Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Georgiana Railway: 1892-1894
Photographed By Jamie Cox, May 3, 2016
1. Georgiana Railway: 1892-1894 Marker
Inscription.
Georgiana Railway: 1892-1894. . In 1892, Frank Cass Allen, a Georgiana merchant, began building a 0.6-mile standard-gauge railway with steel rail and wood ties across Merritt’s Island at this location, connecting docks on the Indian and Banana Rivers. It was part of his private water/rail venture to accommodate tourists, especially northerners, who began flocking to the Atlantic beaches following the completion of a mainline railroad into Titusville in 1885. Allen wanted to improve upon the one and only 45-mile boat trip around the southern tip of the island to reach the beaches south of the Cape. His 10-mile route across the Indian River to Georgiana by boat, the island by rail, and the Banana River by boat took about an hour. One 10-ton steam locomotive is documented, apparently replacing an earlier one. Allen built an open 50-passenger car using commercial railroad wheels. The line opened in mid-December 1893, and by April 1894, over 700 had visited the beaches. Financial problems and poor maintenance defeated the railway, and, in mid-1894, it was replaced by a wagon route at Lotus, two miles farther south. The locomotive and passenger car were sold at public auction on March 2, 1896. Rail and other rolling stock were not part of this sale.
In 1892, Frank Cass Allen, a Georgiana merchant, began building a 0.6-mile standard-gauge railway with steel rail and wood ties across Merritt’s Island at this location, connecting docks on the Indian and Banana Rivers. It was part of his private water/rail venture to accommodate tourists, especially northerners, who began flocking to the Atlantic beaches following the completion of a mainline railroad into Titusville in 1885. Allen wanted to improve upon the one and only 45-mile boat trip around the southern tip of the island to reach the beaches south of the Cape. His 10-mile route across the Indian River to Georgiana by boat, the island by rail, and the Banana River by boat took about an hour. One 10-ton steam locomotive is documented, apparently replacing an earlier one. Allen built an open 50-passenger car using commercial railroad wheels. The line opened in mid-December 1893, and by April 1894, over 700 had visited the beaches. Financial problems and poor maintenance defeated the railway, and, in mid-1894, it was replaced by a wagon route at Lotus, two miles farther south. The locomotive and passenger car were sold at public auction on March 2, 1896. Rail and other rolling stock were not part of this sale.
Erected 2007 by The Brevard County Historical Commission, Brevard County Tourist
Click or scan to see this page online
Development Council and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-607.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.
Location. 28° 17.314′ N, 80° 40.562′ W. Marker is on Merritt Island, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker is at the intersection of South Tropical Trail (County Road 3) and Crooked Mile Road, on the right when traveling south on South Tropical Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3925 S Tropical Trail, Merritt Island FL 32952, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 27, 2017. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2016, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. This page has been viewed 872 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2016, by Jamie Cox of Melbourne, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
