I am looking for information about the Depot in Everglades City and what train came in to it.

-- Cystal Potter (Bp17cool@aol.com), February 28, 2000

Answers

Yes, we have the new Gregg Turner book in stock, discount-priced at only $16. Shipping is $3 for one book, $5 for two or more.

Other new books that will be in stock shortly for mail order shipping:

Prince, ACL Steam Locos (reprint) - $45 Prince, SAL Steam Locos (reprint) - $45 Faulk, ACL color equipment guide - $45

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), February 28, 2000.

There is a photo of the depot at the Florida Photographic Archives...the URL is http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/ Click on "Search Photographic Collection" Enter 'Everglades City' and click on "Search" 66 hits will turn up...the depot is around 57 or 58. Gregg Turner has written a book titled 'Railroads of Southwest Florida' which was released just last month... in it will be found a few photos , of the streetcar, and the 'Everglades Special'...just a loco and a combine...I believe the Society is selling this book, though I dont see it listed in the catalog as of yet.

-- Bill Donahue (BillD53A@aol.com), February 28, 2000.

While I do not have any information about the depot building itself, I can relate the following to you. The ACL line north from Everglades City(called just Everglades during the time it was an ACL station) to Deep Lake, 13 miles, was built by the DEEP LAKE R.R. in circa 1926. The ACL line south from Palmdale was opened to Immokalee by October 1927. The DLRR was sold to the ACL and the two lines connected during 1928. Palmdale-Everglades passenger service was provided by a mixed train, a freight train with perhaps one coach for any intending passengers, Sundays excepted, from circa 1928 until passenger service was dropped about October 1955. The branch into Everglades(City) was abandoned by the ACL south of Copeland sometime between November 1958 and April 1960 (anyone have exact date?) Between April 1964 and December 1964 the branch was further cut back to Sunniland. Stations south from Immokalee(mile post 126) were: Bunker Hill mp.129, sidings at Harker and Arzell, Sunniland mp.139, Miles City mp.148, a siding at Matman, Deep Lake mp.154, Copeland mp.161, Carnestown mp.163 and Everglades mp.167. Apparently, prior to the Deep Lake R.R. opening, there was rail service in Everglades(City)! "Everglades City Transit" ran a 4-wheel Brill battery powered trolley(not rubber tired, ON RAILS!) on a line to take prospective homesteaders to a real estate site. See photo in Middleton's THE TIME OF THE TROLLEY (Kalmbach 1967). The State of Florida granted a charter to the Everglades Railway, Light & Power Co. in 1927. I don't know if these two are the same, but the crash of the Florida land boom spelled the end of trolleys in Everglades(City), Fla.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), February 28, 2000.