RIDE A TEST TRAIN NORTH FROM ORLANDO ON THE OLD SAL IN 2002 The Railroad Time Capsule Takes u back

Today we will be riding north on the branch line of the ex Seaboard Air Line
that ran from Orlando to Wildwood.

Today we will test to see if the coaches of the Orlando Mt Dora railroad will accommodate a very sharp curve on the Winter Garden Line.

The tracks we are traveling on once hosted passenger service from wildwood to Orlando during the seaboard days.

This line was constructed around 1884 as the Tavares Orlando and Atlantic.

We are approaching the railroad area designated as Toronto where the ex SAL
crossed the Orange Belt Railway which became part of the Atlantic coast line.
Florida Central named the eastern portion of this line as the Forrest city branch which is now a four lane toll road. When our train clears the switch and is lined for a westward move on the ex ACL, the crew switches engines. Of course this moved will be repeated on our return trip.


In “Lines South” a publication of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line Railroads historical Society, there is an excellent article about the SAL line that ran from Orlando to Wildwood, part of which is seen in this video. Passenger stations & trains railroad history, construction and plenty of pictures and maps, are all there for your enjoyment. The article is titled "Next stop: Orlando" and appears in "Lines South" vol 26 # 2 dated 2nd quarter 2009.


THE CAST

Steve Torrico, Neil Bagaus and Bill Dusenbury



All three involved in railroading most of their lives and a majority of it in central Florida. All played key rolls in the formation and preservation of various railroad equipment and operations. They were an integral part of the assorted tourist railroad operations in Lake County, Fl. Running every thing from doodlebugs to steam with a Baldwin or GM switcher in the mix. Others talents of these two.

Steve-
It would take volumes to describe the talents of this gentleman.
Steve Re-established the Edwards motor car company and restored several doodlebugs and is an accomplished musician. And a lot more both railroad related and musically

Neil
And his wife are very talented musicians specializing the the country genre and do live appearances. Neil managed several of the tourist railroad here.

Bill
Enjoys Bass fishing and can fix anything. He has written several articles for Lines South.

We had quite a few guests and fans along and everybody wanted to ride in the cab. Sorry I can’t remember any of the names but I have been told that a couple of the younger ones (back in 2002) are now behind the throttle of their own engines enjoying a rewarding career on a major railroad.