The Seminole Gulf Railway (SGLR) is, at heart, a working short line—moving real freight over a web of track that stitches together communities across Southwest Florida. But it’s also home to one of the region’s most memorable “railfan-meets-date-night” experiences: the Murder Mystery Dinner Train, a rolling theater-and-dining event that has become a signature attraction for the area.
If you’re looking for a classic scenic railroad with open-air coaches and afternoon excursions, Seminole Gulf is a little different. Its passenger offering is built around an evening out—equal parts train ride, performance, and a multi-course meal—aboard a consist of vintage cars pulled through the backroads of Lee and Charlotte counties. Here’s a detailed look at the railway, what it does today, and why its murder mystery dinner trains remain the headliner.
An Active Short Line First
The railroad operates as a freight carrier in South Florida, handling a range of commodities that keep the region’s economy moving—building materials, aggregates, LPG, metals, plastics, recycled materials, and more. It’s not a tiny museum line; it’s a system with over 100 miles of track and multiple segments that reach well beyond Fort Myers, including trackage between North Naples and Arcadia, plus a separate corridor between Oneco (Bradenton) and Sarasota.
That “real railroad” backbone is part of the charm. On any given day, Seminole Gulf’s locomotives may be switching customers, assembling freight cuts, or heading out on the main with cars bound for interchange. And then, as evening arrives, the same company pivots into hospitality mode—welcoming passengers at its Fort Myers station for a completely different kind of run.
The Excursions
Seminole Gulf’s passenger experience is best understood as a dinner train with a show, rather than a conventional excursion railroad. The Murder Mystery Dinner Train is a 3.5-hour round trip that departs from Colonial Station in Fort Myers and travels north, crossing the Caloosahatchee River, then continuing through rural stretches of Lee and Charlotte counties before returning to the same station…