To prove it we are matching all online pricing on the tours we offer. The Overseas Railroad was the Florida East Coast Railway's extension through the Florida Keys that operated from 1912 to 1935. Posted December 16, 2013 By Dennis Plunkett. These increases in trade led to a boom in real estate and eventually started the huge tourism economy which continues to this day in Key West. Florida East Coast Railway bridge in the Florida Keys (9365847468).jpg 600 × 423; 53 KB. Thank you! The railroad down the entire Florida Keys to Key West was a monumental task. State Road 4A - If you find a better price anywhere we'll match it. Coral Shores students raise money for REEF. If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: Flagler is second from the right on his left is William D. Cash and on his right is George W. Allen. The Florida Keys Overseas Railway by Warren Zeiller. Flagler was not content to rest by the time his railroad had reached Miami in 1896. 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Furthermore, the Great Depression caused a huge reduction in Key West's trade industry which nearly ruined the town. Instead, Henry Flagler chose to spend the last 30 years of his life building a railroad line in Florida and establishing Florida’s tourist industry. In 1935, 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. Der 205 Kilometer lange Highway verbindet 40 Inseln der Florida Keys miteinander und reicht von Homestead bis nach Key West. Flagler College (Ponce de León Hotel) in St. Augustine and Whitehall, the impressive mansion that is now the Flagler Museum, in Palm Beach serve as reminders of his influence, as well as many monuments across the state like the Florida Keys Overseas Railroad. Check back often for all your Key West needs. The road actually turned out to be a disappointment because it was bumpy, dusty and loaded with mosquitoes. In 1905, the industrialist decided to extend the Florida East Coast Railway beyond Miami, all the way to Key West. However, the Overseas Railroad was eventually completed in 1912 running from Homestead to Key West. The Overseas Railroad (a.k.a. Die Hauptstrecke hat eine Länge von 565 km, dazu kommen noch rund 400 km an Nebengleisen. There are many long abandoned but famous rail … *Current prices are 30% cheaper than cruise lines! Highways 1 in Florida, USA. We'll Price Match It. The first Overseas Railroad segment was completed in 1908 and led from Homestead to Marathon. While the Overseas Highway today runs along the former Overseas Railroad right of way, portions of the highway came into existence earlier in a different alignment while the railroad was still operational. He hoped to profit from this more than 100-mile extension by having the best available access to Cuba and the proposed Panama Canal. Railway and locomotive engineering - a practical journal of railway … AT 33, STEELE SWORN IN AS … Building this rail is only We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Monroe County allocated funds to build a road parallel to the Overseas Railroad in 1923. In addition, the Tavernier stop in Key Largo became a major trading location for the northern section of the Florida Keys. Florida East Coast Railway Overseas Railroad relief train derailed near Islamorada, Florida during the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. A giant tidal surge, 18 or more feet high, swept across the Keys, and 408 people were killed — 256 of them military veterans who were building the Overseas Highway beside the Overseas Railway. Work on the line started in 1905; the railroad operated from 1912 to 1935. The Florida East Coast Railroad company actually opened the Casa Marina on New Year's Eve on 1920, which was the first official tourist hotel in Key West. Jewfish Creek Drawbridge.jpg 600 × 483; 34 KB. Many thought that this construction would be impossible due to incredibly tough conditions over 128 miles of water and rocky islands. A bit of shade and a bench before a historic bridge crossing Eleven cars were swept from the tracks, leaving only the locomotive and tender upright and still on the rails. All Community News Hurricane News Islamorada News Key West News Lower Keys News Marathon News Middle Keys News Monroe County News State News Upper Keys News. FLORIDA'S OVERSEAS RAILROAD by DAVID L. WILLING S OON after leaving the village of Florida City, the mid-twentieth century auto traveler driving to the Florida Keys rounds a curve and comes on to the roadbed of the Overseas Highway. As you can imagine, the construction was difficult, dangerous, and very expensive. Postcard, Monroe County Library Collection. The Florida East Coast Railway stretched the length of the state, 500 miles, from Jacksonville to Key West. The existing Florida East Coast Railway only went as far south as Homestead in 1904, and the Overseas Railroad extension to the Lower Keys began in 1905. We learned about Flagler and his involvement with Standard Oil and his obsession with building a rail connection to Key West. Found a better price online? As a result, bridges were built to connect the two roadway sections to eliminate the need of the car ferry service. Just south of Marathon, stop at the Pigeon Key Visitor Center in the vintage red Flagler railway car. The basic story of the Overseas Railway to Key West, an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, has been told before, from the early dream of Henry Flagler, to completion of railroad construction near the end of Flagler's life, to destruction of the extension in the devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. As a result, Marathon became a hugely popular shipping port where ships unloaded cargo and loaded it onto train cars to be brought north. Von 1912 bis 1935 reichte die Strecke von Miami weiter bis Key West. The Florida Keys, a … The culmination of a decades-long vision of Standard Oil millionaire Henry Flagler, the Oversea Railroad stretch over 100 miles out into open ocean, connecting Key West with the Florida mainland. Many of us today think of the Overseas Highway as a direct result of the 1935 hurricane that destroyed Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway. The entire segment ran for 128 miles and crossed over 42 segments of open water. Florida Overseas Railroad and the Overseas Extension) was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, located 128 miles beyond the end of the Florida peninsula. She also makes art, jewelry, and other things for her shop. The highway was rebuilt in the 1980s, and it now runs alongside some of the railway ruins, which Florida has converted into fishing piers and walking paths called the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. The Overseas Highway in The Florida Keys: From Flagler's Railroad to recently designated "All American Road" Florida Keys sightseeing starts at the first and only road for getting to the Keys, a famous destination drive for visitors eager to travel the 113-mile distance. The project cost $430 million dollars and included some incredible feats of In addition, major hurricanes in 1909 and 1910 created significant delays in the construction process. Over 40 miles (64 km) of track were washed awa… Over the years, modern bridges have replaced some of the older railroad bridges, many of which still stand and can be seen along the highway. These treasured landmarks remain in good condition, but even Flagler wasn’t infallible. You will receive your first email soon. Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (FKOHT) features more than 90 linear miles of existing trail paved in segments along a planned 106-mile corridor from Key Largo to Key West. Florida Keys Weekly Newspapers. Although he died in 1913, Henry Flagler was healthy enough in 1912 to ride this segment and enjoy the fulfillment of his dream project. The current U.S. Route 1 that runs from Homestead through the Florida Keys was built over the railroad's original concrete viaducts and steel trestles. 1912 – The Overseas Railroad, the final link in the Florida East Coast Railway was completed on this date. A car ferry service was used to provide transportation between these two roadway sections. Nick the History Kid takes you to the Florida Keys and explains the importance of the overseas railway built by Henry Flagler in 1910. Thank you! Have you ever seen this for yourself? Victoria is a native Floridian and writer for OIYS. The Federal Emergency Relief Administration finally provided assistance by promoting the town as a tourist destination. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Today, the railroad is long gone, but there are many places along the road where you can see remnants of it, such as the old bridges. The sections of road were built in the Upper Keys between Key Largo and Upper Matecumbe, and in the Lower Keys between the southern end and No Name Key. In many ways this is true; however, the highway actually started evolving earlier. If he looks quickly, the driver may see mile post 3971 of the Florida East Coast Railway, a few rods west of the high-way. 2012 will mark 100 years since the completion of the Key West extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, “the Overseas Railroad.” Yes, up until 1935 you could take a train all the way to Key West, Florida. On Labor Day of 1935, a devastating hurricane destroyed a huge portion of the Overseas Railroad along the Upper and Middle Keys. What do you think of this interesting chapter in our state’s history? By Sean McCaughan Apr 11, 2014, 6:27pm EDT [Photos via Monroe County Public Library] Over a hundred years ago, the first train to cross the Overseas Railroad, technically known as the Key … The storm killed more than 400 people and devastated Long Key and adjacent areas. In addition, materials for the railroad had to be brought from various parts in the world including various cement products from Belgium and Germany. The Overseas Railroad (also known as Florida Overseas Railroad and the Overseas Extension) was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, a city located 128 miles (204.8 km) beyond the end of the Florida peninsula.Work on the line started in 1905 and it operated from 1912 to 1935, when it was destroyed by a hurricane. Henry Flagler, a wealthy businessman who created the Standard Oil Company in 1870 with John Rockefeller, had a dream to connect mainland Florida with the isolated port of Key West. Three hurricanes threatened to derail the project, but Flagler pressed on. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. By this time, the railroad had become mismanaged and the amount of freight had significantly been reduced. It was completed in 1912 and what had originally been referred to as “Flagler’s Folly” suddenly became “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”. The railroad had a huge impact on trade between the island and the Caribbean. Mailed on November 3, 1909. It had also become cheaper to haul freight by truck, so it was decided that the Overseas Railroad would not be rebuilt. These treasured landmarks remain in good condition, but even Flagler wasn’t infallible. The overseas extension was approximately 150 miles long, with bridges up … The Overseas Highway: Old railroad to Key West - See 6,861 traveler reviews, 2,697 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. As a result, Monroe County bought the right of way to the Overseas Railroad and converted it to a highway that opened in 1938. Overseas railroad map.png 3,877 × 1,317; 915 KB. Florida Keys, Key West, US travel and accommodations. Flagler College (Ponce de León Hotel) in St. Augustine and Whitehall, the impressive mansion that is now the Flagler Museum, in Palm Beach serve as reminders of his influence, as well as many monuments across the state. Overseas Railroad (also known as Florida Overseas Railroad) was 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. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Das Streckennetz reicht von Jacksonville mit Verbindung zur CSX und zur Norfolk Southern, über St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach bis nach Miami. Benches are provided in many places, especially at the ends of the long bridge crossings at the southern end of the trail. No one wanted to cover the expense to repair it, so the land was sold to the state, which soon afterward began building the Overseas Highway over salvageable portions of the structures that remained. The next segment between Marathon and Bahia Honda was particularly challenging as there was nothing but seven miles of water between these islands. Back in the early 1900s, Florida was a popular winter destination for the upper crust, and some of the Florida’s most extravagant works of architecture were commissioned by Flagler himself. The highway was rebuilt in the 1980s, and it now runs alongside some of the railway ruins, which Florida has converted into fishing piers and walking paths called the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. The FEC's Long Key Fishing Camp was destroyed, as was an FEC rescue train which, with the exception of steam locomotive 447, was overturned by the storm surge at Islamorada. Henry Flagler The Railroad Visionary Henry Flagler has been as much to do with the increase of interest, commerce and infrastructure throughout the Florida Keys as anyone in history. Since the 1950s the Overseas Highway has been refurbished into a main coastal highway between the cities of Miami and Key West. Much of the Overseas Railroad in the Middle Keys was heavily damaged and partially destroyed in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, a Category 5 hurricane which is often called "The Storm of the Century". However, the construction proceeded as planned despite the setbacks. For several decades, the Overseas Railway took visitors from the mainland of Florida to Key West. Construction proceeded rapidly, and the Overseas Highway was opened for use on March 29, 1938. Experience all that a Florida Keys vacation has to offer when you visit Key West, Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon and Big Pine Key. The State of Florida purchased the roadbed and remaining bridges from the bankrupt Florida East Coast Railway, and set about replacing the railroad with a coastal highway. Now a multi-use trail, the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail was once called The Florida East Coast Railway Key West Extension. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In addition, it took a full day just to get from Key Largo all the way down to the southernmost point. On Upper Matecumbe Key, near Islamorada, an eleven-car evacuation train encountered a powerful storm surge topped by cresting waves. Florida East Coast Railway first Key West Train 1912.JPG 1,572 × 981; 763 KB. During the time of its operation, the Overseas Railroad was known as the Key West Extension. The Overseas Railroad was the initial step in creating the tourism industry in the Florida Keys that we enjoy today. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Find out recent news on the Top things to do in Key West, or learn about the history and wildlife. The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail uses a combination of bike paths, side path along US 1, and bike lanes on US 1 to connect the Florida Keys together. While traveling on U.S. Route 1, drivers can imagine the days of railroad locomotives covering the same infrastructure. In 1905, the industrialist decided to extend the Florida … If you live in Florida, you’re probably familiar with some of oil tycoon Henry M. Flagler’s work. Love Florida? The current U.S. Route 1 that runs from Homestead through the Florida Keys was built over the railroad's original concrete viaducts and steel trestles. It operated from 1912 to 1935. He envisioned that the shipping industry in Key West would grow tremendously with the opening of the Panama Canal. The town's population decreased by nearly 50 percent and the majority of the town's residents had to rely on help from the government. For reservations book online or contact us at (866) 945-7917 for more information. The historic bridges that remain today are remnants of a railroad that was once considered the 8th wonder of the world. The Overseas Railroad was the Florida East Coast Railway's extension through the Florida Keys that operated from 1912 to 1935. Jewfish Creek rail construction.jpg 600 × 389; 39 KB. The resort was originally intended as a retreat for wealthy customers of the Overseas Railroad, and the property currently operates as the luxurious Casa Marina Waldorf Astoria Resort. In fact, our prices are up to 56% Cheaper*, Key West Vacation is the #1 Tour and Activity Concierge in Key West. Coronavirus; News. The Overseas Railroad (also known as Florida Overseas Railroad, the Overseas Extension, and Flagler's Folly) was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to Key West, a city located 128 miles (206 km) beyond the end of the Florida peninsula.Work on the line started in 1905 [2] and it operated from 1912 to 1935, when it was partially destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane. Der Highway ist die einzige Landverbindung zwischen den Florida Keys und dem Festland der USA und im Falle eines Hurrikans auch die einzige Fluchtroute für die Einwohner und Touristen. The Florida Keys railroad was destroyed during a tragic hurricane in 1935, but you can still explore remnants of this piece of Florida Keys history which was once called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Historical Remnants of the Florida Keys Railroad. FRIENDS KITEBOARD THE KEYS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS. 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