I am developing a series of activities for elementary students to learn about railroads, past, present , and future. I would appreciate any information or reference materials which briefly trace the history of railroads in Florida. I have Flagler covered, but need information on Chipley/L&N (Panhandle area RR's) and railroads from Central Florida into St.Petersburg. Short lines and logging railroads would also be of interest. I have some information on the local Winter Park narrow gauge, but always welcome more information. Also any activities which have been used with young students (6 to 12 years old). Our students have already built an HO model railroad of Winter Park, Florida with the Amtrak station. Thank you for your help in this matter.

-- Harold Custer Whiteside (whitesh@ocps.k12.fl.us), March 25, 1999

Answers

Harold, You might try the Taaplines website, URL is http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/4095/index.htm#Archives This site contains a lot of info about early Fla RR's and loggers. Also the Florida State Archives Photographic Collection is available online. The collection contains hundreds ofphotos of old Florida RR's, but youhave to search for them. Good Luck!

-- Bill Donahue (BillD53@aol.com), May 07, 1999.