In conducting research, I came across a set of blueprints for a roadbed marked "Overseas Highway". I presume that this refers to the "Overseas Highway" in the Florida Keys (now known as US One), but it indicates the road intersecting with a railroad marked, "Atlantic COast Line". I'm confused. I thought the Overseas Highway intersected with the right of way of the FEC Key West Extension. The blueprints are otherwise undated.

Thank you -- Meg Kallman Feeley

-- Meg Feeley (Poetessnyc@hotmail.com), December 24, 2001

Answers

Please forgive me for the fragmented entries as I was having problems with my keyboard. Thanks. Bob

-- Bob Levasseur (w4ppa1@bellsouth.net), November 07, 2002.

As native of South Florida I grew up in south Dade County. I remember as late as the early 70's the FEC line ran south to Homestead and Florida City along U.S.#1. Florida City is the southernmost city before before U.S.#1 heads south into the Fla. Keys. Seaboard Coast Line (CSX) had a line also running south into Homestead and Florida City. These two lines were connected by a small spur at the end of the SCL line. As I recall the tracks ran very close together at the terminal ends of the two lines. I estimate less than 1000 feet. In fact the SCL(CSX)line is still in service seving several rock and sand pits and a Portland cement plant. The FEC abandoned the tracks from downtown Miami to Homestead /Fla. City, and the right of way is currently being developed by the Miami-Dade Metrorail System. However I'm not sure if the SCL(CSX)line was existing at the time the FEC ran to Key West.

-- Bob Levasseur (w4ppa1@bellsouth.net), November 07, 2002.

As native of South Florida I grew up in south Dade County. I remember as late as the early 70's the FEC line ran south to Homestead and Florida City along U.S.#1. Florida City is the southernmost city before before U.S.#1 heads south into the Fla. Keys. Seaboard Coast Line (CSX) had a line also running south into Homestead and Florida City. These two lines were connected by a small spur at the end of the SCL line. As I recall the tracks ran very close together at the terminal ends of the two lines. I estimate less than 1000 feet. In fact the SCL(CSX)line is still in service seving several rock and sand pits and a Portland cement plant. The FEC abandoned the tracks from downtown Miami to Homestead /Fla. City, and the right of way is currently being developed by Miami-Dade Metrorail System. However I'm not sure if the SCL(CSX)

-- Bob Levasseur (w4ppa1@bellsouth.net), November 07, 2002.

As native of South Florida I grew up in south Dade County. I remember as late as the early 70's the F.E.C. line ran south to Homestead and Florida City along U.S.#1. Florida City is the southernmost city before before U.S.#1

-- Bob Levasseur (w4ppa1@bellsouth.net), November 07, 2002.

Florida East Coast (FEC) built it as a railroad line in 1912 to Key West. It was mainly to connect with passenger ship & railcar service to Havanna, Cuba. Around 40 miles of the line were destroyed in the Sept 2 Labor Day Hurricane in 1935. The Army Corps of engineers required that any reconstruction meet current standards of the time. FEC found that to be a good reason to abondon the unprofitable extension. Eventually taken over by the Government, it was then turned into a roadway to the Keys. ACL never had anything to do with it since they lost out in their attempt to take over FEC.

-- Carl Becker (Cbmbecker@cafe.tg), September 24, 2002.

The FEC did not come anywhere near Fort Myers, or Naples. Although the ACL and SAL crossed each other at grade on the Lee/Charlotte county line, and twice at Fort Myers, there was no interchange. I've never heard anyone refer to the Marco Island line as the Overseas Railroad. Bill

-- Bill Donahue (BillD53A@aol.com), July 27, 2002.

I have some information that I got in the mail on the former Florida East Coast Key West train station which contians lots of Florida East Coast memorabilia and items on Henry F. Flagler who was the founding father of this great railroad that ran until it was all destroyed by a hurricane. I am pretty sure about your question on the Atlantic Coast Line is that it could have interchanged with either the Seaboard or the Florida East Coast somewhere near Fort Meyers or Naples.

-- Bradford Paulson (bpaulson909@msn.com), July 21, 2002.

i dunno, as a floridian when i refer to south florida, i mean south east coast florida... guess thats just me, need to clarify these things cause some others might not think that way, oh well. merry christmas

-- troy nolen (tnolen12@tampabay.rr.com), December 25, 2001.

Are we counting Everglades City and Marco Island as "South Florida", gentlemen? The ACL went to both of these places, Everglades City being south of Sunniland, and Marco Island(AKA Collier City) being south of Naples. Was wondering if, per chance, the "overseas highway" in the question refers to a bridge to Marco Island?

-- Tom Underwood (tlunderwood@attglobal.net), December 24, 2001.

Farthest south point on the ACL was Sunnyland,Fl on the west coast.

-- Joseph Oates (jlosal@mindspring.com), December 24, 2001.

it was FEC, the ACL never made it to south florida, let alone the keys...

-- troy nolen (tnolen12@tampabay.rr.com), December 24, 2001.