Jupiter Depot Report 8-1-2015



It will be nice to see the Jupiter Depot again as today marks the 100th anniversary of the FEC Jupiter Depot. The Town of Jupiter and the Loxahatchee Guild have every right to be proud of all that they have accomplished with this great little building.


The building site has been stabilized and the depot is permanently installed in Sawfish Bay Park. Exterior work has transformed the shabby appearance that we saw back on moving day into a real eye-catcher with outstanding Flagler ochre and white trim. The roof and almost all the roof joists have been replaced and much of the siding, too. New decking around the outside including steps and access ramp was completed this week.


Interior is bare and dark. No electric or anything else inside. Last evening's preview party was a cozy affair in the open depot without lighting or air. The only window is in the north end facing the Jupiter draw span. Neat to watch the bridge descend for FEC950 from there.


Master carpenter Stephen Agnelli was proud to point out the hand built doors and astonished when I remarked how accurate the tram-way hangers were on the baggage doors. South Brevard historian and FECRS member Ed Vosatka had supplied me with the plans for the originals and what a great match they are!


They have saved one original wooden pew bench and a couple of the partitions but there is such a long way to go on the interior. We did stay dry, though, throughout very heavy thunderstorms last evening.


The preview party featured speeches and congrats, plenty of photos and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. About fifty invited guests enjoyed refreshments and beverages supplied by many fine local companies. A barbershop quartet sang 'God Bless America' as the dignitaries snipped the ribbon stretched across the doorway.


My thanks to Town of Jupiter Mayor Karen Golonka and Loxahatchee Guild's Mary-Therese Delate for their splendid hospitality.
Also a pleasure to see FECRS member Jon Gilbert again and, of course, Seth and Myrna Bramson.


What I noticed most was how proud everyone was of all the hard work and how the depot appearance has been transformed.


Be sure to join the FECRS 2015 Convention tour on Friday September 25 to see it for yourself.


Best regards, cabooseMikey.

Largo Central RailRoad Aug 29, 2015


Largo Central Railroad Fun Run August 29, 2015.

My thanks to the fine folks on the Largo Central Railroad for their hospitality during the
fifth Saturday Fun Run  on August 29. I enjoyed their mile long railroad in the park with
old-growth grounds and that neat fish pond trestle. I met John laying iron rail on a curve
in between trains and Mr. Prez James shoving down the rails at track speed whilst draped
in an open hopper with his back on one slope sheet and feet on the other - Oh, don't open
those bay doors, ouch!

Good to meet new friends and catch up with a few old ones. Enjoyed chatting with Scot,
Chip and Mike and learning about their railroad. And WOW they fed me a great feast, too!

Glad that John and Jill joined us. And Jack from Gainesville, too. Smiling Pete from
Manatee Central sitting in with us at lunch time. Also Steve and his new  walking-beam
grasshopper steamer made the trip and it is a quick little critter. Good to see Fred
DeLoach and his beautiful children. And Fred and Valerie and that 'Goose that Gallops' of
theirs. Bruce and his steamer won the prize at the end of the day for "Most Grime
Collected". But then again, he always wins that honor.

A couple of sharpies came out to see if I 'went on the law' during the hot part of the
afternoon; I had merely tied up on a siding to watch the parade of trains. Ha!


Special thanks to Mr. Rich Dobler, past president of Ridge Live Steamers, for driving me
over to the west coast and letting me run his train. I especially value him sharing his deep
love of trains and vast knowledge of Florida railroading with me during the twelve hour
trip.


Best regards, cabooseMikey.

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