Fellsmere in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Fellsmere Railroad
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, September 12, 2014
1. The Fellsmere Railroad Marker
Inscription.
The Fellsmere Railroad. . The standard-gauge Fellsmere Railroad was completed in 1910 with 60 lb. rail to replace the old Sebastian and Cincinnatus narrow-gauge railroad built in 1896 between Sebastian and Fellsmere. The Fellsmere Farms Company used the 10-mile-long railroad from September 1910 until May 1, 1911, for carrying logs to the Florida East Coast Railway in Sebastian and for transporting supplies, materials, equipment, and heavy machinery used for excavating drainage canals to Fellsmere. The railroad officially opened to the public on May 1, 1911, and ran four passenger trains daily with only two on Sunday, to and from Sebastian and Fellsmere. On January 23, 1913, the 12’ x 32’ Fellsmere Depot was opened for service, with Edward Nelson Fell, the founder of Fellsmere, purchasing the first ticket. The depot was built on the south side of the mainline north of the intersection of Broadway and South Carolina Avenue. By April 1915, the railroad was extended another 6 miles west of Fellsmere to Broadmoor (a now non-existent town). On June 2, 1924, the Trans-Florida Central Railroad (dubbed the “Dinky Line”) took over railroad operations. On November 30, 1952, the railroad officially ceased operations after 42 years of service. ,
A Florida Heritage Site. ,
The standard-gauge Fellsmere Railroad was completed in 1910 with 60 lb. rail to replace the old Sebastian & Cincinnatus narrow-gauge railroad built in 1896 between Sebastian and Fellsmere. The Fellsmere Farms Company used the 10-mile-long railroad from September 1910 until May 1, 1911, for carrying logs to the Florida East Coast Railway in Sebastian and for transporting supplies, materials, equipment, and heavy machinery used for excavating drainage canals to Fellsmere. The railroad officially opened to the public on May 1, 1911, and ran four passenger trains daily with only two on Sunday, to and from Sebastian and Fellsmere. On January 23, 1913, the 12’ x 32’ Fellsmere Depot was opened for service, with Edward Nelson Fell, the founder of Fellsmere, purchasing the first ticket. The depot was built on the south side of the mainline north of the intersection of Broadway and South Carolina Avenue. By April 1915, the railroad was extended another 6 miles west of Fellsmere to Broadmoor (a now non-existent town). On June 2, 1924, the Trans-Florida Central Railroad (dubbed the “Dinky Line”) took over railroad operations. On November 30, 1952, the railroad officially ceased operations after 42 years of service.
A Florida Heritage Site
Erected 2011
Click or scan to see this page online
by The Indian River Historical Society, The Fellsmere Community Redevelopment Agency, and The Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-725.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is May 1, 1911.
Location. 27° 46.445′ N, 80° 36.095′ W. Marker is in Fellsmere, Florida, in Indian River County. Marker is at the intersection of South Carolina Avenue (County Road 507) and 134th Court, on the left when traveling east on South Carolina Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fellsmere FL 32948, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. The Fellsmere Railroad Marker on the old railroad grade
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 866 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
