Florida steam train rides set to begin service

Steam Train rides are set to begin service at Florida tourist railroad

The City of Tavares has finalized a contract with the Reader Railroad to bring a steam tourist train to the city. The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf LLC, an arm of the Reader, will operate 2-6-0 No. 2 on tourist trains beginning Oct. 8.

Baldwin built the engine in January 1907 as Lufkin Land &Lumber Co. No. 2. It also served on the Shreveport, Houston & Gulf; the Carter-Kelley Lumber Co.; and W.T. Carter and Lumber Co. The engine gained fame when it was featured in the 2007 film, “3:10 to Yuma.”

The Orange Blossom Cannonball trains will depart from Wooton Park in Tavares and make a round trip to Lake Jem. They will operate over Pinsly Railroad Co.’s Florida Central Railroad, which was recently granted a $2.2 million federal grant to improve 68 miles of its track in Lake and Sumter counties.

Some of the 2-6-0’s most recent movie appearances were in “True Grit,” “Appaloosa,”  “There Will Be Blood,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” and “Rosewood.”

Staying on track – Daily Commercial

The actual train — consisting of a steam engine, the tender (or coal car) and three to four passenger cars — that will arrive in Tavares is called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. About 130-140 people will be able to ride the …

Publish Date: 09/24/2011 1:00

http://www.dailycommercial.com/localnews/story/092411railroad