Product Description
The Orange Blossom Special , Florida’s famous winter train, ran from New York to St. Petersburg, FL beginning in the mid 1920’s, for 25 winters. The “Blossom’s” creator, S. Davies Warfield, was chairman of the Seaboard Airline Railway and was a visionary who foresaw that his railroad could be instrumental in the development of the Southeast, particularly in Florida. It was his dream to lure wealthy Northerners to “build and play” in Florida’s balmy winter locations. Among many families who could afford to retreat from their frigid winter climate, it included the Bush family from Greenwich, CT – Prescott Bush, Sr., wife Dorothy Walker Bush and young son George H. W. Bush. This scene depicts one such arrival at the Hollywood, FL location, just north of Miami.
The new east coast line vision was realized on Jan. 27, 1925 with a bluster of activities and celebrations at each stop. By 1927 the last speedy extension to West Palm Beach was completed. Warfield proudly named the new line “The Orange Blossom Route” since it ran through the heart of the citrus groves in central Florida’s ridge section; and so in turn, the name was given to his luxury train that famously ran that route.
The Orange Blossom Special had sleepers, lounge cars and dining cars with all of the “high brow” amenities. Lounge cars were favorite meeting places for passengers. The forward club car (with library, buffet and recreation space) was the early “man-cave” area for smoking men. The ladies could retreat to the rear of the observation lounge or solarium where maids could attend their every whim, such as bringing them tasty treats or drawing their baths before retiring. The dining cars on the “Blossom” were distinctive with special china, silverware and Irish linens on each finely set table. There were exquisite menus with numerous choices of food and beverages. All staff had to follow the strictest of regulations from the “Instruction Manual for Stewards, Chefs and Waiters.” Only the chefs were allowed to prepare the all-important after dinner coffee.
The pullman cars had upper and lower berths with air ventilation for the warmer weather areas. In 1934 air-conditioning was installed with small fans included to help the comfort of all passengers. Bedrooms and roomettes were introduced after 1936.
The last run of Orange Blossom Special, in it’s 25th winter, was the end of grand train travel. The timing of economics and efficiency, as one might expect, made it not favorable to continue the runs. The “Blossom” exemplified the tastes and values of another time, although many would contend that a ride today would bring joy and many thrills which would be well worth the fare. But the legacy does live on through the famed fiddler’s song by the same name and the Johnny Cash country lyric version. Long live the Orange Blossom Special !
