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| NOTE: This web page is not directly associated with the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, but is merely my look at its fascinating collection. To learn more, visit its official web site at www.goldcoast-railroad.org. In June of 2004 I produced a nearly half-hour radio report on the museum in southwest Miami-Dade County. I had initially planned to do a couple of short feature stories on its amazing collection of old railroad cars and engines, but with so much good sound, I offered to put together a longer report for WLRN's daily afternoon program "Topical Currents." You can download it below.
In the photo to the right is museum board member Tom Brann and executive director Michael Hall, who gave me the tour and explained the operations. Below I've posted a few of the additional photos I took during the visit. I would highly encourage anyone interested to visit the museum for themselves. |
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(Left) Vintage E unit
diesel locomotive #1594, used by the Florida East Coast Railway, the
amazing line that was responsible for the establishment of one community
after another as it was slowly built down Florida's east coast more
than a century ago. (Below) The Ferdinand
Magellan, the armored rail car used by four U.S. Presidents, beginning
with Franklin Roosevelt. Note the loud speakers above the back platform.
It was there that one of the most famous presidential photos was taken,
with President Truman holding up a newspaper with the early, incorrect
headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman." It is the only passenger
rail car ever designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Government.
As is explained in the radio program, its thick, bullet proof walls
also made this one of the heaviest rail cars ever run. |
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(Left) Vintage
FEC steam engine #153. (Below) The California
Zepher, a classic rail observation car used by the Western Pacific
druing the final grand era for railroads in this country before the
bottom fell out for the industry. |
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| Again, I would highly encourage anyone interested in railroading to try and visit the Gold Coast Railroad Museum. They have locomotive cab rides for a small donation. They also have a great model railroading area and plenty of great programs for kids. |
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