Van Fleet Florida State Rail Trail - Travel Back in Time - EBike Rider

General James A. Van Fleet State Trail is part of the Rails to Trails system, converting abandoned railroads into usable trails. This trail is like going back in time. It cuts through a protected state park of over 165k acres. It is today, just like it was in the 1920's when the passenger trains used them. There has been no new development ever within the protected park. This is a trail I was proud to document and I highly recommend it for any EBike Rider or Cyclist. Speed Limit 20 MPH About Us - EBikes are changing the use of these trails. My hope is you will subscribe to this channel and enjoy getting to know more new trails in the future - My goal is to ride all the rail trails in Florida and document them so that you may check them out before you go. I get to check out new trails to document for each of us and have fun doing it. I have found these trails, in a lot of cases, to be uncommonly known state gems and so much fun to experience on today's Ebikes. Visit our Website at - https://www,FloridaRailTrails.com Learn more about this trail and other trails we have explored. History of the Van Fleet Rail Trail - From Florida State Parks. In the early 1920s, Seaboard Airline Railroad built the Miami subdivision, which were the tracks running from Cullman, FL to Miami, Florida. This trail was part of that subdivision. Some of the passenger trains running on this track between Mabel and Polk City included the Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Orange Blossom Special. Four freight trains, the Migrator, the Cavalcade, the Marketer and the Red Fox, moved perishable fruits and vegetables, phosphate, forest products and textiles. In 1936, facing stiff competition from other companies, Seaboard Air Lines was the first Southern railroad to introduce air-conditioned cars. During the 1970s the trains were reduced to a handful of freight trains and Amtrak’s Silver Star. On July 1, 1986 CSX succeeded from the Seaboard System Railroad and by 1990 the track was abandoned. However, the track wouldn’t be abandoned long. In March of 1991 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection leased the abandoned CSX railroad and began development the following December. In October of 1992, the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail was proud to open as a dirt trail from Polk City North 20 miles to Bay Lake Road, as the namesake of a hometown hero. Paving of the trail began in April 1995 and was achieved in three phases ending in October 1997. The trail is now fully paved and extends 29.2 miles from Polk City to Mabel. Join Wellen Park Cyclist -   / 3950287991736109