in Naples. S. Davies Warfield, president of SAL, ultimately subsidized the building of the depot in Naples.
As the two railroads aggressively expanded their lines, and there was a 'frenzied race' to reach Naples first, recounts an exhibit at the Naples Depot Museum in downtown Naples. It didn't seem to matter that Naples was just a tiny, remote resort town.
The first train owned by ACL arrived at its station at Airport-Pulling and Radio roads in Naples with little fanfare on Dec. 27, 1926. The ACL's main purpose was to transport locally-grown fruits to northern states.
Then, on Jan. 7, 1927, the SAL's now famous steam locomotive, the Orange Blossom Special, puffed into town from New York, carrying with it some of the nation's top businessmen and bankers, the president of the line and Florida's then-governor John Martin.
The Orange Blossom, a winter-only Florida train catering to wealthy passengers was the brainchild of S. Davies Warfield, Seaboard's president.
The Orange Blossom train was described as a 'traveler's treat,' offering passengers everything from maid services to manicures. There were even personal writing desks for passengers with orange-blossom scented stationery,.
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To celebrate his new line in the heart
of Southwest Florida, Warfield 'orchestrated one of the greatest
public relations events in American railroad history.'
The day the Orange Blossom came to
town, there were celebrations in Fort
Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs and
Naples. There were five trains in all,
carrying nearly 600 passengers from 90 cities in 18 states. When the trains reached the Naples Depot, hundreds gathered by the track. Flags waved, horns tooted and bands played. Decorated cars chauffeured guests with dignitaries to the Naples hotel for an elaborate buffet luncheon.