Florida Rail Experience to recognize leaders of effort to preserve train history

Ben Jordan, president of the Parrish Civic Association, looks over plans for Florida Railroad Experience.  (Herald file photo)

EAST MANATEE — Nominations for the inaugural Florida Railroading Historic Preservation Award were announced by Florida Railroad Experience this week.

The nominees:

* Greg Turner of Fort Myers, a noted author of Florida railroad history.

* Joe Oates of Dover, retired from the Seaboard Air Line & Seaboard Coast Line Railroads and founder of the Atlantic Coast Line & Seaboard Air Line Historical Society.

* James Langston, III, of Brandon, CSX Phosphate Division business manager and director of The Friends of Tampa Union Station.

* Thomas W. Moody of Milton, officer of the West Florida Railroad Museum and author of books on Northwestern Florida railroading.

Nominations were made by the general public with an interest in railroading.  Final judging for the award was completed by representatives of Florida Railroad Experience.

The winner for 2012 will be announced 7 - 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, during a wine and cheese tasting to kick off Remembering the Railroads, a collection of Florida railroad photographs.  The reception will be held at Winestyles, San Marco Plaza, Lakewood Ranch.

Tickets may be purchased at the door.  The cost is $50 per person or $75 per couple.  Proceeds go to Florida Railroad Experience in Parrish to fund its projects and educational programs.

Information: http://www.FloridaRailroadExperience.org or call 941- 302-8600.

For more about the Florida Railroad Experience, visit our previous story:

http://www.bradenton.com/2010/08/23/2521708/florida-railroad-experience-could.html