Florida Northern Railroad: In Service Since 1988
Published: August 10, 2024
By: Adam Burns
The Florida Northern Railroad (FNOR) is an integral short line serving the freight transportation needs of central and northern Florida. Established in 1988, FNOR currently operates approximately 104 miles.
FNOR operates two primary, disconnected lines (both of which interchange with CSX Transportation): one extending north from Lowell to Candler (via Ocala) and another from Newberry to Crystal River. These lines traverse through key economic regions, facilitating the efficient movement of a diverse array of commodities.
Key industries served include agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and lumber. The railroad's ability to transport essential goods like chemicals, aggregates, building materials, and agricultural products makes it a critical component of the local supply chain.
In November 2019, the Florida Northern, along with the Florida Central Railroad and the Florida Midland Railroad, were sold by the Pinsly Railroad Company to 3i RR Holdings GP, LLC and its subsidiaries, operating under the name Regional Rail, LLC.
The Florida Northern remains a vital transportation link in Florida's rail network. With its strategic connections, customer-centric approach, and commitment to sustainability, FNOR continues to play a crucial role in supporting regional economic vitality and providing dependable freight transportation solutions.
Florida Central CF7 #53 is on its sister road, the Florida Northern at Ocala, Florida on April 18, 2002. This is the original 24 mile line of the Florida Northern, established in 1988. In 2005 it greatly expanded by acquiring the 80 mile West Coast Subdivision out of Newberry, Florida from CSX. Doug Kroll photo.Early Years
The Florida Northern, based in Plymouth, Florida, began as a division of the Pinsly Railroad Company and has been in operation since 1988.
The railroad operates former CSX trackage and was Pinsly's last Florida trackage it obtained from the Class I. In 1986 it picked up former SCL lines northwest of Orlando - operated as the Florida Central - and a year later (1987) acquired three small nearby branches which became the Florida Midland.
Like its counterpart short lines, the Northern operates on former Atlantic Coast Line trackage along part of the fallen flag's former main line in the western part of the state.
The FNOR was the Pinsly's largest short line in the state covering more than 100 miles of unconnected lines.
The history of Pinsly dates back to 1938, founded by Samuel M. Pinsly who did something radical for the time; operate and revive unwanted branch lines and neglected railroads with a potential to turn a profit.
Mr. Pinsly got his start by purchasing the unwanted Hoosac Tunnel & Wilmington Railroad in 1937 allowing him to set up his business officially a year later. He was able to turn a profit with this 25-mile line although by the early 1970s its viability had run its course and the remaining portion was abandoned.
By then Pinsly had become a respected in business in the short line industry, particularly when the idea of such a family-owned business was rather unusual.
After deregulation in 1980 began expaning its operations significantly as the Staggers Act allowed Class Is to more easily abandon branches and secondary lines which were either no longer profitable or did not meet expected return.
In 1982 it took over two branches from Conrail. A few years later, in 1986, it purchased the first ACL branch from CSX (the Florida Central), and in the following two years picked up two additional segments (the Florida Midland in 1987 and finally the Northern in 1988).
The trackage which became FNOR was part of the Atlantic Coast Line's western Florida route connecting Dupont, Georgia with Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Naples.
However, the property dated back much further than the ACL as part of The Plant System, which was later acquired by the Coast Line in 1902. In fact, the Plant lines would make up most of the ACL's Florida trackage.
Diesel Roster
The Florida Northern operates a total of three locomotives currently, all lettered for sister road Florida Central.
| Model | Builder | Road Number | Serial Number | Completion Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP18 | EMD | FCEN 59 | 26942 | 10/1961 | ex-Florida West Coast Railroad #1353; ex-LaSalle & Bureau County Railroad #1353; built as Rock Island #1353. |
| GP11 | EMD | FCEN 1802 | 23841 | 12/1957 | ex-Louisville & Indiana Railroad #1802/#8721; Illinois Central/ICG #8721; built as Illinois Centarl GP9 #9341. |
| GP10 | EMD | FCEN 4603 | 22339 | 1/1957 | ex-KFRX (Chicago Freight Car Leasing) #4603; ex-Illinois Central/ICG #8088 (GP10 rebuild); built as Illinois Central GP9 #9216. |
During the 1980s CSX was vasly pruning its system, abandoning or selling hundreds of miles of predecessor lines throughout its network. Florida, in particular, had excess trackage as the state was blanketed by the ACL and, in particular, the Seaboard Air Line.
With so much superfluous capacity, the new conglomerate began abanding or selling a great deal of these lines.
In doing so, the FNOR got two sections of ACL trackage; between High Springs and Red Level Junction and between Lowell and Candler. In 2014 the railroad removed the Newberry to High Springs segment but still maintains a CSX connection along its northern periphery near Newberry.
Connections
The FNOR boasts important connections to CSX at multiple key junctures. In Ocala, FNOR runs north to Lowell and south to Candler over CSX's former Ocala Subdivision.
Additionally, FNOR manages lines in Newberry, extending southward to the Crystal River Energy Complex in Red Level, just north of Crystal River. These lines were previously part of CSX’s West Coast Subdivision and Red Level Subdivision.
While CSX locomotives continue to haul long coal trains on this branch, local traffic remains the domain of FNOR’s distinctive red and yellow Pinsly locomotives. This operational setup allows FNOR to efficiently handle a diverse array of freight, maintaining smooth and reliable service across its network.
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