Construction began in Sanford in 1885 and its rails passed through Sylvan Lake, Sorrento, and Mount Dora before reaching Tavares in 1887.

[1] The line crossed the Orange Belt Railway in Sylvan Lake and was constructed to 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) gauge.

It was immediately leased to the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway Company upon its completion in 1877.

By 1949, only one mixed train was running the full line six days a week from Sanford to Leesburg.

Today, the line is still in service from Sorrento to Tavares and is now operated by the Florida Central Railroad.