The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
FLORIDA SPECIAL" ON TRIP
Nineteenth Season of Splendid Train
on Atlantic Coast Line.
Initial Run Into New Union station
Gives Opportunity of Studying
Elegance of Coaches.

The nineteenth season of the FLORIDA
Special" tine splendid train Of the At
lantic Coast Line. was inaugurated yes
terday This train is in service every
year from January until the middle
OF April, and makes the trip between
New York to st. Augustine. Fla. daily
At the Union Station last night 10 greet
the train on its initial trip through the
new station were: Terminal Superin-
tendent Martin, George p, James, dis
trict passenger agent OF the Atlantic
Coast Lire in this city; n. Main, superin-
tendent of the Pullman Company. Of this
city; o. b. Acker, passenger agent Of the
Coast Line in this city; A. Reed. for
many years the district passenger agent
of the Coast Line in Washington: T.
Donaldson. superintendent of the Pull
man Company. OF Richmond Va, and
Walter NJ Taylor. travelling passenger
agent of the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad Company, and
other railroad officials.
The train arrived in Washington from
New York at S.54 O'Clock with more than
100 passengers on board. II consisted Of
Pullman compartment, drawing-room,
sleeper. dining. stateroom. library. and
observation cars, heated by steam and
brilliantly illuminated throughout
In the opinion Of railroad officials. the
Florida Special IS one of the finest
convenience is TO be found in the coaches.
which are Of the latest pattern. and lux
uriously furnished and decorated.
This train is the pioneer special 10
Florida and was first started in lA,9.
Leaving New York al 1:l0 o'clock IN the
afternoon, the Florida Special is rushed
along without detention or interruption,
stopping only at Newark. Trenton. Phila-
deiphia. Baltimore, and Washington and
making the distance of S33 miles between
this city and St. Augustine In twenty-one
hours and zen minutes
4 feature Of the sleeping ears is the
special electric lights provided foT each
berth. The dining cars are cafes of the
highest class, and are as artistically deco
rated as any hgh-class hotel Growing
flowers and plants are part Of the deco
rations.
The stateTOOm coaches have nine hand
somely furnished compartments each one
complete in itself and affOrding every con-
venience. These rooms present an inno-
vatlon, inasmuch as they can be used
singly or en- suite.
In the library observation car. with its
easy chairs, sofas. reading desks. are TO
be had the standard and current litera-
ture and magazines Of the day. This
coach Is as comfortable as any modern
clubroom, and is equipped with the latest
wide observation end. giving passengers
the opportunity Of observing the country
to great advantage as they speed through
the picturesque South.
At this season OF the year. when New
port Narragausett Pier. and other fash
ionable resorts are forsaken for the balmy
bTeezes of Florida, the Florida Special"
Offers the finest facilities for South-going
tourists and pleasure-seekers.
AT ST. Augustine connection is made
for all points on the Florida east coast
Ormond Palm Beach. Miami and thence
by the Peninsular and Occidental Steam
ship Company to Nassau.
From Jacksonville the Atlantic Coast
Line maintains its service to all points
on the west coast. affording double daily
Pullman service 10 Deland. Tampa. Punta
GOrda, Barlow, and other points
Il is the only line reaching Port Tampa
at which point direct connection is made
with steamers for Key West and Havana.
Engine No. a, one of the largest and
fastest locomotives entering Washington.
drew the special on its initial trip through
the new tunnel