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Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad
TE&G - Tavares Station Front Door.jpg
Overview
Headquarters Tavares, Florida
Locale Lake County, Florida, USA
Dates of operation October 8, 2011–January 29, 2017
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad (TE&G) was a special tourist train company. It was also called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. This company ran fun train trips on old tracks in Central Florida. It operated from October 2011 until January 2017. The trains stopped in three cities in Lake County, Florida.

History of the Tracks

The tracks used by the TE&G were built a long time ago. They were first laid down in the late 1800s. The part of the track between Eustis and Tavares was built between 1882 and 1883. Another section, often used by the TE&G, connected Mount Dora and Tavares. This part was built between 1886 and 1887.

Train Rides and Fun Trips

TE&G - Orange Blossom Cannonball
The Orange Blossom Cannonball train.
TE&G - Trains of the Wild West Special Excursion
A scene from the Wild West train trip.

The main train ride was called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. It used a steam locomotive that burned wood to make power. This trip lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It traveled between Tavares and Mount Dora. The ride itself took 30 minutes each way. There was a 45-minute stop in each town. This gave passengers time to explore.

The TE&G also offered special themed trips. For these, the trains were decorated for the occasion. Some popular ones included Trains of the Wild West. There was also The Great Pumpkin Limited for Halloween. And for Christmas, they had The Cannonball Christmas Express.

The Locomotives

The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad had two main engines. Each one was unique and interesting.

  • No. 2: This was an old steam locomotive built in 1869. It was the only working standard-sized steam train in Florida. It was also the oldest working steam engine in the state. This train was famous! It appeared in several Hollywood movies. These included O Brother, Where Art Thou? and True Grit (2010 film).
  • No. 33: This was a diesel locomotive built in 1941. When this engine pulled the train, the trip was called the Lake Dora Limited. Diesel engines use fuel like cars do.

Why the Trains Stopped Running

On January 6, 2017, the Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad announced something big. They said they would stop operating in Lake County, Florida. Their last train rides were on January 29, 2017. The company did not share details about its future. They also did not say what would happen to their trains.

What Came Next: Orlando & Northwestern Railway

In November 2017, a new train company started up. It was called the Orlando & Northwestern Railway (ONWX). This new company offered train rides too. They used historic diesel engines and old Amtrak passenger cars. They ran on the same tracks the TE&G used. Their trips were advertised as the Royal Palm Railway Experience.

However, in April 2019, things changed again. The Florida Central Railroad closed the line from Tavares to Mount Dora. They started using it to store train cars. So, the ONWX now only runs trips between Tavares and Eustis.

Images for kids

  • TE&G - No. 2 Steam Locomotive

    No. 2 steam locomotive

  • TE&G - No. 33 Diesel Locomotive

    No. 33 diesel locomotive