Awesome. I, too, wish I could experience life back in the early 1900s. I found an older gate at a crossing that is not used anymore in my town. It still has the mechanical bell up on top! I'm going to capture a few photos of this rusted out RR crossing gate and I'll share them with you on your Instagram page. It's a crossing that hasn't been used, for well over 20yrs, but they've never put it in "exempt" status so I still have hope for this crossing! How have you been? We've been experiencing some nasty heat up here in South Chicagoland. Highs in the 90s with heat indices of a 100°or more. Not fun! Plus, my 2007 Dodge Charger doesn't have air! It would cost way more to fix it than the car is worth! Bummer. I'm so use to not having a car payment that I keep putting off getting a new(er) car. Oh well. Take care, looking forward to the next video! 🙂 🛑X🛑

Wow man. 80 years ago that piece of land was railroad used by steam locomotives.. absolutely amazing. Now it’s just empty and forgotten.. crazy. That’s insane to think about.. and that’s why I love these videos! This was no exception!

We have a couple places where the ROW is wiped out. A crossbuck protecting a diagonal street doesn't even sound possible. Besides the steamer you have to appreciate the section car sitting trackside. Heck my folks were only 4!

Great video

I have always wondered where the tracks in Miami started when they headed toward the Keys. I've been to the Keys (I live in central Florida) many times over the years and am always impressed with the remnants of Henry Flagler's dream of building an overseas railroad. Oh, if only U.S. 1 could talk!!!

Now this is some good stuff here! I love seeing old photos from a particular spot then seeing what it is nowadays! Loved the history lesson as well Roly! Awsome video, keep them coming!!

Great vid as always. Boy, its incredible how much has changed over the years! Love the old photo. Nice to see some awesome history from long ago. Keep up the great work my friend!

Still holds the record for largest private expenditure. Miami (Mayaimi) was originally going to be named Flagler, but he declined the honor. Great history video!

That picture is astonishing! I can’t take my eyes off it!

Very interesting . Thanks for posting !!!

great video RailROL82 :)

Wow i pass through there almost all the time and never knew there where Railroad Crossings and Railroad tracks of the FEC overSea's there. besides metro-rail that's really amazing how you show us that awesome video bro.

Very nice video mate

Excellent job my friend! Best regards from Croatia :-)

Nice video, as always!

Sadly, I wasn’t alive. It’s amazing to see people talking about it and getting the word spread. Amazing Work, buddy. I don’t feature crossing gates, I just focus on trains, very unique! 😋😋

That was pretty awesome history of that place what great info railrol keep up the great work

Great vid man! I have been linking some of them to an abandon rails group on facebook.

NICE VIDEO railROL82! I love the 1939 picture! To bad they took out the track! KEEP THEM COMING!!!!!

You keep history alive!

I agree with Glen Quigley. This view looks east northeast along Sunset Dr. at its intersection with U.S. 1. The Margaret Ann truck is going north (actually northeast) on U.S. 1. This view looks much like it did in 1966 when I moved to Miami (less the steam locomotive!).

Quite interesting to see what a difference 80 years has taken to a specific location in Miami. Doubt anyone would believe that is same location without some research at the library. Thanks again for the Miami area history lesson RAILROL82.

Wow!! That’s a piece of history!! Great video of before and after!! I can’t believe a Railroad was extended to the Florida keys!! I know I’ve seen your past videoed of the overseas railroad bridge to Key Largo!!!

I love that old photo, wow big im impressed how much it changed

It's amazing what 80 years can change in a city.

Dam RailRol82 that’s awesome 👏 because In California you can’t find steam locomotives 🚂 photos but you can find Pacific Electric Red Car Photos in California! Pacific Electric Red Car was a Trolley Car they Ran in California. Thats one of the Biggest History In Southern California!

Hard To Believe That Area Used To Be a Railroad. Awesome!

Damn 80yrs ago? It's hard to believe that was so long ago. My late great grandparents would've been lucky to see steam locomotives when they were very common years ago vs now when Cheyenne does the union pacific big boy every year.

Awesome picture! I watched the entire video but went back and looked at it again. You are right U.S. 1 has changed and it doesn't look like they used any ballast in 1939. No electricity to that crossing sign-no lights or a gate! How close is that from the actual beach? If it's relatively close then that might have been a motel. Again nice picture I don't think I'd want to go back to 1939. We as a country had a lot of issues to work out as a people. In two year we would have World War 2 thrust upon us. There was a lot of prejudice around. There was a lot of rural space around with I would imagine there were a lot of farms around as evident by the feed store. Again awesome video friend please keep up the awesome work. I don't know why but I'm fascinated with the Overseas Railroad especially the old bridges to Key West. It's hard to imagine a bridge that's seven miles long crazy!

Very nice video plus over the years change alot!!

Nice!

Awesome Video! Really does make you wonder what it would be like if that line still ran through here, would there be less traffic on US-1?

I love all the knowledge you have about FEC or the Henry Flagler RR, stay safe railroad 🛤

The line you are referring to parallels the Old Dixie Highway. Some parts of it is a foot trail that runs parallel to US-1. If you go to Pigeon Key, the old highway bridge sits atop of the old railroad bridge.

I just realized an ex FEC GP40 numbered 410 runs the local freight line here next to my house in Chula Vista CA, its now repainted and renumbered as Genesse n Wyoming purchased it, its now numbered 3112, it has an old sounding RS3L, though im not sure if the RS3Ls were common on the FEC geeps, if they were then its amazing it still sounds good for its age. You can look up videos of it under AZRC 3112 or SDIV San Diego

You should make more vids like this!

Cool man

Wow what a big difference back in the day until now. Lot's of changes. Seems like the metro line kind of resembles the old tracks.

Going back in time only thing we're missing is the time machine from back to the future

Interesting. I guess the tracks are still there, just raised since the MetroRail line is just above

That is very sad, so much more development

RailRod82 Meachie loves his Florida best friend. Back in the days no warning Bell or gates. Bet you there's was a lot of accidents

It's very true what the description says about both the FEC and Miami-Dade County. I don't know why, but they both seem to have an astonishing lack of foresight. Imagine how traffic would ease off US-1 if the FEC or Brightline ran Passenger Trains through Perrine, Goulds, Dadeland all the way to Homestead! About the photo though, this is a very rare shot along the FEC's Homestead Sub. Very rare to see photos along that line, especially in that era! The Locomotive in the Photo is one of the FEC's 2-8-2 Mikado Types, If you closely you can see South Miami Station is visible just behind the Train! That Station was originally made of Pine Wood, but was replaced with a Concrete Structure sometime in the 50's I believe. Sadly it was demolished sometime in the Late 70's-80's.

Cool Railroading in 1939 Miami Florida

U are so right. Railroads build cities. My city Niles, Mi and Bertrand, which was the larger town(1900s) way back when fought for the Detroit-Chicago line to run through their town. Niles the then smaller town won. Long story short Bertrand is the tiny township village now and Niles became the Industrial City. City of Niles, mi did have a hump yard from 1920s to early 1960s. NYC slowly killed MCRR Detroit-Chicago frieght service and diverted traffic to Elkhart, In. Now there are forgotten branch lines and a skeleton of a frieght yard. Four tracks are left for storage and a spur for a mulch company. Track dates 1935. So much railroad history to dig up when u find time to check it out.

"Modern Marvels" does a episode about the Overseas Highway and explains the railroad how it was built and converted to the highway.

Nice video! Do you think you could survey the area where SAL’s Miami Terminal once stood?

Nice Video 🇮🇳

I also wondered where the Metro ended, so using Google Earth, I followed the tracks to the end of the line, somewhere around 98th. I was not aware that there was a private road for buses called the Miami-South Dade Busway. I assume they made good use of the old RR bed, and put the busway in over it. That goes for quite a while. I looked for evidence of tracks, rail bed or any sign a railroad once was there and nothing. Until I got just south of Florida City and west of Dixie Hwy (US 1). There is a double dirt road that continues for quite a while until it abruptly ends at the Southern Glads Trail at the beginning of North Key Largo. There's no good reason for a double dirt road to be there in the middle of nowhere, so my assumption is that is where the tracts left the mainland to start their journey south into the Keys. You see how you got me started now?

If you read the comments in Highway Patrol Train Copter,it tells where the station stood,street view it,all underpassed

Wow...you would never be able to tell a railroad used to be there!

There is an old bridge just further south before 80th st. as part of the bike path.

well that was a downer. lol. i was thinking 4 tracks now. lots of trains. lights gates . and there it was .. ALL GONE

well at least most of the overseas survived :-)

When that steam locomotive thundered by they could have never imagined it would end.

As said already by others, this is actually at Sunset & US 1. Here's a link to the Google Streetview. The tracks definitely seem to have been pushed back when they elevated them. History has survived here! www.google.com/maps/place/US-1+%26+Sunset+Dr,+South+Miami,+FL+33143/@25.7042602,-80.2898089,3a,75y,99.02h,98.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbu2icg30uK0n6BvUtV_Tlg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x88d9c7efdb485b43:0x195404cb9d0b5c2d!8m2!3d25.7043412!4d-80.2897058

Looks a little different these days!! But unfortunately a lot of our history was plowed up and cleared out to make room for Modern Life. Luckily by the 70s people started to realize all those beautiful old buildings along with our history what's disappearing. That's when they started to try and preserve what was left. Unfortunately not everything can be saved, and ultimately you wouldn't want everything saved because we do need some Modern amenities. I'm happy living in the time we live, but pretty much on a daily basis I wish I can go back, just for one week and experience it knowing what I know now. another great video man, thanks for the history

You're in the wrong location. It's Sunset and US=1 facing north. Those buildings on the east side are still there and the train would be leaving the Metro-rail station for Homestead.

I love your videos more than just about anything on youtube. But you made a bit of a mistake this time. You are a few blocks off. That pic is from Sunset. And the cool thing is that the buildings on the right in the pic are still there! My fiancee works in one of them.

Wow, a lot has changed since 1939. Kinda wish the tracks was still there today.

What would you do if that line was re built?

People over 80 would probably remember it.

I bet there’s remnants about a foot or so deep.

1. Protect the TWO MAN CREW BILL (HR 1748 Safe Freight Act) It’s about public safety and jobs. 2. Go to SMART-UNION.org/td Click on the Red button support two person crews on the right side of division home page. 2. Enter contact info ( this is needed to direct the email to your member of congress. 3. Click Send. The pre-drafted message will be sent directly to your member of congress. 4. This effects railroad retirement, retired railroaders, current railroaders there’s even a spot for the general public to make there voice be heard. Please take action there is 175,000 conductors and 59,000 engineers that need this support not to mention public safety at risk.

What ever happened to the steam trains

I would have liked to have seen a still photo of said crossing from a similar angle to the 1939 photo. Describing a reference verbally with traffic does not do the classic picture justice. Just my opinion

Stuff has changed ... alot ... Devolopment ... Rail road breaking down ...

THE DE DE D1E

Like 28

They should put the tracks back in. The crossing bells should be Safetran Type 3s or GS Type 1s and it should have new MI cantilevers!

Okay. It's the "Key West" Extension. Not the "Miami" extension. And U R facing Southwest and then Northeast, not Southeast and Northwest. C'mon man. U live there!

Nice video, but this is the wrong crossing.

What the hell. 2 ads?

Railrol82...It is now the challenge for Richard Branson and others to rebuild the FEC to Key West. With updated construction techniques, it should take half the time it took Henry Flagler.

First

A million words and a lot of arm waving and finger pointing cannot convey something which is visual!!!! Steve the baffled