Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Passenger Trains – ACL

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Passenger Trains of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad

The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Railroad was a dominant force in the southeastern United States for over six decades, earning the nickname “The Standard Railroad of the South”. Its passenger service, in direct competition with the Seaboard Air Line (SAL), played a crucial role in the development of Florida tourism throughout the first half of the 20th century. The ACL was particularly known for its “Florida Special” and later, the streamlined “Champion” trains. ACL’s passenger trains were part of a coordinated system that involved partnerships with northern carriers like the Pennsylvania Railroad and midwestern lines such as the Illinois Central. 

Noteworthy Atlantic Coast Line passenger trains

Florida Special (Pre-WWII–1967)

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad - ACL

Photo: Florida Special in the 1960s, personal collection.

  • Route: New York to Miami and St. Petersburg.
  • Key cities: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Jacksonville, Palm Beach.
  • Features and amenities: The Florida Special was a premium, winter-season-only, extra-fare train that catered to wealthy tourists. Known for its high-end service, it offered luxury amenities like full dining cars, observation lounges, and special features such as a beauty salon and hostess service. It was often the first train to reach Florida at the start of the winter season and would arrive festively decorated.
  • Marketing: Marketed heavily to affluent travelers, competing directly with SAL’s Orange Blossom Special. 

Champion (1939–1967)

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad - ACL

Photo: ACL Champion, Credit: ACL, personal collection.

  • Route: New York/Boston to Miami/Tampa/St. Petersburg.
  • Key cities: Washington, D.C., Richmond, Fayetteville, Savannah, Jacksonville.
  • Features and amenities: The Champion was the ACL’s first streamliner, introduced in 1939 with diesel power. It was originally an all-coach train and later added Pullman sleeping cars. The sleek, purple and silver “Purple-and-Silver” livery, designed by General Motors, was iconic. Features included air-conditioned coaches with reclining seats, dining cars, and a tavern-observation car.
  • Marketing: Positioned as a modern, high-speed train for the New York-Florida market, the Champion was a direct response to Seaboard’s Silver Meteor. 

Havana Special (Pre-1935–1967)

  • Route: New York to Key West, later to Tampa.
  • Key cities: Washington, D.C., Richmond, Jacksonville.
  • Features and amenities: Initially, this train provided through Pullman service to Key West, where passengers could connect to ferries for Cuba. The route to Key West was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935, after which the train was re-routed to serve Tampa. It featured heavyweight equipment and a more traditional level of service.
  • Marketing: Appealed to those seeking a vacation in the tropics, with “Havana” being a prominent feature of its marketing. 

Palmetto (Pre-WWII–1967)

  • Route: New York to Savannah/Augusta/Wilmington.
  • Key cities: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond.
  • Features and amenities: This train served key cities along the ACL’s main line and was known for providing reliable service with a mix of coaches and Pullman accommodations. It was a year-round service that served regional travelers as well as providing connections for longer-distance trips.
  • Marketing: Focused on reliable and comfortable regional travel in the Carolinas and Georgia. 

Miamian (Pre-WWII–1967)

  • Route: Washington, D.C. to Miami.
  • Key cities: Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville.
  • Features and amenities: This train offered year-round service to Florida with both coach and sleeper accommodations. It often used a mix of streamlined and heavyweight equipment, offering a good balance of speed and comfort.
  • Marketing: Promoted as a convenient way for passengers from the Mid-Atlantic region to reach Florida, especially outside of the peak winter season. 

City of Miami (Midwest-Florida service, 1940–1967)

  • Route: Chicago to Miami.
  • Key cities (on ACL): Birmingham, Waycross, Jacksonville.
  • Features and amenities: This streamliner was part of a coordinated service with the Illinois Central Railroad. It featured modern, streamlined equipment and offered high-speed travel to Florida.
  • Marketing: Promoted as a luxurious, fast, and direct link between the Midwest and South Florida. 
Atlantic Coast Line - ACL

Photo: Everglades in Richmond VA in 1956. Credit: Clarence Cade, personal collection.

Everglades (Washington-Jacksonville)

  • Route: Washington, D.C., to Jacksonville, Florida, and at one point included a section that branched off to Atlanta.
  • Years of service: continued in service after the 1967 merger, becoming part of the new Seaboard Coast Line Railroad’s (SCL) passenger fleet. One source notes it as one of the first SCL trains running at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 1967.
  • Service type: As a secondary ACL train, it did not have the luxury amenities of the premier Florida streamliners like the Champion.

End of an era (1967–1971)

  • Merger: The Atlantic Coast Line merged with its rival, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, on July 1, 1967, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL).
  • Legacy: Passenger operations were eventually taken over by Amtrak in 1971, marking the end of the ACL’s long-standing passenger services. 

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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