Hurricane Road (1954)

Novel about the building of the Key West Extension RR and its demise after the 1935 hurricane. Engineer Tom Campbell faithfully toils to complete Henry Flagler’s last obsession. Besides hurricanes, he faces hurdles from rumrunners, an insurance scam and prostitution ring, wildfires and other natural hazards. During his tenure, he picks up an apprentice, John Winfield. Despite all, great concrete bridges and viaducts (which survived the 1935 hurricane and were incorporated into the Key West Highway) were built that carried the railroad into its first run into Key West on January 22,1912. Interesting historical details incorporated into a really clunky narrative. ( )