Florida Midland Railroad (defunct)
Encyclopedia
The Florida Midland Railway Company was incorporated under the general incorporation laws of Florida
, and surveyed a line
The company was reincorporated on February 10, 1885; only 10 miles had been graded. The new owners were E. W. Henck, S. M. Breuster, Carl Cushing, A. Menser and C. E. Munson of Florida
, and Edward Page
, Charles W. Morris and Cyrus Carpenter of Boston, Massachusetts.
The line was extended
Land grant
s were promised, as long as part of the railroad was completed within a year.
Florida
state law chapter 3795, approved June 2, 1887, expanded the area from which land grant
s could be chosen, and extended the deadline to June 1, 1888.
The line actually built was rather different, running from Clifton on Lake Jessup west to Apopka
, but then turning south to Kissimmee
.
, the railroad has been abandoned for about 100 years, and almost no traces are left. Parts of the right-of-way were used to construct SR 434.
From Apopka
to Clarcona, the right-of-way is used for the West Orange Trail
.
From Clarcona to Ocoee
, the right-of-way is currently owned by CSX and run by the Florida Central Railroad
.
From Ocoee
to Kissimmee
, the railroad is abandoned, and some elements remain.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and surveyed a line
- from Lake Jessup, in Orange countyOrange County, FloridaOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, to LeesburgLeesburg, FloridaLeesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,956 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,086.. Leesburg is located in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Oklawaha River system....
, in Sumter CountySumter County, FloridaSumter County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 53,345. The 2006 Census estimate puts its population at 68,768 . Its county seat is Bushnell, Florida and the largest incorporated municipality is Wildwood, Florida. The Villages,...
.
The company was reincorporated on February 10, 1885; only 10 miles had been graded. The new owners were E. W. Henck, S. M. Breuster, Carl Cushing, A. Menser and C. E. Munson of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and Edward Page
Edward Page
Edward William Page was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in 1885...
, Charles W. Morris and Cyrus Carpenter of Boston, Massachusetts.
The line was extended
Land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
s were promised, as long as part of the railroad was completed within a year.
Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
state law chapter 3795, approved June 2, 1887, expanded the area from which land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
s could be chosen, and extended the deadline to June 1, 1888.
The line actually built was rather different, running from Clifton on Lake Jessup west to Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
, but then turning south to Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
.
Current conditions
From Clifton to ApopkaApopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
, the railroad has been abandoned for about 100 years, and almost no traces are left. Parts of the right-of-way were used to construct SR 434.
From Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
to Clarcona, the right-of-way is used for the West Orange Trail
West Orange Trail
The West Orange Trail is a long multi-use rail trail owned by Orange County Parks and Recreation in Orange County, Florida, in the United States.It passes through downtown Oakland, Winter Garden, and Apopka...
.
From Clarcona to Ocoee
Ocoee, Florida
Ocoee is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 24,391. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,654. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ocoee is...
, the right-of-way is currently owned by CSX and run by the Florida Central Railroad
Florida Central Railroad (current)
The Florida Central Railroad is one of several short line railroads run by the Pinsly Railroad Company. Its only interchange point is with CSX in downtown Orlando, Florida; it has trackage rights from there south to Taft Yard...
.
From Ocoee
Ocoee, Florida
Ocoee is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 24,391. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,654. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ocoee is...
to Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
, the railroad is abandoned, and some elements remain.
Stations
These are listed from north to south.- Clifton (junction Sanford and Indian River Railroad)
- LongwoodLongwood, FloridaLongwood is a city in Seminole County, Florida, USA. The population was 13,745 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 13,491. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area....
(junction South Florida RailroadSouth Florida RailroadThe South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...
) - Palm SpringsPalm Springs, FloridaPalm Springs is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,699 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 14,690.-Geography:Palm Springs is located at ....
(junction Orange Belt Railway) - Altamonte
- Lake Brantley
- Fitzville
- East Apopka (junction Apopka and Clay Spring Railway)
- ApopkaApopka, FloridaApopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
(junction Florida Central and Peninsular RailroadFlorida Central and Peninsular RailroadThe Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad was the final name of a system of railroads throughout Florida, becoming part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in 1900...
Orlando Division) - Clarcona (junction Orange Belt Railway)
- Villa Nova
- OcoeeOcoee, FloridaOcoee is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 24,391. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,654. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ocoee is...
(junction Tavares, Apopka and Gulf Railroad) - MinorvilleMinorville, FloridaMinorville is at the intersection of SR 50 with former SR 439 and CR 526 . It is inside the city of Ocoee, Florida...
- GothaGotha, FloridaGotha is a census-designated place in Orange County, Florida, United States. Gotha is located between Ocoee, Florida and Windermere, Florida, and had a population of 731 as recorded by the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The town of...
- WindermereWindermere, FloridaWindermere is a town in Orange County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,897. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the town had a population of 2,019. It is expected that the 2010 census will show the town with almost 3000 people...
- Doctor PhillipsDoctor Phillips, FloridaDr. Phillips is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida; commonly known as a suburb of Orlando, Florida. It is also part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,548 at the 2000 census.The area of Dr. Phillips is...
, previously known as Harperville - VinelandVineland, FloridaVineland is an unincorporated community in southwest Orange County, Florida, United States. It is just north of Interstate 4 along State Road 535. The name is not used much any more, since the City of Lake Buena Vista lies just to the south and west and is a more well-known name. Orange County...
, previously known as Orange Center, also Englewood - Molanes
- Shingle Creek (Shingle PO)
- KissimmeeKissimmee, FloridaKissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
(junction South Florida RailroadSouth Florida RailroadThe South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...
)