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  4. Havana Special

The "Havana Special": Serving Key West Until 1935

Last revised: August 25, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The Florida East Coast Railway is fondly remembered for the numerous streamliners it either owned and operated itself (like the Dixie Flagler) or those which it ferried to cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale (such as the City of Miami, Silver Meteor, Champion, and many others).

However, its most exotic train was not even a streamliner at all and is usually forgotten, the fabled Havana Special. This train offered passengers the chance to visit the most tropical region in the continental United States as well as the most southern point in the country. 

This was also possible thanks to the efforts of Henry Flagler and his Key West Extension, constructed during the early 20th century. 

But its purpose was not solely for passenger transportation; it was built specifically to handle a deep water port which never materialized into a booming trade center as Flagler had hoped. 

Unfortunately, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the extension as well as rail service to the islands. However, it's likely a safe assumption that had the line survived into the streamliner era, those trains mentioned above would have continued further south than Miami.

In this postcard, a Florida East Coast passenger consist on Seven Mile Bridge along the Key West Extension.

History

The Florida East Coast's Havana Special has a history that is directly tied to its Key West Extension, also known as the Florida Overseas Railroad. The idea of the FEC's president, Henry Flagler, to construct such a massive project was not for passenger services to the island chain but freight.

In 1905 the United States government announced  that a new canal would be constructed in Panama to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, thus opening a new trade route. Flager thus hoped to tap shipments head to and from the canal via a new port in Key West as well as to Cuba and Latin America.

Seven years after that announcement, Seth Bramson notes in his book, "Speedway To Sunshine: The Story Of The Florida East Coast Railway," the first train, carrying Mr. Flagler, arrived in Key West on January 22, 1912 and the great extension was officially opened for service soon afterwards.  

In conjunction with this event, the railroad launched the Havana Special, at first a local train serving the FEC's home territory.

Consist (1930)

Key West Extension

The Special, however, was not meant as a regional train serving only the east coast of Florida between Key West and Jacksonville. The FEC intended the train to operate up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard, almost literally the entire length.

To do so required a partnership with other lines including the Atlantic Coast Line (between Jacksonville and Richmond, Virginia), Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac (between Richmond and Washington, D.C.), and the Pennsylvania Railroad (to New York City).

Additionally, the train offered connecting service northward to Boston and even to Havana, Cuba via the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company (which was also owned by Flagler).  

The entire route covered 1,523 miles to Key West and 1,596 to Havana with a complete trip requiring 42 hours either aboard train or ship (the steamships operated out of both Miami as well as Port Tampa, Key West to Havana) making the Special the longest East Coast passenger route.

Its exotic nature also made the train quite successful due both to the fact that rail service was still the most efficient means of transportation at the time and the Florida East Coast spared no expense in making sure it was a magnificent operation providing top level service. 

Another postcard featuring a Florida East Coast passenger train running the Key West Extension as it crosses Long Key Viaduct.

For instance, it was an all-Pullman affair all of the way to and from New York City with a typical consist including coaches, a lounge, a diner, six sleepers, and a parlor-observation (this varied somewhat with the other lines).  

Some of the Special's on board amenities included fine dining from the tropics such as fresh citrus fruits, local seafood, and other delicacies. The lounge car, located within the center of the train was perhaps the most interesting in the consist; it offered separate areas for men and women to relax and even included baths.  

Despite the fact that this was during the era of heavyweight, non-streamlined trains the Special was certainly one-of-a-kind.  In the 84th volume/73rd annual issue of Railway Age & Railway View (covering the period from January 1, 1928 through June 30, 1928) through service on the Havana Special, from New York to Key West, began in 1924.  

In 1930, a few years after this event, travelers were given the additional option of traveling by plane to Havana and other Caribbean destinations as the FEC worked in conjunction with the Pan American airlines to provide this service via both Miami and Key West.  

Timetable (January 14, 1933)

Read Up Time/Leave (Train #141/PRR) Milepost Location Read Down
Time/Arrive (Train #110/PRR)
10:05 PM (Dp)0.0
New York, NY (Penn Station) (ET)
6:45 AM (Ar)
10:27 PM10
Newark, NJ
6:19 AM
11:23 PM58
Trenton, NJ
11:55 PM85
North Philadelphia, PA
4:49 AM
12:05 AM (Ar)91
West Philadelphia, PA
4:39 AM (Dp)
12:07 AM (Dp)91
West Philadelphia, PA
4:38 AM (Ar)
12:41 AM118
Wilmington, DE
F 4:05 AM
1:44 AM166
Edgewood, MD
2:14 PM186
Baltimore, MD
2:43 AM
3:10 AM226
Washington, D.C. (Union Station)
1:45 AM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #75/RF&P) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/RF&P)
3:35 AM (Dp)226
Washingon, D.C. (Union Station)
1:05 AM (Ar)
4:58 AM280
Fredericksburg, VA
11:36 PM (Ar)
6:20 AM (Ar)340
Richmond, VA (Broad Street Station)
10:15 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #75/ACL) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/ACL)
6:35 AM (Dp)340
Richmond, VA (Broad Street Station)
10:00 PM (Ar)
9:15 AM (Ar)465
South Rocky Mount, NC
7:15 PM (Dp)
9:20 AM (Dp)465
South Rocky Mount, NC
7:10 PM (Ar)
9:40 AM480
Wilson, NC
11:15 AM554
Fayetteville, NC (Fort Bragg)
5:20 PM
12:57 PM (Ar)637
Florence, SC
3:40 PM (Dp)
1:05 PM (Dp)637
Florence, SC
3:32 PM (Ar)
2:55 PM732
North Charleston, SC (North Station)
1:27 PM
797
Yamassee, SC
12:13 PM
F814
Ridgeland, SC
F828
Hardeeville, SC
12:13 PM
5:17 PM (Ar)849
Savannah, GA
11:05 AM (Dp)
5:25 PM (Dp)849
Savannah, GA
10:57 AM (Ar)
6:32 PM (Ar)905
Jesup, GA
9:42 AM (Dp)
905
Jesup, GA
9:38 AM (Ar)
7:07 PM934
Nahunta, GA
9:07 AM
8:45 PM (Ar)1001
Jacksonville, FL
7:50 AM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #75/ACL/Tampa Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/ACL/Tampa Sec.)
10:25 PM (Dp)1001
Jacksonville, FL
7:00 AM (Ar)
10:50 PM1014
Orange Park, FL
6:24 AM
11:00 PM1021
Doctor's Inlet, FL
6:11 AM
11:15 PM1030
Green Cove Springs, FL
5:51 AM
11:33 PM1041
West Tocoi, FL
5:34 AM
11:41 PM1046
Bostwick, FL
5:24 AM
11:55 PM1055
Palatka, FL
5:10 AM
12:18 AM1070
Pomona, FL
4:42 AM
12:25 AM1074
Huntington, FL
4:34 AM
12:28 AM1076
Crescent City, FL
4:30 AM
12:38 AM1084
Seville, FL
4:18 AM
12:45 AM1090
Pierson, FL
4:09 AM
12:51 AM1094
Barberville, FL
3:59 AM
12:58 AM1100
De Leon Springs, FL
3:50 AM
1:02 AM1103
Glenwood, FL
3:45 AM
1:09 AM1107
De Land, FL
3:35 AM
1:22 AM1113
Orange City Junction, FL
3:24 AM
F1121
Lake Monroe, FL
F
1:50 AM (Ar)1125
Sanford, FL
3:00 AM (Dp)
2:00 AM (Dp)1125
Sanford, FL
2:50 AM (Ar)
2:15 AM1135
Longwood, FL
2:20 AM1138
Altamonte Springs, FL
1140
Maitland, FL
2:25 AM
2:30 AM1143
Winter Park, FL
2:10 AM
2:55 AM1147
Orlando, FL
1:45 AM
3:22 AM1165
Kissimmee, FL
1:17 AM
3:40 AM1177
Loughman, FL
12:59 AM
F1182
Davenport, FL
3:53 AM1187
Haines City, FL
12:40 AM
4:15 AM1193
Lake Alfred, FL
12:15 AM
4:22 AM1198
Auburndale, FL
12:08 AM
4:45 AM (Ar)1208
Lakeland, FL
11:50 PM (Dp)
5:00 AM (Dp)1208
Lakeland, FL
11:40 PM (Ar)
5:25 AM1219
Plant City, FL
11:21 PM
5:37 AM1225
Dover, FL
F1228
Seffner, FL
6:15 AM (Ar)1240
Tampa, FL
10:45 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #375/ACL/Sarasota Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #376/ACL/Sarasota Sec.)
6:50 AM (Dp)1240
Tampa, FL
10:00 PM (Ar)
6:58 AM1244
Uceta, FL
9:43 PM
7:14 AM1252
Remlap, FL
9:26 PM
7:27 AM1262
Ruskin, FL
9:13 PM
7:47 AM1274
Gillett, FL
8:55 PM
8:00 AM1279
Palmetto, FL
8:43 PM
8:07 AM1280
Bradenton-Manatee, FL
8:35 PM
8:15 AM1285
Oneco, FL
8:27 PM
8:21 AM1288
Matoaka, FL
8:22 PM
8:30 AM (Ar)1293
Sarasota, FL (ET)
8:15 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #37/ACL/St. Petersburg Sec.) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #38/ACL/St. Petersburg Sec.)
10:00 PM (Dp)1001
Jacksonville, FL
7:05 AM (Ar)
F1020
Baldwin, FL
F
F1039
Sapp, FL
F
F1043
Ellerbee, FL
F
10:56 PM1046
Raiford, FL
5:49 AM
11:05 PM1053
Lake Butler, FL
5:40 AM
F1059
Munich, FL
F
F1062
Worthington Springs, FL
F
F1065
Santa Fe, FL
F
F1069
Haynesworth, FL
F
11:40 PM1072
Burnetts Lake, FL
5:05 AM
F1076
Hague, FL
F
F1082
Paradise, FL
F
12:07 AM1086
Gainesville, FL
4:30 AM
F1096
Rochelle, FL
F
F1101
Micanopy Junction, FL
F
F1104
Evinston, FL
F
F1105
Boardman, FL
F
12:56 AM1107
McIntosh, FL
3:39 AM
F1108
Orange Lake, FL
F
F1109
Proctor, FL
F
F1113
Reddick, FL
F
F1116
Lowell, FL
F
F1119
Martin, FL
F
F1122
Kendrick, FL
F
1:53 AM1127
Ocala, FL (Union Station)
2:50 AM
2:16 AM1141
Candler, FL
2:16 AM
2:23 AM1144
Ocklawaha, FL
2:09 AM
2:29 AM1146
East Lake, FL
2:03 AM
2:35 AM1149
Weirsdale, FL
1:58 AM
2:45 AM1153
Lady Lake, FL
1:48 AM
2:55 AM1158
Fruitland Park, FL
1:40 AM
3:07 AM1161
Leesburg, FL
1:30 AM
3:17 AM1167
Okahumpa, FL
1:17 AM
3:37 AM1176
Center Hill, FL
1:00 AM
3:47 AM1180
Webster, FL
12:51 AM
F1186
St. Catherine, FL
F
4:17 AM1191
Croom, FL
12:26 AM
4:35 AM (Ar)1200
Trilby, FL
12:10 AM (Dp)
4:40 AM (Dp)1200
Trilby, FL
12:05 AM (Ar)
5:01 AM1212
San Antonio, FL
11:41 PM
F1215
Pasco, FL
F
5:22 AM1224
Ehren, FL
11:18 PM
5:42 AM1234
Odessa, FL
10:58 PM
F1238
Keystone Park, FL
F
6:00 AM1245
Tarpon Springs, FL
10:36 PM
F1248
Crystal Beach, FL
F
6:15 AM1250
Palm Harbor, FL
10:23 PM
6:26 AM1255
Dunedin, FL
10:14 PM
6:33 AM1258
Clearwater, FL
10:06 PM
6:43 AM1259
Belleair, FL
9:56 PM
6:55 AM1263
Largo, FL
9:42 PM
F1267
Cross Bayou, FL
F
7:05 AM1269
Pinellas Park, FL
9:31 PM
F1272
Lellman, FL
F
7:25 AM (Ar)1263
St. Petersburg, FL (ET)
9:15 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Train #75/FEC) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Train #76/FEC)
9:30 PM (Dp)1001
Jacksonville, FL
7:15 AM (Ar)
10:20 PM1038
St. Augustine, FL
6:20 AM
10:59 PM1088
Bunnell, FL
5:32 AM
11:21 PM1105
Ormond, FL
11:39 PM1111
Daytona Beach, FL
4:56 AM
12:05 AM (Ar)1126
New Smyrna Beach, FL
4:30 AM (Dp)
12:15 AM (Dp)1126
New Smyrna Beach, FL
4:20 AM (Ar)
F1155
Titusville, FL
3:31 AM
1:20 AM1175
Cocoa-Rockledge, FL
3:01 AM
1:51 AM1195
Melbourne, FL
2:32 AM
1229
Vero Beach, FL
1:47 AM
3:10 AM1243
Fort Pierce, FL
1:25 AM
F1262
Stuart, FL
12:47 AM
F1276
Hobe Sound, FL
12:26 AM
4:30 AM (Ar)1300
West Palm Beach, FL
11:55 PM (Dp)
4:40 AM (Dp)1300
West Palm Beach, FL
11:45 PM (Ar)
F1307
Lake Worth, FL
11:30 PM
F1318
Delray Beach, FL
11:13 PM
5:20 AM1326
Boca Raton, FL
11:01 PM
5:43 AM1342
Fort Lauderdale, FL
10:39 PM
5:58 AM1349
Hollywood, FL
10:27 PM
6:30 AM (Ar)1367
Miami, FL
10:00 PM (Dp)
7:15 AM (Dp)1367
Miami, FL
9:30 PM (Dp)
7:25 AM1372
Coconut Grove, FL
9:14 PM
7:30 AM1375
South Miami, FL
9:07 PM
7:45 AM1383
Perrine, FL
8:52 PM
7:54 AM1387
Goulds, FL
8:42 PM
7:59 AM1389
Princeton, FL
8:36 PM
8:04 AM1390
Naranja, FL
8:30 PM
8:10 AM1393
Modello, FL
8:24 PM
8:18 AM (Begin Key West Extension)1395
Homestead, FL
8:20 PM (End Key West Extension)
8:22 AM1397
Florida City, FL
8:10 PM
8:38 AM1409
Glades, FL
7:54 PM
8:49 AM (Leave Mainland)1416
Jewfish, FL
8:10 PM (Enter Mainland)
8:52 AM (Enter Florida Keys)1418
Key Largo, FL
7:42 PM (Leave Florida Keys)
9:02 AM1425
Rockharbor, FL
7:29 PM
9:12 AM1432
Tavernier, FL
7:19 PM
9:17 AM1435
Plantation, FL
7:14 PM
9:26 AM1441
Islamorada, FL (Caribbee Colony)
7:05 PM
9:47 AM1452
Craig, FL
6:44 PM
9:57 AM1458
Long Key Fishing Camp, FL
6:34 PM
10:22 AM1475
Marathon, FL (Sombrero Lodge)
6:12 PM
10:30 AM1479
Pigeon Key, FL
6:00 PM
10:54 AM1493
Big Pine, FL
5:38 PM
11:00 AM1498
Ramrod Key, FL
5:32 PM
11:10 AM1504
Pirates Cove Fishing Camp, FL
5:25 PM
11:15 AM1507
Perky, FL
5:20 PM
11:45 AM (Ar)1523
Key West, FL (ET)
5:00 PM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company)
12:20 PM (Dp)
Key West, FL
3:15 PM (Ar)
6:20 PM (Ar)
Havana, Cuba
9:00 AM (Dp)
Time/Leave (Pan American Airways) Milepost Location Time/Arrive (Pan American Airways)
8:00 AM (Dp)
Miami, FL
5:00 PM (Ar)
10:15 AM (Ar)
Havana, Cuba
2:45 PM (Dp)
A postcard featuring the north end of FEC's Trumbo Island Terminal in Key West, Florida during the 1920s. Trains met ships here for passengers to continue on to Havana, Cuba.

1935 Labor Day Hurricane

The Special lost much of its glamorous allure when the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane destroyed the extension forcing the train to be cutback to Miami.

According to the book, "When the Railroad Leaves Town: American Communities In The Age Of Rail Line Abandonment (Eastern United States," by author Joseph P. Schwieterman, for a time after the hurricane FEC continued dispatching the Havana Special to Key West via car ferry.

However, air and ship service continued on for 25 additional years until Fidel Castro took over the Cuban government in 1960 forcing both to be discontinued. Diesel power replaced the Class P-5a 4-6-2 Pacifics in 1942 as the FEC purchased new EMD E6s and later E7s for passenger services.  

Timetable (1930)

On October 27, 1962, what remained of the Havana Special was renamed as the East Coast Special since the train no longer offered connections to Cuba.

The name survived for only a few months for on January 23, 1963 a nasty strike was carried out by FEC's operating unions.  It paralyzed the railroad and resulted in all passenger services being discontinued.  

A postcard of Florida East Coast's main terminal at Trumbo Island in Key West, Florida where trains met ships at the dock.

Final Years

These trains returned briefly when the FEC was required to reinstate trains between Jacksonville and North Miami on August 2 1965 but this lasted only until July 31, 1968 when service ceased forever.  It's interesting to wonder how this train would have fared had the extension survived. 

For instance, consider that the Seaboard Air Line's Silver Meteor, Atlantic Coast Line's Champion, and even the Pennsylvania Railroad's South Wind all saw relatively high patronage through the 1960s with their connections to warm and sunny climate of Miami.  Could the Extension have witnessed similarly strong ridership? 

Even so, vacationers would not have been able to sustain the route, financially.  If some other means of traffic (i.e., freight) had not been found (unlikely) the Extension probably would have been abandoned even if a major hurricane, such as the 1935 storm, had not severely damaged the line. Finally, for a history of the Key West Extension please click here.

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    2026 Oregon Halloween train. Sumpter Valley Railroad Halloween Express at the Sumpter Depot, calendar window October 31 at 11:00 a.m. through November 1 at 12:30 p.m. Fare and the individual clocks ar…

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  27. Oklahoma Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 03:45 PM

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    2026 Oklahoma Halloween train. Oklahoma Railway Museum, October 30 and 31, from Oakwood Station in Oklahoma City. Adults $15, children 3–12 $8. A candy bag with the ride.

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  28. McCloud River Railroad: Serving The Timber Industry (1897-2009)

    Sep 30, 26 03:37 PM

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    McCloud River Railroad—Mount Shasta City to McCloud, Hambone, and Burney. Opened August 1, 1897. Alco No. 25 and EMD SD38s. Dinner train through January 2010. Railbikes in 2026; a dinner train is stil…

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  29. Nevada Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 03:30 PM

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    2026 Nevada Halloween trains in Ely. Nevada Northern Pumpkin Patch Caper and Haunted Ghost Train. Adult tickets start at $45. Dates are on the railroad’s ticket calendar. Boulder City stays off until…

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  30. Missouri Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 11:12 AM

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    2026 Missouri Halloween trains. St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Pumpkin Patch Train on October 3, 4, 10, and 11, and Halloween Express on October 31 at 1:00 p.m. Jackson depot. No fare on the sched…

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  31. Minnesota Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 11:06 AM

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    2026 Minnesota Halloween trains. North Shore Scenic Great Pumpkin Train in Duluth, October 15–18. Everyone gets a pumpkin. Terror Train is October 30, an adult costume party, about three hours. Fares…

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  32. Maryland Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 10:42 AM

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    2026 Maryland Halloween trains. Western Maryland Scenic Pumpkin Patch Limited, October 17, 18, 24, and 25, $14. Colesville Trolleyween October 24, 25, and 31.

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  33. West Side Lumber Company Railroad: Roster, History, Lines

    Sep 30, 26 09:45 AM

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    West Side Lumber at Tuolumne, California. Three-foot Shay and Heisler logging railroad. Lima shop numbers, builder specs, and where the engines are in 2026.

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  34. Kansas Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 30, 26 09:41 AM

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    2026 Kansas Halloween train. Abilene & Smoky Valley Pumpkin Harvest Express, October 17 through 31. About one hour. Shop prices $35.56 to $41.02. Everyone picks a pumpkin.

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  35. Iowa Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 11:58 PM

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    2026 Iowa Halloween train. Boone & Scenic Valley Pumpkin Express, October 10, 10:00 a.m. from 225 10th Street. About 1 hour 15 minutes. Children pick a pumpkin.

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  36. Arizona Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 11:43 PM

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    2026 Arizona Halloween train. Grand Canyon Railway Pumpkin Patch Train from Williams, $39 with a pumpkin included. Select October dates on the ticket calendar. Haunted train cars are optional.

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  37. Nevada Northern Halloween Trains (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 06:18 PM

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    Nevada Northern 2026 Halloween trains in Ely. Pumpkin Patch Caper to Keystone Gulch and the Haunted Ghost Train. Adult tickets start at $45. Dates are on the railroad’s calendar. Confirm on nnry.com.

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  38. Grand Canyon Railway Pumpkin Patch Train (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 02:42 PM

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    Grand Canyon Railway Pumpkin Patch Train—select October 2026 dates from Williams, $39 with a pumpkin included. Haunted train cars are optional. Days are on the ticket calendar. Confirm on thetrain.com…

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  39. Cass Scenic Railroad Halloween Trains (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 02:37 PM

    Cass Scenic Halloween Trains—October 30 and 31, 2026, steam, 5:00 p.m. from Cass Depot. About two hours to Whittaker. Adult $75. Candy for every child. Confirm on mountainrailwv.com.

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  40. Halloween Train Rides (2026): Pumpkin Patch, Haunted & Spooky Trips

    Sep 29, 26 11:26 AM

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    2026 Halloween train rides in nine checked states. Conway Scenic Halloween Express October 24–25. Strasburg’s three fall tickets. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s October trains are the gorge and rive…

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  41. Maine Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 11:08 AM

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    2026 Maine Halloween trains. Seashore Pumpkin Patch Trolley through October 18, adult $17. Happy Trolleyween October 23–25 at $15. WW&F Pumpkin Pickin’ October 3, 12, 17, and 24. Downeast’s booking it…

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  42. Kentucky Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 10:58 AM

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    2026 Kentucky Halloween trains. Kentucky Railway Museum Trick and Track Express, October 24 and 31, from $17. Bluegrass Scenic pumpkin trains in Versailles. Confirm on the ticket shop.

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  43. Connecticut Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 10:26 AM

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    2026 Connecticut Halloween trains. East Windsor Pumpkin Patch Fridays through Sundays, October 2–31. Naugatuck coach $20. Shore Line Pumpkin Patch on nine October days. Confirm on each site.

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  44. Pennsylvania Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 09:45 AM

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    2026 Pennsylvania Halloween trains—Everett October 3, 4, 10, and 17, Strasburg’s three fall shows, Oil Creek on October 24, plus Kutztown, Kempton, Honesdale, Middletown, and West Chester.

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  45. New York Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 29, 26 12:08 AM

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    2026 New York Halloween trains—Catskill Pumpkin Express October 17–18 and 24–25, Adirondack pumpkin and family trains, Arcade & Attica haunt, Cooperstown patch and trick-or-treat, Tupper Lake triv…

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  46. North Carolina Halloween Train Rides (2026)

    Sep 28, 26 11:56 PM

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    2026 North Carolina Halloween trains—New Hope Valley Track or Treat on October 10, 17, 23, and 24, and Tweetsie Ghost Train Friday and Saturday nights through October 31. GSMR’s October menu is the go…

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  47. Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train Halloween Festival (2026)

    Sep 28, 26 11:44 PM

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    Tweetsie Ghost Train—Friday and Saturday nights September 25–October 31, 2026, in Blowing Rock. Adult $65, child $45. One reserved steam ride plus the park. Ages 8 and up for the haunt.

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  48. Milwaukee Road Class A 4-4-2: Specs, Roster, History

    Sep 28, 26 11:20 PM

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    Milwaukee Road Class A Atlantics 1–4, Alco 1935–1937, for the Hiawatha. Order S-1740, 84-inch drivers, 19x28, 300 psi, 30,685 lb. Full builder specs, roster, and the May 15, 1935 run at 112.5 mph. All…

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  49. Strasburg Rail Road Halloween Trains (2026)

    Sep 28, 26 11:00 PM

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    Strasburg’s 2026 Halloween tickets—Pumpkins in Paradise on October 3, The Haunting of Pumpkin Junction, and The Brakeman’s Curse through October 25. Three fares. Legacy of Sleepy Hollow is an earlier…

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  50. GSMR Peanuts Pumpkin Train (2026): Not on This Year’s Ticket Menu

    Sep 28, 26 10:50 PM

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    Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s September 28, 2026 ticket menu lists Nantahala and Tuckasegee excursions. A Peanuts Great Pumpkin train is not on that menu. Polar Express is on the November calendar.

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