business practices. The New York State Legislature 's Hepburn Committee in 1879 conducted hearings in response to the complaints of local merchants that were not involved in the oil trade in order to investigate railroad rebate practices. The committee ultimately discovered the previously unknown scope of Standard Oil's business interests.

How did Standard Oil gain control of the oil industry?

Standard Oil gradually gained almost complete control of oil refining and marketing in the United States through horizontal integration. In the kerosene industry, Standard Oil replaced the old distribution system with its own vertical system. It supplied kerosene by tank cars that brought the fuel to local markets, and tank wagons then delivered to retail customers, thus bypassing the existing network of wholesale jobbers. Despite improving the quality and availability of kerosene products while greatly reducing their cost to the public (the price of kerosene dropped by nearly 80% over the life of the company), Standard Oil's business practices created intense controversy. Standard's most potent weapons against competitors were underselling, differential pricing, and secret transportation rebates. The firm was attacked by journalists and politicians throughout its existence, in part for these monopolistic methods, giving momentum to the antitrust movement. By 1880, according to the New York World, Standard Oil was "the most cruel, impudent, pitiless, and grasping monopoly that ever fastened upon a country." To the critics Flagler and Rockefeller replied, "In a business so large as ours... some things are likely to be done which we cannot approve. We correct them as soon as they come to our knowledge."

When was the first passenger train in Miami?

First passenger train rolls into Miami a week after the first train carrying freight, April 1896. Photo: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

When did the first train arrive in Miami?

Finally, Flagler accepted the deal, and on April 15, 1896, the first train arrived on the newly laid tracks. J.N. Lummus described the arrival in his book, The Miracle of Miami Beach: "The old wood burning engine, with its big bell top, was spouting smoke and the whistle and the bell were going full tilt."

When was Flagler's Folly completed?

It was completed in 1912 , and what had originally been referred to as “Flagler’s Folly” suddenly became “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”. In 1935, however, nature delivered a fatal blow when a Category 5 hurricane took out a large part of the middle section of the railroad and made it unusable.

What is the Flagler Museum?

Flagler College (Ponce de León Hotel) in St. Augustine, and Whitehall, the impressive mansion that is now the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, both serve as reminders of his influence, as do many monuments across the state. The abandoned Florida Overseas Railroad seems to be a testament to both man’s ingenuity and arrogance.

What was the abandoned Florida Overseas Railroad?

The abandoned Florida Overseas Railroad seems to be a testament to both man’s ingenuity and arrogance. These treasured landmarks remain in good condition, but even Flagler wasn’t infallible. In 1905, the industrialist decided to extend the Florida East Coast Railway beyond Miami, all the way to Key West. He hoped to profit from this more ...

When was the Long Key Railroad Bridge converted to a bridge?

Workmen converting the Long Key Railroad Bridge to a bridge for the Overseas Highway in 1936. Florida East Coast Railway, Key West Extension. Henry M. Flagler and a party of 7 men inspecting the work on the railroad on Stock Island on February 8, 1906.

Where is the Florida Keys rail?

Its remains can be found about two miles west of Marathon, Florida, in the central Florida Keys.

Who is Flagler on the Seven Mile Bridge?

Flagler is second from the right; on his left is William D. Cash, and on his right is George W. Allen. Florida East Coast Railway, Key West Extension. Top of the Seven Mile Bridge: Postcard, mailed on November 3, 1909.

Who was the oil tycoon who abandoned the Overseas Railroad?

If you live in Florida, you’re probably familiar with some of the oil tycoon Henry M. Flagler’s work. Back in the early 1900s, Florida was a popular winter destination for the upper crust, and some of Florida’s most extravagant works of architecture were commissioned by ...

When did Flagler start railroading?

According to a volume released in 1912 announcing the railroad's debut, Flagler possessed those qualities in abundance.

When did Flagler get on the first train?

The inaugural train from Miami pulled into the Key West terminal Jan. 22, 1912, carrying Flagler in his luxurious private car. Stepping out, he was greeted by dignitaries, citizens, schoolchildren and Key West Mayor J.N. Fogarty — all cheering his fantastic accomplishment.

What was the name of the railroad that ran from Florida to West Palm Beach?

Less than a decade later, under Flagler's direction, the line renamed the Florida East Coast Railway had been extended down the coast to West Palm Beach. Along the route, the railroad visionary built a series of luxury hotels to accommodate train passengers.

What was Flagler's next destination?

Miami was the next destination reached, but Flagler didn't stop there. By 1905, realizing the value of the Florida Keys' tropical climate and transportation possibilities when the Panama Canal opened, he had determined to extend his rail line through the Keys to Key West.

Who built the Florida Keys?

In the early 1900s Flagler, affiliated with John D. Rockefeller in the Standard Oil Company, conceived and oversaw the construction of the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad, paving the way for the Keys' evolution into the destination that is internationally recognized today.

Who was Bless Flagler?

Born in 1830, Flagler worked as a merchant, in the grain and distillery businesses and in salt production before becoming a major stockholder in the fledgling Standard Oil, subsequently helping guide the company to vast success.

Was Flagler's railroad rebuilt?

Though it was not rebuilt after being damaged in a 1935 hurricane, Flagler's railroad is still lauded for its monumental impact as the centennial of its completion is celebrated in the Keys. "The Keys were, with the completion of the railroad, a completely different world," said FEC historian and author Seth Bramson.

Overview

Henry Flagler: developing Florida's east coast

FEC Construction

Key West extension

FEC through the years

FEC in modern times

Awards and recognition

Corporate history