Florida Short Line Railroads: A Complete Guide

Published: March 28, 2025

Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway (reporting mark, AGR): The is a G&W property operating nearly 350 miles of track running from eastern Mississippi, through western Alabama, and finally terminating at Pensacola, Florida.

The route's heritage traces back to the eastern extent of the St. Louis-San Francisco's network and today the railroad handles more than 61,000 carloads annually including coal, iron and steel, chemicals, scrap iron, pulp and paper, and limestone.

AN Railway (reporting mark, AN): This system was long known as the historic Apalachicola Northern, first chartered on April 7, 1903. It would eventually connect Chattahoochee to Apalachicola with an extension to Port St. Joe in the Panhandle.

In 2002 the long-independent system was acquired by Rail Management Corporation, renaming it as the AN Railway. This firm was subsequently purchased by G&W in 2005. Today, the short line operates 96 miles of trackage and hauls chemicals and forest products.

Bay Line Railroad (reporting mark, BAYL): The Bay Line was historically the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway which dated back to the early 20th century.

It is currently a Genesee & Wyoming property operating more than 100 miles of trackage between the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. It has been a G&W-owned since 2005 and transports a wide range of freight.

First Coast Railroad (reporting mark, FCRD): This short line began in 2005 over former Seaboard Air Line property leased from CSX running from Fernandina Beach, Florida to Seals, Georgia (slightly north of Kingsland) via Yulee, Florida where it interchanges with CSX.

The 32-mile line is operated by G&W and handles chemicals, coal, forest products, metals, pulp/paper products, and petroleum products.

Florida Central Railroad (reporting mark, FCEN): This Pinsly property has been in operation since 1986 when it acquired from a CSX the remaining section of a former Atlantic Coast Line route northwest of Orlando.

Today, the Central's only connection is at Orlando, running as far as Umatilla with branches to Winter Garden and Sorrento. In total the road operates about 68 miles

Florida East Coast Railway (reporting mark, FEC): The state's most famous railroad, the Florida East Coast began during September of 1895 as the vision of Henry Flagler.

It would eventually connect Jacksonville with Miami, long before Florida grew into the commercial and tourism destination is so well known for today giving the FEC the strategic advantage of serving the state's populated East Coast, which it still enjoys today.

The railroad, of course, is also legendary for having constructed the failed Key West Extension, destroyed during the infamous Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. Today, the FEC handles a wide variety of freight and is reentering the passenger business as well.

Florida Midland Railroad (reporting mark, FMID): Another Pinsly line this short line operates to short, disconnected lines totaling 28 miles between Frostproof and West Lake Whales as well as between Winter Haven and Gordonville. It has been in service since 1987 and provides primarily transload services.

Florida Northern Railroad (reporting mark, FNOR): This short line is the largest Pinsly property in Florida operating 104 miles via two unconnected routes, Chandler to Lowell as well as from High Springs to Red Level Junction. The history of the property traces back to the ACL.

Georgia & Florida Railway (reporting mark, GFRR): This large short line operates around 264 miles of trackage running from Albany, Georgia to Foley, Florida. The route's history dates back to the Southern.

OmniTRAX acquired the property in 2005 from Georgia & Florida RailNet, renaming it as the Georgia & Florida Railway. It currently handles a variety of freight including wood pulp, beer, ethanol, agricultural commodities, limestone/aggregate, and other traffic.

Port of Manatee Railroad (no reporting mark): This privately-operated terminal railroad is based in Port Manatee serving the local port. It operates with one switcher and owns about 8 miles of track, interchanging with CSX.

Seminole Gulf Railway (reporting mark, SGLR): This operation is well known by the public for operating excursions and murder mystery dinner trains. It began operations in November of 1987 by acquiring former ACL and SAL property from CSX. Its two lines include the following; one runs from Arcadia to North Naples (80 miles) while another stretches from Oneco to Sarasota (about 25 miles in all).

South Central Florida Express, Inc. (reporting mark, SCXF): Formerly known as South Central Florida Express this privately-owned short line operates 156 miles of track in South Florida.

It was long owned by the Brandywine Valley Railroad, which sold the property to the United States Sugar Corporation on September 17, 1994. Today, the railroad hauls nearly 120,000 carloads annually.

Talleyrand Terminal Railroad (reporting mark, TTR): This small terminal road operates just 2 miles and serves the Jacksonville Port Authority while interchanging with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. It is a G&W property hauling a wide range of products including automobiles, chemicals, intermodal containers, and pulp/paper.

South Central Florida Express, Inc. (reporting mark, SCXF): Formerly known as South Central Florida Express this privately-owned short line operates 156 miles of track in South Florida.

It was long owned by the Brandywine Valley Railroad, which sold the property to the United States Sugar Corporation on September 17, 1994. Today, the railroad hauls nearly 120,000 carloads annually.

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