Jeep-Trains Research Archives

Willys Jeep trains and trams were used all over the United States to pull visitors and tour groups through parks and cities. CJ-2As, CJ-3As, CJ-5s and CJ-3Bs

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Flamingo Gardens Jeep Train in Flamingo, FL

• CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: I ran across this photographic slide of a jeep train on eBay that looks identical to one that ran in the Flamingo Botanical Gardens (see postcard below). The problem is that the CJ-5 bears a Chevron Island plate, an island that is along the Gold Coast of Australia. Was Chevron Island a term used in Florida?

1968-chevron-island-tour-jeep-slide-7 1968-chevron-island-tour-jeep-slide-8 1968-chevron-island-tour-jeep-slide-9

Here’s the post card (available on eBay):

1967-swamp-buggy-florida-flamingo

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Originally posted January 14, 2013: Craig spotted a postcard on eBay about a jeep train in Flamingo, FL.  Some additional investigation revealed the  train was located at the Flamingo Botanical Gardens. It looks like they still use a CJ-5 to pull the jeep train! A tour leaves every hour, on the hour, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

“Flamingo Gardens is a 60 acre not-for-profit attraction with a wildlife sanctuary, aviary, and botanical garden. The Gardens were originally the property of Floyd L. and Jane Wray, who in 1933 built a home and citrus grove on what was then the edge of the Everglades, where they started a botanical collection of tropical and subtropical fruit trees and shrubs.”

From the website:

flamingo-gardens-jeep-tour-jeep3

Here are historical photos of the jeep train:

Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/92849:

flamingo-gardens-jeep-tour-jeep2

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/131421:

flamingo-gardens-jeep-tour-jeep

 

 
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Jeeps in the Detroit Salt Mines

• CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: More on the Detroit Salt Mines from this February 1959 issue of Jeep News.

I saw a reference to jeeps in Detroit’s salt mines on Facebook. After a some research, I found a few more images. The salt is used exclusively as road de-icer.

detroit-salt-mines-truck detroit-salt-mines4 detroit-salt-mines3 detroit-salt-mines2

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https://ephemeraldetroit.blogspot.com/2015/06/salt-city-beneath-detroit-booklet-1971.html

 
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Arboretum Jeep Train Postcard and Slide

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Apparently, the arboretum had at least two different colors of jeep trains. Here’s a slide then of an orange one. It is currently priced at $12.99.

View all the information on eBay

la-arboretum-slide-jeep-tram1 la-arboretum-slide-jeep-tram2

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(Originally posted May 2015)  This was sold on eBay.

This postcard depicts how tram visitors used to tour the former Santa Anita ranch of “Lucky Baldwin”, who made millions in silver.  According to the website, “Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127 acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and located in the city of Arcadia.”

The park is located here.

 
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More Jeep Train Postcards

• CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

1. This first image shows a Jeep Train in Oceanside, California, though I was unable to confirm “Old World Shop” was located in Oceanside.  It looks to be a CJ-5 with a modified windshield set up and a changed rear area.

jeep-train-guam-postcard

2. This postcard showing a CJ-5 pulling a long tram is from Lincoln, New Hampshire. It looks like some kind of “Smokey Bear” tram.

jeep-train-smokey-bear

3. There is supposed to be some form of jeep under this faux train-engine body. This photo was taken in Manhattan, Kansas. The postcard is available on eBay.

deibler-trackless-trains-postcard1 deibler-trackless-trains-postcard2

deibler-trackless-trains-postcard2

 
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‘Grandpa’ Craig’s Pic of the Week: Jeep ‘Wagon’ Train

• CATEGORIES: Craigs Pic of the Week, Features • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Here’s is a postcard from White Springs (data unknown) that highlights the jeep-train-wagons. It appears the train was still being pulled by a 3B, but this color photo shows some black styling was added to the cow, giving it a Holstein look.

conestoga-wagon-train-jeep-white-springs-fl-postcard1 conestoga-wagon-train-jeep-white-springs-fl-postcard2

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Originally posted Jan 18, 2013: On the evening (2 nights ago) that Craig became a grandpa, instead of doing whatever grandpas should do to celebrate, he was busily scanning stuff for us!  It’s clear his Willys Sickness is far more advanced than I thought!  However, to his credit, this really is a cool picture. In fact, it’s so cool, that I managed to skip over the part where he said he became a grandpa! It wasn’t until I re-read it tonight that I felt like a total doof.”

This photo comes from the March 1957 issue of Willys News.  The jeep wagon train operated at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center – White Springs, Florida.

covered-wagon-CJ3B

Floridamemory.com has a variety of photos related to the wagons.  Below are a few of them.

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/41660

covered-wagon-CJ3B-floridamemory1

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/73660

covered-wagon-CJ3B-floridamemory4

This photo looks like the jeep is a CJ-5 rather than a CJ-3B.  State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/87462

covered-wagon-CJ3B-floridamemory3

 
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1960s? Postcard Of Jeep Tram Fishing on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This Oceanside, California, CJ-5 pulled a tram that transported fishing enthusiasts onto the wharf.  My guess would be that is was owned by San Diego County.

View all the information on eBay

“Rare original postcard.”

year-postcard-jeep-train-fishing-oceanside-ca1 year-postcard-jeep-train-fishing-oceanside-ca2

 
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Jungle Larry’s African Safari Post Card on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s safari tour jeep train postcard from Jungle Larry’s African Safari out of Naples, Florida. It looks like the CJ-5 jeep is pulling a tram.

There is also a website devoted to the memory of Jungle Larry and his wife Safari Jane.

View all the information on eBay

jungle-larry-safari-jane-cj5-postcard1 jungle-larry-safari-jane-cj5-postcard2

This photo is published on the Jungle Larry website on the store page. I don’t believe it is the same CJ-5 as the stripes are a little different along the driver’s side and the rear bodies are different (along with the lack of top and windshield).

jungle-larry-safari-jane-cj5-2

 
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Baraboo Circus Jeep Train Postcard on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: There’s another Baraboo Postcard on eBay.

(08/04/2014) This CJ-5 used to ferry visitors around Baraboo. I visited Barboo about two decades ago, but never saw it. It must have already been gone.

http://www.circusworldbaraboo.org/our-treasures/history-of-circus-world/

This jeep and tram toured through Baraboo, pointing out various circus sites, including final resting spots in Walnut Hill Cemetery.

This jeep and tram toured through Baraboo, pointing out various circus sites, including final resting spots in Walnut Hill Cemetery.

 
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Lewis and Clark Cavern Jeep Railway Postcards on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Old Images, Postcards • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: This photo from eBay shows the front the “Dinosaur Jitney” jeep used to pull the tram.

View all the information on eBay

dinosaur-jitney-lewis-clark-photo

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UPDATE Posted Aug 21, 2018: This was last published in 2012. A couple of the postcards are back on eBay.

Originally published November 10, 2012: The Lewis and Clark Cavern was Montana’s first State Park and is located here. You can read about the history of the caves here.  In 1947 the Montana Standard published an article about the cavern accompanied by the photo and caption below. You can view the entire article in this PDF file.

Here are three postcards related to this Jeep Railway.

1. View all the information on eBay

2. I haven’t seen this one on eBay in a while …

3. View all the information on eBay

 
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Daytona Beach Trains & Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Here’s an additional Daytona Beach photo sent by Chris of a CJ-5 advertising Dog Racing on Daytona Beach. (note photo #3 below is a 3B also advertising Dog Racing)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/140426483169388/?multi_permalinks=1258870947991597&ref=share

daytona-beach-dog-racing-cj5-ad

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Originally Posted Feb 22, 2019: Thanks to Roger Martin for pointing out these series of jeep pics from 1950s Daytona Beach. These were all posted to the Greetings from Daytona Beach Facebook page.

  1. These 1959 photos show Charlie Fogg’s Beach train, which ran a four mile round trip pulling one or more trams. You can see it’s a jeep under that train facade. That might even be a CJ-3B.
    1959-daytona-beach-jeep-ride3 1959-daytona-beach-jeep-ride1959-daytona-beach-jeep-ride2
  2. This one looks to be a second version of Mr. Fogg’s beach train:
    1960s-daytona-beach-charlie-fogg
  3. CJ-3B sporting a dog racing sign:
    1954-dog-racing-daytona-beach
  4. This ice cream vendor might be a CJ-3A:
    1956-ice-cream-vendor
  5. Mr. Jules “Ted” Tieder, the Ice Cream Man, at Daytona Beach with his CJ-5:
    1980s-mr-tetter-ice-cream-man-cj5
  6. Two 1946 photos of an early jeep (MB/GPW) tram at Daytona Beach:
    1946-mb-gpw-jeep-train-daytona-beach2 1946-mb-gpw-jeep-train-daytona-beach