Welcome to the Florida Rail Experience!

The Florida Railroad Experience is a joint venture with the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, FL. Together, we are planning and will build a permanent interactive destination experience that will present the past, present and future of Florida’s railroads. We have formed a board to administer the project (with members from both organizations and our community).

These volunteer-based local railroad organizations are hard at work together to preserve and bring the history, present and future of railroading in Florida to the public. Dubbing their project the Florida Railroad Experience (FRE), the group’s plan to build a permanent 25,000 square foot non-profit museum on ten acres in Parrish.  The facility will be at the site of the current Florida Railroad Museum location and the building will house interpretive exhibits and displays, a museum of railroad artifacts, classrooms, a gift shop, an area to create and teach railroad modeling, a new waiting facility and loading platform for train riders and much more. Using real trains ride experiences along with world class simulation and modeling, FRE will bring alive the history and future of Florida railroads for current and future generations.

FRE is dedicated to education and is planning to work closely with our school systems to bring awareness of this vital industry to school children at all levels.

The Past
Railroads and railroaders have played a tremendous role in Florida’s past. Railroad pioneers Henry Flagler and Henry Plant pushed railroad lines across the state from Pensacola to Key West and introduced generations of Americans to the paradise we know as Florida. Fabled trains such as the Orange Blossom Express, Silver Meteor and the Panama Limited brought passengers for winter vacations and led to the widespread development of both coasts. There was even a railroad to Key West.

In Manatee County, trains called in Bradenton and hauled agricultural goods and turpentine from what is now known as Lakewood Ranch. In Sarasota County, Venice was the winter home to the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus and its circus trains regularly plied Florida’s rails and still do.

The Present
Still vital today, trains haul our goods and services to and from the rest of the country, with trains loaded with orange juice and phosphate from Manatee County originating locally and polishing the nation’s rails. The widening of the Panama Canal will bring a parade of large container ships and other cargo vessels to Port Manatee and other ports, providing a steady supply of loads for double-stack container trains and other freight trains that will speed the goods to and from the south and the rest of the nation.

Commuter rail and rapid transit is also undergoing a renaissance in Florida, spurred on by  growing populations and high-cost gasoline. Tri-Rail on the east coast and SunRail in central Florida will ease traffic congestion,  increase energy independence and move commuters with safety and efficiency.

The Future
Florida’s rail future is bright. Commuter rail is slowly expanding in Central Florida.  Tri-Rail continues to see increased ridership in Southeast Florida.  Rail freight traffic, too is expected to grow steadily due to energy efficiency of the railroads and congestion on our highways.

Your Role
Get involved. If you enjoy trains and railroads, we need your help to make this dream come true. Please Contact Us by using the link to the left or by clicking here to volunteer, to donate artifacts or make a financial investment in our future. 

And you can click here to sign up for our newsletter too! It’s free.

Thanks!