The ''Vacationer'' was a seasonal passenger train operated by

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

between

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

. The ''Vacationer'', like its predecessor the ''Florida Special'', was designed to supplement regular Northeast—Florida service during the winter months. It made its final run on March 31, 1974. The ''Florida Special'' dated back to 1888; the ''Vacationer'' originated in 1938.American Rails
"Florida Special"
/ref>American Rails

/ref>

History

Atlantic Coast Line origins

The ''Florida Special'' was a popular service, earning a reputation for luxury during its 84-year history, taking an express, limited stops route. However, following the entry of the United States into World War II, the

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967, it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast ...

(ACL) took its ''Florida Special'', ''Vacationer'', and another winter-only ACL train, the ''Miamian,'' out of service following the 1941–1942 season. All three returned to service on December 12, 1946. In the early post-WWII years the ACL's ''Florida Special'' was all Pullman, without coaches. It made no stops between

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

and

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

, except for

Florence, South Carolina Florence is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the primary city within the Florence metropol ...

and Nahunta, Georgia; and on the northbound schedule it made an added stop at

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint of South Carolina's coastline on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atla ...

. The ''Vacationer'' was upgraded in the 1947–1948 season from an all-coach train to a coach and Pullman sleeper train. During final post-WWII years of high frequency of train service, the ACL operated not only the seasonal ''Florida Special'' but also the ''Vacationer''. The ''Florida Special'' left New York City at 1:40 pm; while the ''Vacationer'' left Boston at 10:15 am and New York at 3:05 pm. From Miami, the ''Florida Special'' had a morning departure; and the ''Vacationer'' had a 1:00 pm mid-day departure. However, the ''Vacationer'' was once again dropped from service in 1955. By 1961, the ACL continued to operate the ''Florida Special'' on an express itinerary, bypassing many stops in the Carolinas that the ACL's ''Everglades'' train made. It added more stops in lower Virginia and South Carolina, yet between

and Jacksonville it made no stops. At the same time, coaches were added to its consist. Since ACL rails did not extend to Miami, the ''Florida Special'' was carried by the

Florida East Coast Railway The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida, currently owned by Grupo México. Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a p ...

along its Atlantic coast route south of Jacksonville. However, after a violent 1963 strike effectively ended passenger service on the FEC, the ACL thereafter moved the train on its own rails from Jacksonville to Auburndale, where it was handed over to the

Seaboard Air Line Railroad The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , known colloquially as the Seaboard Railroad during its time, was an American railroad that existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime ri ...

for the final leg to Miami.

Amtrak iteration

Amtrak continued the seasonal train tradition when it began operations by including the ''Florida Special'' in its winter 1971-1972 schedule. It operated with limited stops, only stopping at high-traffic stops in the Middle Atlantic and making no stops between

and

Winter Haven, Florida Winter Haven is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is located about east of Tampa, Florida, Tampa and about southwest of Orlando, Florida, Orlando, with neighboring Lakeland, Florida, Lakeland located to its west. The city's popul ...

. Yet, while desiring to continue the tradition of expanded seasonal service, Amtrak could not continue to maintain the same high standards which the name demanded and in the 1972-73 winter season restored the name ''Vacationer'', while retaining the same route. Consistent with past itineraries, this new incarnation was not a limited stops train. Some of the luxuries previously found aboard the ''Special'' migrated to the ''

Silver Meteor The ''Silver Meteor'' is a Long-distance Amtrak routes, long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Miami, Florida. Introduced in 1939 as the first diesel-powered streamliner between New York and Florida, it was t ...

''. The new ''Vacationer'' departed New York's

Penn Station Pennsylvania Station or Penn Station may refer to: Current train stations * Baltimore Penn Station * New York Penn Station ** Pennsylvania Station (1910–1963), the predecessor to the present New York City station * Newark Penn Station Train ...

at 6:35 pm, which permitted a same-day connection for passengers coming from

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. The ''Vacationer'' carried both coaches and sleepers New York—Miami; in Washington it exchanged a Miami—

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

sleeper with the '' Montrealer''. Sleeping accommodations included bedrooms and roomettes, plus single and double rooms in a

slumbercoach The Slumbercoach is an 85-foot-long, 24 single room, eight double room streamlined sleeping car. Built in 1956 by the Budd Company for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for service on the '' Denver Zephyr'', subsequent orders were p ...

. The train carried a lounge and full diner. Seasonal service ended April 28, 1973. The ''Vacationer'' returned on December 14, 1973, with a slightly earlier departure from New York. It no longer handled a Miami—Montreal sleeping car; such service was taken over by the ''

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...

''. The

1973 oil crisis In October 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) announced that it was implementing a total oil embargo against countries that had supported Israel at any point during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which began after Eg ...

led to a surge in patronage; the ''Vacationer'' ran with a total of 18 cars. Amtrak later added a second dining car to the train to meet the increased demand. Seasonal service ended March 31, 1974. The ''Vacationer'' did not return for the 1974—1975 season; Amtrak instead introduced the ''Miamian'' over the same route but with a slightly different schedule and different numbers, but canceled it after three weeks because of equipment shortages. In 1975 Amtrak dropped the special seasonal trains altogether when it returned the ''

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...

'', which had been combined with the ''Silver Meteor'' New York—

Jacksonville Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

, to independent operation for the winter season.

References

External links

1949 timetable of ''Florida Special'' at Streamliner Schedules1973 system timetable containing ''Vacationer'' schedule
{{Former Amtrak routes Former Amtrak routes Railway services introduced in 1972 Railway services discontinued in 1975 Former long distance Amtrak routes