My family and I rode the West Coast Champion from NYC to Fort Myers in January 1970. We got off the train in Lakeland at the now abandoned station that was west of downtown and our car (a coach) and a sleeping car were coupled to the east facing "Doodlebug" and we backtracked east and then south to Bartow and Arcadia on former ACL rails that are now abandoned between south Lakeland and Arcadia. Then we continued south from Arcadia to Punta Gorda and finally Fort Myers. We "wyed" and backed into the station as the mainline ran north-south east of the depot. The wye is still semi-intact and visible a couple blocks east of the station. The station is now a museum and the stub tracks that were on the south side of it are long gone and have been replaced by lush green grass! A fond memory of a simpler time!
And thanks for sharing your memory with us. Your comment adds additional information to the video and is appreciated. For those reading this we love information like Sarasota Sage has provided. Comments and especially additional information is always welcome.
I lived in Lake Worth 1975-76 and by then all the former SCL cars like the Sun Lounge and Observation cars were gone from the Florida scene. Replaced with former BN, SP & UP cars.
Thank you so much for a trip back in time. This film brought back so many precious ACL/SCL memories when I rode the "West Coast Champion and "City of Miami" from the 1950's to the 70's.
Glad you could board the railroad time capsule and and we could take you back, Sam. Those two trains covered a lot of territory, riding over some rails that are no longer there. Thanks for watching , glad we could bring back some memories.
I like dropped signals like the one at 9:00. They are hard to ''see'' with the photography of that day. But still, these were some great videos. Thank you.
I hope the video brought back fond memories. That's the rewarding part of posting these vintage video tapes that would have otherwise ended up in the land fill. I'm so glad "the railroad time capsule" was able to take you back.
I first traveled on Amtrak in February 1983. Mom , Sister & I boarded the Silver Meteor at St Pete and went to NYC on our way to Rochester. I have been searching for videos on that section of the line with no luck. I was back in Florida in December of 1983 and 1 more visit to St Pete where the NB was waiting the arrival of the southbound. The Engineer let me take a tour of F40 383. A Month later , Service ended out of St Pete.
The Gulf Wind did not serve South Florida. It was a Jacksonville-New Orleans train. The South Wind alternated with the City of Miami in Florida-Chicago service.
Those Seaboard Coast Line Budd cars are gleaming. They kept the well-patronized New York/Miami trains clean. The Richmond, VA./Atlanta, "Silver Comet," was a different matter by 1969. Three battered E7s and four dusty cars.
I still can'r figure out why SAL/SCL allowed the "Silver Comet" to deteriorate while maintaining the Florida trains to a high standard to the very end..
@@samtrak1204 I don't know if they made money on those New York/Miami trains in the late 60s, but since they were popular, they kept up their public image.
Do ya hear that whistle on down the line? I figure that it's engine number forty-nine She's the only one that'll sound that way On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe...
I preferred The Champion, but the Seaboard sun lounges were nice. Trouble was the Seaboard Miami Station was way far west, but the Atlantic Coast Lines' Miami Station was right downtown. The Champion was a far better train than the Silver Meteor.
Unfortunately I don't. The time table is dated December 11, 1970. The picture, graphic or banner is a modified version of this timetable . I added the "south Florida 1970" and moved a few things around in the banner. They were quite common and I'm sure someone on ebay has the "SCL, Seaboard Cost Line railroad passenger timetables effective December 11, 1970" as is noted on the cover, for sale.
My family and I rode the West Coast Champion from NYC to Fort Myers in January 1970. We got off the train in Lakeland at the now abandoned station that was west of downtown and our car (a coach) and a sleeping car were coupled to the east facing "Doodlebug" and we backtracked east and then south to Bartow and Arcadia on former ACL rails that are now abandoned between south Lakeland and Arcadia. Then we continued south from Arcadia to Punta Gorda and finally Fort Myers. We "wyed" and backed into the station as the mainline ran north-south east of the depot. The wye is still semi-intact and visible a couple blocks east of the station. The station is now a museum and the stub tracks that were on the south side of it are long gone and have been replaced by lush green grass! A fond memory of a simpler time!
And thanks for sharing your memory with us. Your comment adds additional information to the video and is appreciated. For those reading this we love information like Sarasota Sage has provided. Comments and especially additional information is always welcome.
I lived in Lake Worth 1975-76 and by then all the former SCL cars like the Sun Lounge and Observation cars were gone from the Florida scene. Replaced with former BN, SP & UP cars.
Great collection of film loved seeing the old seaboard power!
Thank you so much for a trip back in time. This film brought back so many precious ACL/SCL memories when I rode the "West Coast Champion and "City of Miami" from the 1950's to the 70's.
Glad you could board the railroad time capsule and and we could take you back, Sam. Those two trains covered a lot of territory, riding over some rails that are no longer there. Thanks for watching , glad we could bring back some memories.
I like dropped signals like the one at 9:00. They are hard to ''see'' with the photography of that day. But still, these were some great videos. Thank you.
I love that doodlebug, and it's always refreshing to see and hear the RS3 at work
I lived in Hollywood in 1970. Unfortunately, I was only 6 years old at the time, so I remember very little about it. 🙁
I hope the video brought back fond memories. That's the rewarding part of posting these vintage video tapes that would have otherwise ended up in the land fill. I'm so glad "the railroad time capsule" was able to take you back.
Thanks for putting this together.
Believe me, it was my pleasure, glad you enjoyed
Love the video. Thanks!
Awesome stuff!
Aww, brings back memories of growing up in Sulphur Springs Florida in the '70s. Kp.
Thank you so much for this video. And, the photos of #4900 in 'South West' Florida.
It's my pleasure to share. Every now and then I would run across something rare like the 4900. Thanks so much for watching.
I first traveled on Amtrak in February 1983. Mom , Sister & I boarded the Silver Meteor at St Pete and went to NYC on our way to Rochester. I have been searching for videos on that section of the line with no luck. I was back in Florida in December of 1983 and 1 more visit to St Pete where the NB was waiting the arrival of the southbound. The Engineer let me take a tour of F40 383. A Month later , Service ended out of St Pete.
I remember the first trip, taking the train from Philly to Tampa in 1955, was the first of a few. LOL, I was 15..
Since Amtrak began operations on May 1, 1971, the title is at least a year off-target.
Not all is Amtrak but some is and should of been title 1970/71. Most of the video is pre Amtrak.
The Gulf Wind did not serve South Florida. It was a Jacksonville-New Orleans train. The South Wind alternated with the City of Miami in Florida-Chicago service.
Nice shot of the Pre-Amtrak "Silver Meteor" @ [3:32]
Those Seaboard Coast Line Budd cars are gleaming. They kept the well-patronized New York/Miami trains clean. The Richmond, VA./Atlanta, "Silver Comet," was a different matter by 1969. Three battered E7s and four dusty cars.
Thanks for the additional information. Makes the video all that more interesting.
I still can'r figure out why SAL/SCL allowed the "Silver Comet" to deteriorate while maintaining the Florida trains to a high standard to the very end..
@@samtrak1204 I don't know if they made money on those New York/Miami trains in the late 60s, but since they were popular, they kept up their public image.
Some of this is from 1971. One spot in the video (1:02) is not Amtrak although clams to be. UP sleepers were common in SCL days.
Do ya hear that whistle on down the line?
I figure that it's engine number forty-nine
She's the only one that'll sound that way
On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe...
Sun-Lounge in Amtrak colors.
I preferred The Champion, but the Seaboard sun lounges were nice.
Trouble was the Seaboard Miami Station was way far west, but the Atlantic Coast Lines' Miami Station was right downtown.
The Champion was a far better train than the Silver Meteor.
Florida East Coast Railway station was in downtown Miami near Brightline's Miami Central Station.
@@samtrak1204 I know.
Rainbow era of Amtrak.
Makes for some interesting modelling
Do you have online PDF of that timetable?
Unfortunately I don't. The time table is dated December 11, 1970. The picture, graphic or banner is a modified version of this timetable . I added the "south Florida 1970" and moved a few things around in the banner. They were quite common and I'm sure someone on ebay has the "SCL, Seaboard Cost Line railroad passenger timetables effective December 11, 1970" as is noted on the cover, for sale.