Lake Dora. For trips terminating at Ellsworth Junction, the train simply reverses direction and pushes back. For trips turning at Lake Jem, the locomo- tive runs around the train. If it was ten- der first going out, then it will be boiler first on the return and vice versa. You may have seen photos of No. 2 crossing a neat wooden trestle over the Dora Canal just south of the Lake Jem station. The canal is heavily used by party barges and other pleasure boats and the clearances were a bit too tight. In early 2013 the classic wooden trestle was replaced by a modern concrete bridge with better clearances horizon- tally and vertically.
Continuing on, the railroad pretty much follows along County Route 561 until it breaks away behind a lumber yard. Just past the lumber yard, a left turn onto County Route 448 will quick-
ly bring you back to the tracks at Ellsworth Junction. The tracks are practically in the shoulder of 448 until just short of Lake Jem, and a right turn onto Route 448A will bring you to where the trips terminate just east of the grade crossing. Passengers are en- couraged to detrain here and watch the runaround move; the crew will also give the boiler a blow-down for an added show,
Back at Tavares you may have no- ticed the wye just north of the station. The train will use this to turn between runs after going to Lake Jem (which ef- fectively puts the engine back on the south/east end of the train). There is some median running in the middle of the street with Spanish moss draping the overhanging trees; keep an eye out for moves here, as it is one of the better photo opportunities on the railroad.
RIGHT: The new replica Tavares station was under construction during our visit in early 2013, and was completed a few months later. The original 1888 depot burned down a hun- dred years later in 1988. BELOW: The east- bound Orange Blossom Cannonball is a short distance away from the end of its run at Lake Jem. The pond in the foreground is not the lake.
40 SEPTEMBER 2013 •
RAILFAN.COM
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