The Havana Special



The Florida East Coast Railway is fondly remembered for the numerous streamliners it either owned and operated itself (like the Dixie Flagler) or those which it ferried to cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale (such as the City of Miami, Silver Meteor, Champion, and many others). However, its most exotic train was not even a streamliner at all and is usually forgotten, the fabled Havana Special. This train offered passengers the chance to visit the most tropical region in the continental United States as well as the most southern point in the country. This was also possible thanks to the efforts of Henry Flagler and his Key West Extension, constructed during the early 20th century.

But its purpose was not solely for passenger transportation; it was built specifically to handle a deep water port which never materialized into a booming trade center as Flagler had hoped. Unfortunately, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the extension as well as rail service to the islands. However, it's likely a safe assumption that had the line survived into the streamliner era, those trains mentioned above would have continued further south than Miami.

In this postcard, a Florida East Coast passenger consist on Seven Mile Bridge along the Key West Extension.

The Florida East Coast's Havana Special has a history that is directly tied to its Key West Extension, also known as the Florida Overseas Railroad. The idea of the FEC's president, Henry Flagler, to construct such a massive project was not for passenger services to the island chain but freight. In 1905 it was announced by the United States that a new canal would be constructed in Panama to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, thus opening a new trade route. Flager thus hoped to tap shipments head to and from the canal via a new port in Key West as well as to Cuba and Latin America. Seven years after that announcement, Seth Bramson notes in his book, "Speedway To Sunshine: The Story Of The Florida East Coast Railway," the first train, carrying Mr. Flagler, arrived in Key West on January 22, 1912 and the great extension was officially opened for service soon afterwards. In conjunction with this event, the railroad launched the Havana Special, at first a local train serving the FEC's home territory.

Havana Special Consist (1930)

The Special, however, was not meant as a regional train serving only the east coast of Florida between Key West and Jacksonville. The FEC intended the train to operate up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard, almost literally the entire length. To do so required a partnership with other lines including the Atlantic Coast Line (between Jacksonville and Richmond, Virginia), Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac (between Richmond and Washington, D.C.), and the Pennsylvania Railroad (to New York City). Additionally, the train offered connecting service northward to Boston and even to Havana, Cuba via the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company (which was also owned by Flagler). The entire route covered 1,523 miles to Key West and 1,596 to Havana with a complete trip requiring 42 hours either aboard train or ship (the steamships operated out of both Miami as well as Port Tampa, Key West to Havana) making the Special the longest East Coast passenger route. Its exotic nature also made the train quite successful due both to the fact that rail service was still the most efficient means of transportation at the time and the Florida East Coast spared no expense in making sure it was a magnificent operation providing top level service.

Another postcard featuring a Florida East Coast passenger train running the Key West Extension as it crosses Long Key Viaduct.

For instance, it was an all-Pullman affair all of the way to and from New York City with a typical consist including coaches, a lounge, a diner, six sleepers, and a parlor-observation (this varied somewhat with the other lines). Some of the Special's on board amenities included fine dining from the tropics such as fresh citrus fruits, local seafood, and other delicacies. The lounge car, located within the center of the train was perhaps the most interesting in the consist; it offered separate areas for men and women to relax and even included baths. Despite the fact that this was during the era of heavyweight, non-streamlined trains the Special was certainly one-of-a-kind. In the 84th volume/73rd annual issue of Railway Age & Railway View (covering the period from January 1, 1928 through June 30, 1928) through service on the Havana Special, from New York to Key West, began in 1924. In 1930, a few years after this event, travelers were given the additional option of traveling by plane to Havana and other Caribbean destinations as the FEC worked in conjunction with the Pan American airlines to provide this service via both Miami and Key West.

(The below Havana Special timetable is dated effective January 14, 1933.)

Read Up Time/Leave (Train #141/PRR) Milepost Location Read Down

Time/Arrive (Train #110/PRR) 10:05 PM (Dp) 0.0 New York, NY (Penn Station) (ET) 6:45 AM (Ar) 10:27 PM 10 Newark, NJ 6:19 AM 11:23 PM 58 Trenton, NJ 11:55 PM 85 North Philadelphia, PA 4:49 AM 12:05 AM (Ar) 91 West Philadelphia, PA 4:39 AM (Dp) 12:07 AM (Dp) 91 West Philadelphia, PA 4:38 AM (Ar) 12:41 AM 118 Wilmington, DE F 4:05 AM 1:44 AM 166 Edgewood, MD 2:14 PM 186 Baltimore, MD 2:43 AM 3:10 AM 226 Washington, D.C. (Union Station) 1:45 AM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #75/RF&P) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/RF&P) 3:35 AM (Dp) 226 Washingon, D.C. (Union Station) 1:05 AM (Ar) 4:58 AM 280 Fredericksburg, VA 11:36 PM (Ar) 6:20 AM (Ar) 340 Richmond, VA (Broad Street Station) 10:15 PM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #75/ACL) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/ACL) 6:35 AM (Dp) 340 Richmond, VA (Broad Street Station) 10:00 PM (Ar) 9:15 AM (Ar) 465 South Rocky Mount, NC 7:15 PM (Dp) 9:20 AM (Dp) 465 South Rocky Mount, NC 7:10 PM (Ar) 9:40 AM 480 Wilson, NC 11:15 AM 554 Fayetteville, NC (Fort Bragg) 5:20 PM 12:57 PM (Ar) 637 Florence, SC 3:40 PM (Dp) 1:05 PM (Dp) 637 Florence, SC 3:32 PM (Ar) 2:55 PM 732 North Charleston, SC (North Station) 1:27 PM 797 Yamassee, SC 12:13 PM F 814 Ridgeland, SC F 828 Hardeeville, SC 12:13 PM 5:17 PM (Ar) 849 Savannah, GA 11:05 AM (Dp) 5:25 PM (Dp) 849 Savannah, GA 10:57 AM (Ar) 6:32 PM (Ar) 905 Jesup, GA 9:42 AM (Dp) 905 Jesup, GA 9:38 AM (Ar) 7:07 PM 934 Nahunta, GA 9:07 AM 8:45 PM (Ar) 1001 Jacksonville, FL 7:50 AM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #75/ACL/Tampa Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/ACL/Tampa Sec.) 10:25 PM (Dp) 1001 Jacksonville, FL 7:00 AM (Ar) 10:50 PM 1014 Orange Park, FL 6:24 AM 11:00 PM 1021 Doctor's Inlet, FL 6:11 AM 11:15 PM 1030 Green Cove Springs, FL 5:51 AM 11:33 PM 1041 West Tocoi, FL 5:34 AM 11:41 PM 1046 Bostwick, FL 5:24 AM 11:55 PM 1055 Palatka, FL 5:10 AM 12:18 AM 1070 Pomona, FL 4:42 AM 12:25 AM 1074 Huntington, FL 4:34 AM 12:28 AM 1076 Crescent City, FL 4:30 AM 12:38 AM 1084 Seville, FL 4:18 AM 12:45 AM 1090 Pierson, FL 4:09 AM 12:51 AM 1094 Barberville, FL 3:59 AM 12:58 AM 1100 De Leon Springs, FL 3:50 AM 1:02 AM 1103 Glenwood, FL 3:45 AM 1:09 AM 1107 De Land, FL 3:35 AM 1:22 AM 1113 Orange City Junction, FL 3:24 AM F 1121 Lake Monroe, FL F 1:50 AM (Ar) 1125 Sanford, FL 3:00 AM (Dp) 2:00 AM (Dp) 1125 Sanford, FL 2:50 AM (Ar) 2:15 AM 1135 Longwood, FL 2:20 AM 1138 Altamonte Springs, FL 1140 Maitland, FL 2:25 AM 2:30 AM 1143 Winter Park, FL 2:10 AM 2:55 AM 1147 Orlando, FL 1:45 AM 3:22 AM 1165 Kissimmee, FL 1:17 AM 3:40 AM 1177 Loughman, FL 12:59 AM F 1182 Davenport, FL 3:53 AM 1187 Haines City, FL 12:40 AM 4:15 AM 1193 Lake Alfred, FL 12:15 AM 4:22 AM 1198 Auburndale, FL 12:08 AM 4:45 AM (Ar) 1208 Lakeland, FL 11:50 PM (Dp) 5:00 AM (Dp) 1208 Lakeland, FL 11:40 PM (Ar) 5:25 AM 1219 Plant City, FL 11:21 PM 5:37 AM 1225 Dover, FL F 1228 Seffner, FL 6:15 AM (Ar) 1240 Tampa, FL 10:45 PM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #375/ACL/Sarasota Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #376/ACL/Sarasota Sec.) 6:50 AM (Dp) 1240 Tampa, FL 10:00 PM (Ar) 6:58 AM 1244 Uceta, FL 9:43 PM 7:14 AM 1252 Remlap, FL 9:26 PM 7:27 AM 1262 Ruskin, FL 9:13 PM 7:47 AM 1274 Gillett, FL 8:55 PM 8:00 AM 1279 Palmetto, FL 8:43 PM 8:07 AM 1280 Bradenton-Manatee, FL 8:35 PM 8:15 AM 1285 Oneco, FL 8:27 PM 8:21 AM 1288 Matoaka, FL 8:22 PM 8:30 AM (Ar) 1293 Sarasota, FL (ET) 8:15 PM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #37/ACL/St. Petersburg Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #38/ACL/St. Petersburg Sec.) 10:00 PM (Dp) 1001 Jacksonville, FL 7:05 AM (Ar) F 1020 Baldwin, FL F F 1039 Sapp, FL F F 1043 Ellerbee, FL F 10:56 PM 1046 Raiford, FL 5:49 AM 11:05 PM 1053 Lake Butler, FL 5:40 AM F 1059 Munich, FL F F 1062 Worthington Springs, FL F F 1065 Santa Fe, FL F F 1069 Haynesworth, FL F 11:40 PM 1072 Burnetts Lake, FL 5:05 AM F 1076 Hague, FL F F 1082 Paradise, FL F 12:07 AM 1086 Gainesville, FL 4:30 AM F 1096 Rochelle, FL F F 1101 Micanopy Junction, FL F F 1104 Evinston, FL F F 1105 Boardman, FL F 12:56 AM 1107 McIntosh, FL 3:39 AM F 1108 Orange Lake, FL F F 1109 Proctor, FL F F 1113 Reddick, FL F F 1116 Lowell, FL F F 1119 Martin, FL F F 1122 Kendrick, FL F 1:53 AM 1127 Ocala, FL (Union Station) 2:50 AM 2:16 AM 1141 Candler, FL 2:16 AM 2:23 AM 1144 Ocklawaha, FL 2:09 AM 2:29 AM 1146 East Lake, FL 2:03 AM 2:35 AM 1149 Weirsdale, FL 1:58 AM 2:45 AM 1153 Lady Lake, FL 1:48 AM 2:55 AM 1158 Fruitland Park, FL 1:40 AM 3:07 AM 1161 Leesburg, FL 1:30 AM 3:17 AM 1167 Okahumpa, FL 1:17 AM 3:37 AM 1176 Center Hill, FL 1:00 AM 3:47 AM 1180 Webster, FL 12:51 AM F 1186 St. Catherine, FL F 4:17 AM 1191 Croom, FL 12:26 AM 4:35 AM (Ar) 1200 Trilby, FL 12:10 AM (Dp) 4:40 AM (Dp) 1200 Trilby, FL 12:05 AM (Ar) 5:01 AM 1212 San Antonio, FL 11:41 PM F 1215 Pasco, FL F 5:22 AM 1224 Ehren, FL 11:18 PM 5:42 AM 1234 Odessa, FL 10:58 PM F 1238 Keystone Park, FL F 6:00 AM 1245 Tarpon Springs, FL 10:36 PM F 1248 Crystal Beach, FL F 6:15 AM 1250 Palm Harbor, FL 10:23 PM 6:26 AM 1255 Dunedin, FL 10:14 PM 6:33 AM 1258 Clearwater, FL 10:06 PM 6:43 AM 1259 Belleair, FL 9:56 PM 6:55 AM 1263 Largo, FL 9:42 PM F 1267 Cross Bayou, FL F 7:05 AM 1269 Pinellas Park, FL 9:31 PM F 1272 Lellman, FL F 7:25 AM (Ar) 1263 St. Petersburg, FL (ET) 9:15 PM (Dp) Time/Leave (Train #75/FEC) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/FEC) 9:30 PM (Dp) 1001 Jacksonville, FL 7:15 AM (Ar) 10:20 PM 1038 St. Augustine, FL 6:20 AM 10:59 PM 1088 Bunnell, FL 5:32 AM 11:21 PM 1105 Ormond, FL 11:39 PM 1111 Daytona Beach, FL 4:56 AM 12:05 AM (Ar) 1126 New Smyrna Beach, FL 4:30 AM (Dp) 12:15 AM (Dp) 1126 New Smyrna Beach, FL 4:20 AM (Ar) F 1155 Titusville, FL 3:31 AM 1:20 AM 1175 Cocoa-Rockledge, FL 3:01 AM 1:51 AM 1195 Melbourne, FL 2:32 AM 1229 Vero Beach, FL 1:47 AM 3:10 AM 1243 Fort Pierce, FL 1:25 AM F 1262 Stuart, FL 12:47 AM F 1276 Hobe Sound, FL 12:26 AM 4:30 AM (Ar) 1300 West Palm Beach, FL 11:55 PM (Dp) 4:40 AM (Dp) 1300 West Palm Beach, FL 11:45 PM (Ar) F 1307 Lake Worth, FL 11:30 PM F 1318 Delray Beach, FL 11:13 PM 5:20 AM 1326 Boca Raton, FL 11:01 PM 5:43 AM 1342 Fort Lauderdale, FL 10:39 PM 5:58 AM 1349 Hollywood, FL 10:27 PM 6:30 AM (Ar) 1367 Miami, FL 10:00 PM (Dp) 7:15 AM (Dp) 1367 Miami, FL 9:30 PM (Dp) 7:25 AM 1372 Coconut Grove, FL 9:14 PM 7:30 AM 1375 South Miami, FL 9:07 PM 7:45 AM 1383 Perrine, FL 8:52 PM 7:54 AM 1387 Goulds, FL 8:42 PM 7:59 AM 1389 Princeton, FL 8:36 PM 8:04 AM 1390 Naranja, FL 8:30 PM 8:10 AM 1393 Modello, FL 8:24 PM 8:18 AM (Begin Key West Extension) 1395 Homestead, FL 8:20 PM (End Key West Extension) 8:22 AM 1397 Florida City, FL 8:10 PM 8:38 AM 1409 Glades, FL 7:54 PM 8:49 AM (Leave Mainland) 1416 Jewfish, FL 8:10 PM (Enter Mainland) 8:52 AM (Enter Florida Keys) 1418 Key Largo, FL 7:42 PM (Leave Florida Keys) 9:02 AM 1425 Rockharbor, FL 7:29 PM 9:12 AM 1432 Tavernier, FL 7:19 PM 9:17 AM 1435 Plantation, FL 7:14 PM 9:26 AM 1441 Islamorada, FL (Caribbee Colony) 7:05 PM 9:47 AM 1452 Craig, FL 6:44 PM 9:57 AM 1458 Long Key Fishing Camp, FL 6:34 PM 10:22 AM 1475 Marathon, FL (Sombrero Lodge) 6:12 PM 10:30 AM 1479 Pigeon Key, FL 6:00 PM 10:54 AM 1493 Big Pine, FL 5:38 PM 11:00 AM 1498 Ramrod Key, FL 5:32 PM 11:10 AM 1504 Pirates Cove Fishing Camp, FL 5:25 PM 11:15 AM 1507 Perky, FL 5:20 PM 11:45 AM (Ar) 1523 Key West, FL (ET) 5:00 PM (Dp) Time/Leave (Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company) 12:20 PM (Dp) Key West, FL 3:15 PM (Ar) 6:20 PM (Ar) Havana, Cuba 9:00 AM (Dp) Time/Leave (Pan American Airways) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Pan American Airways) 8:00 AM (Dp) Miami, FL 5:00 PM (Ar) 10:15 AM (Ar) Havana, Cuba 2:45 PM (Dp)

A postcard featuring the north end of FEC's Trumbo Island Terminal in Key West, Florida during the 1920s. Trains met ships here for passengers to continue on to Havana, Cuba.

The Special lost much of its glamorous allure when the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane destroyed the extension forcing the train to be cutback to Miami (according to the book, "When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities In The Age Of Rail Line Abandonment (Eastern United States)," by author Joseph P. Schwieterman for a time after the hurricane FEC continued dispatching the Havana Special to Key West via car ferry). However, air and ship service continued on for 25 additional years until Fidel Castro took over the Cuban government in 1960 forcing both to be discontinued. Diesel power replaced the Class P-5a 4-6-2 Pacifics in 1942 as the FEC purchased new EMD E6s and later E7s for passenger services. On October 27, 1962, what remained of the Havana Special was renamed as the East Coast Special since the train no longer offered connections to Cuba. The name survived for only a few months for on January 23, 1963 a nasty strike was carried out by FEC's operating unions. It paralyzed the railroad and resulted in all passenger services being discontinued.

Havana Special (1930 Timetable)

A postcard of Florida East Coast's main terminal at Trumbo Island in Key West, Florida where trains met ships at the dock.

These trains returned briefly when the FEC was required to reinstate trains between Jacksonville and North Miami on August 2 1965 but this lasted only until July 31, 1968 when service ceased forever. It's interesting to wonder how this train would have fared had the extension survived. For instance, consider that the Seaboard Air Line's Silver Meteor, Atlantic Coast Line's Champion, and even the Pennsylvania Railroad's South Wind all saw relatively high patronage through the 1960s with their connections to warm and sunny climate of Miami. Could the Extension have witnessed similarly strong ridership? Even so, vacationers would not have been able to sustain the route, financially. If some other means of traffic (i.e., freight) had not been found (unlikely) the Extension probably would have been abandoned even if a major hurricane, such as the 1935 storm, had not severely damaged the line. Finally, for a history of the Key West Extension please click here.