Florida City Branch
Headed south, the last time that U.S. 1 crosses any part of the Florida East Coast Railway until recently was here in Homestead, where a branch that served Homestead Air Force base a mile away crosses the highway. In 1989 the tracks, heavily overgrown, and the crossing gates were still here, but has since likely been removed since the base was closed after being destroyed in the 1992 hurricane.
On Krome Avenue in Homestead, the community center is the old depot from Florida City. Also on the grounds is FEC caboose #715, another relic from the days of steam and the overseas extentsion. I havent alot of knowledge about the history of the depot or the caboose.
A whiff of the old days, so to speak. We are looking north from a grade crossing between Homestead and Florida City. The FEC Fertilizer factory could easily date this scene fifty years back, as could alot of the charming relics of this area, all now without train tracks. Note the eastward curve of the former right-of-way in the distance as it starts its straight run north to Miami.
Literally, the end of the line. If you've seen the view of the 344th street crossing elsewhere at this site, this is about 200 yards south of there. I don't know the exact date the tracks were taken up, but this much was left in 1989 to remind me they were there.
The fate of the Florida City branch. This is about SW 144th street, several miles south of Miami. In this 1990 view, the tracks had been gone only a few years, but this photo preserves a view never to be seen again: by the mid 1990's, all the grade crossings would be removed, and a new two lane highway would be constructed on the right-of-way, reserved exclusively for rapid transit buses.