Marathon is one of the larger islands in the Florida Keys. "Key" is actually just the English accent applied to the Spanish word "cayo" meaning nothing more than "island". It is also about the half way point between Key West and the Florida mainland. Even though Marathon has a good harbor, the tiny island just west of Marathon, Pidgeon Key, was chosen as the work camp for Henry Flagler's 7 mile bridge. When completed in 1912 it was on of the wonder's of the world. A marvel of both engineering and perseverence.

The rails on one of the islands nearer the mainland, Islamorada, were torn up by a hurricane storm surge in 1935. None of the bridges were damage, the tidal wave washed out the roadbed. Rather than spend the $1,500,000 need to repair the line, valued at over $27,000,000. It was sold for $640,000. Good thing Mr. Flagler had died in 1916.

The construction camp on Pidgeon Key is now a museum. One of the RR cars has been converted into a gift shop. A tram takes visitors from here across the original bridge to the 1905 work camp on Pidgeon Key.

These buildings do not appear to be as old as they are. They were very well built and "bolted" to the ground. Steel rods extend down from the rafters through the walls and deep into the ground every 16 feet. They have withstood many hurricane tidal surges. They island is currently used for coral growth research and houses groups of students during the summer who are there to learn about nature and the environment.

One of the larger buildings houses a museum with a number of artifacts, models and history of how the railroad was built. The bridge was under construction for more than 10 years and some of the men had their families with them. It had to have been a desolate and small place to grow up.

All fresh water is still piped from the mainland, although the new pipe is not painted black and is in the center of the new bridge. There is no such thing as cold tap water in the Keys.

It is a bright, calm and sunny day. But, as this close-up of one of the power line posts show, the Gulf of Mexico is in a hurry to get into the Atlantic Ocean. You can imagine what the constructionn crews faced on a bad day. By the way, the Atlantic Ocean is off the south side and Gulf of Mexico off the north side of this very bridge. Hence, "The railroad that went to sea."

Too bad the rail is out-of-focus or you could verify the material that makes the guard rail. Was not thinking about anything but the current when on this section of bridge. Moving too fast for a good shot, anyway.

While not as much of an engineering marvel, there is a remarkable and bizarre bridge near Deer Key that was taken out of service between 1981 and 1983. Click on it for more details.