I found ex-SAL "American Flyer" coach #833 standing in Mt Dora, FL. just east of the ACL depot (Chamber of Commerce). It's painted overall red and most windows are covered over with metal panels; the vestibules remain in Pullman green and the doors retain their Seaboard-styled car number panels. "SEABOARD" lettering can be made out distinctly, otherwise I'd have thought this was probably ex-NYNH&H. It appears to have complete wall panels, partitions, and hat racks but not seats. Any clues as to what's being done with it? Thanks.

-- Bob Venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), December 01, 1998

Answers

Seaboard Coach #833 has been remodeled and serves as a gift shop and ticket depot for the Mount Dora Scenic Railway in Mount Dora, Florida. After the car was retired from service the car was brought to Mount Dora to serve as a home for the model railroad club. The car at the time was purchased by the local Mount Dora group. The car was placed on a siding and the Seaboard Coastline cut all the brake rigging, etc. so that it would never move again. The seats were left in the original smaller passenger section of the car. In the larger portion of the car a model train layout was built. After 15 years of neglect the coach became an eyesore that Mount Dora city leaders wanted fixed up. At that point the car was given by the model club to the Florida West Coast Railroad. Their intentions were to restore the car and put it into service. The car was moved onto the mainline of the Florida Central Railroad and moved to a siding in Lockheart, Florida. The car sat almost 7 years on the siding. Since the Florida West Coast never paid any track storage fees, the Florida Central foreclosed and claimed ownership. The car was then moved to Forrest City, Florida for proposed use on the Florida Central Adventure Dinner Train. The car was never used with the dinner train ceasing operations in December 1997. The car was purchased by the Mount Dora Scenic Railway in December 1998 and moved back to Mount Dora. A complete remodeling of the interior in a 1930's style has taken place. The original seats in the smaller portion of the car have been restored and will be placed back into the car. The car is painted red and the original lettering has been restored. The 833 was commonly known as a "Jim Crow" car.

-- Neil Bagaus (nbagaus@aol.com), February 17, 2000.

Just yesterday, I saw in the Orlando Sentinal, that the Dora Doodlebug is now running around the lake at Mount Dora. Friday was its first run. The car is a 1921 Edwards Motor Car and now travels 8 miles to the edge of Tavares around Lake Dora and east to the Sorrento border, then back to Mount Dora. It carries 50 passengers departing from the station at Alexander St. and Third Ave. According to the article, the ultimate goal is to link the train to Eustis, Umatilla and Tavares. The price per trip is 8 bucks for adults, 5 for children under 12, and 7 dollars for seniors. It runs Tuesday through Friday from 11AM to 6:30PM, Saturday from 9:30AM to 6:30PM, and Sunday from 11AM to 6:30. It is closed on Monday.

-- David Wiggs (bigwiggs@bellsouth.net), December 20, 1998.

I thought that car was scrapped years ago.

-- Joseph Oates (jlosal@gte.net), December 01, 1998.