Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) is a Class II regional railroad that owns all of the 351-mile mainline track from Jacksonville, FL, down to Miami. It is the exclusive rail provider for PortMiami, Port Everglades and Port of Palm Beach. FEC Railway connects to the national railway system in Jacksonville, allowing it to provide rail service in and out of Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina, into and out of Florida’s east coast. Based in Jacksonville, FEC provides end-to-end intermodal and carload solutions to customers who demand cost-effective and premium quality transportation solutions.
In 1895 railroad industrialist Henry Flagler formed the Florida East Coast Railway from the St. Augustine & Indian River Railway, the result of various consolidations of local railroads. Florida East Coast rails reached Miami from Jacksonville in 1896, and famously extended out to Key West by 1912. Although passenger service is long gone, the FEC lives on as a modern Class II railroad offering a variety of freight shipments, including Trailer on Flat Car access, container services, limestone, and other rock movements. The current mainline exceeds 350 miles in length and supports various branches. Since 1931, the road has seen various receivers and owners, including the DuPont estate, St. Joe Paper Company, and former shortline operator RailAmerica. FEC is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Grupo México Transportes (GMXT), a Class I railroad in Mexico.
collection
collection
route map / web
FEC provides flexible, cost-effective rail and logistics solutions to meet the demanding transportation needs of domestic and international intermodal and carload customers. Its strategic, exclusive partnerships with PortMiami, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Port of Palm Beach and motor carriers let it move freight safely, efficiently and reliably within Florida and beyond.
Tracing its lineage back to 1885 and owing roots to the legendary Henry M. Flagler (who founded Palm Beach, Miami and most of the east coast of Florida, and built the fabled Key West Extension connecting the chain of islands to the mainland), the Florida East Coast Railway is the sole rail provider operating along the east coast of Florida.
The railway continues Flagler’s same level of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit today, and is considered one of the best run railroads in the U.S.
Motive Power
Florida East Coast #405
Jacksonville, Fl / Dec 1990 / collection
Florida East Coast #405
Florida East Coast #425
Jacksonville, Fl / RWH
Florida East Coast #425
Florida East Coast #426
Jacksonville, Fl / Dec 1990 / collection
Florida East Coast #426
Florida East Coast #511
Jacksonville, Fl / Oct 1990 / collection
Florida East Coast #511
Florida East Coast #675
Jacksonville, Fl / RWH
Florida East Coast #675
Rolling Stock
Florida East Coast #803
caboose / Jacksonville, Fl / Sep 1990 / collection
Florida East Coast #806
caboose / Jacksonville, Fl / Dec 1990 / collection
Locations
St. John's River
railroad draw bridge in background / Jacksonville, Fl / RWH
Jacksonville, Fl / RWH
Jacksonville, Fl / RWH
Second Acts
Florida East Coast locomotives in our collection that went on to other railroads in retirement
Savannah & Atlanta #750
Savannah, Ga / May 1948 / collection
Savannah & Atlanta #750
to Savannah & Atlanta #750, 1934
to Atlanta Chapter NRHS, 1962
leased by SOU for excursions 1967-84
on display, Southeastern RR Museum
Georgia Northern #107
Albany, Ga / Mar 1957 / collection
Georgia Northern #107
to Georgia Northern #107
to Thronateeska Heritage Center
on display at Albany, Georgia
Apalachicola Northern #510
Port Saint Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #510
Apalachicola Northern #510
to GC&L #852 ?
Georgia & Florida #500
Augusta, Ga / Jul 1948 / collection
Georgia & Florida #500
Georgia & Florida #501
Augusta, Ga / Sep 1948 / collection
Georgia & Florida #501
Columbus & Greenville #608
Greenville, Ms / Jul 1989 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #608
ex Florida East Coast #608
Columbus & Greenville #614
Greenville, Ms / Jul 1989 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #614
ex Florida East Coast #614
ex Chicago, Sou Shore & Sou Bend #614
Columbus & Greenville #615
Columbus, Ms / Jul 1989 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #615
ex Chicago, Sou Shore & Sou Bend #615
Columbus & Greenville #618
Columbus, Ms / 1995 / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #618
ex Chicago, Sou Shore & Sou Bend #618
Columbus & Greenville #619
Columbus, Ms / Sep 1986 / JCH
Columbus & Greenville #619
ex Florida East Coast #619
Columbus & Greenville #621
Greenwood, Ms / Dec 1989 / RWH
Columbus & Greenville #621
ex Florida East Coast #621
Chesapeake & Albemarle #502
Elizabeth City, NC / Nov 2016 / RWH
Chesapeake & Albemarle #502
CaterParrott Railnet #7000
The Rock, Ga / Nov 2018 / RWH
CaterParrott Railnet #7000
ex Electro-Motive Div Leasing #408
ex Progress Rail Services #4082
to CaterParrott Railnet #7000
Publications
1910 Official Guide map / collection
1910 Official Guide ad / collection
1972 Official Guide ad / collection
1972 Official Guide map / collection
1994 Official Guide ad / collection
1994 Official Guide map / collection
Links / Sources
- Florida East Coast company website
- Florida East Coast Railway Society
- American Rails.com Florida East Coast page
- Wikipedia article for Florida East Coast
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 121
- Charles W. McDonald, Diesel Locomotive Rosters - Third Edition (Kalmbach, 1992) 70