The Future of The Florida East Coast Railway

The Florida East  Coast Railway has a rich history.

Since its incorporation in September of 1895, the Florida East Coast Railway has been a survivor.  Its primary purpose when built by Henry Morrison Flagler was to transport rich vacationers to the luxury hotels that he was building along the eastern seaboard of Florida.

After the railroad ran out of land at the southern end of the state, Flagler would push the railroad forward over open water until it finally reach Key West in January of 1912.  This Key West extension was considered the eighth wonder of the world as it carried passengers over many miles of open ocean before it was finally damaged beyond repair a hurricane on Labor Day of 1935.

The Florida East Coast Railway is also known for the longest railroad strike in American history.  It began when 80% of the workforce walked off the job on January 23, 1963, and would not officially end until April 9, 1976.  The railroad went in and out of bankruptcy.  But through the use of technology, and a commitment to streamlining the railroad's operation, the Florida East Coast Railway would survive when many of the railroad industry's giants disappeared altogether.

Today, this regional railroad with only 351 miles of mainline is about to experience the most prosperous times in its history.  Just like in the real estate industry, the three most important factors are location, location, and location.

Some of this railroad future opportunities that we will be discussing on this blog include a massive increase in the number of shipping container loads due to the widening of the Panama Canal, possible local commuter service, high speed rail service between Miami and Orlando, plus possible Amtrak passenger service along the east coast of Florida.

I hope that you will join us in the discussion.