Misplaced Pages

#770229

45-673: The Sarasota Subdivision was one of the first major expansions of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad network in Florida. All of Seaboard's lines in Florida prior to this were part of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad network, which the Seaboard acquired in 1900. The Seaboard Air Line organized a subsidiary United States & West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company in 1901 to oversee construction of

90-737: A Seaboard subsidiary, extended it further south to Brooksville in 1925 to connect with the Tampa Northern Railroad . This created an alternate route into Tampa, which the Seaboard Air Line designated as the Brooksville Subdivision . Much of this line was removed in the late 1970s. The short Silver Springs branch from Ocala east to Silver Springs was built along with the Tampa Division. The Seaboard Air Line later leased this branch to

135-774: A continuous line from Jacksonville to Columbia. In 1899 and 1900, the South Bound Railroad was extended north to Camden, South Carolina to meet the Seaboard Air Line Railway 's Chesterfield and Kershaw Railroad . The Northern Division became part of the Seaboard main line after the Seaboard acquisition. In 1925, the Gross Cutoff was built by Seaboard from the Northern Division near the Florida / Georgia state line southwest to

180-609: A nearly parallel route closer to the coast (the Tampa Southern Railroad ). By April of 1968, the company abandoned the ex-SAL track within Downtown Sarasota and consolidated all service between Shade Avenue and 12th Street on the former Atlantic Coast Line tracks. All passenger traffic was also consolidated at the former Atlantic Coast Line passenger depot at Main Street and School Avenue. Additionally,

225-520: A point just west of LaCrosse . The branch's connection with the main line is still known as Wannee Junction. The branch to Early Bird was built in 1890 and branched off the Southern Division in Archer. The line gained more prominence in the Seaboard era. Seaboard extended the branch south through Dunnellon and Hernando to Inverness in 1911. The Brooksville and Inverness Railway ,

270-567: A through freight train from Durant to Palmetto which ran six days a week. The SAL ran a section of its Silver Meteor , from Tampa to Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice on the SAL's Venice Division. The Silver Meteor offered through coaches and sleepers (no transfer needed) from New York City on this section. In 1967, the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) merged with their rival, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL), who operated

315-795: A week. Seaboard Coast Line would later reroute the juice train through Tampa on the Palmetto Subdivision (former Atlantic Coast Line) where it operates today. In 1980, the Seaboard Coast Line's parent company merged with the Chessie System , creating the CSX Corporation . The CSX Corporation initially operated the Chessie and Seaboard Systems separately until 1986, when they were merged into CSX Transportation . In 1986, in an effort to further consolidate

360-513: Is now largely owned by Florida Power and Light , and the Florida Railroad Museum operates excursion trains on this segment from Parrish to Willow. South of Bradenton, CSX continues to operates the line as part of their Palmetto Subdivision from the north end of Tropicana Yard south to Oneco. The short line Seminole Gulf Railway took over the rest of the remaining line south of Oneco to Venice in 1987. Seminole Gulf abandoned

405-463: Is now the following routes: The Leesburg and Indian River Railroad was incorporated in 1884 and merged into the Florida Railway and Navigation Company in 1885. It built a line from the Tampa Division at Wildwood east to Tavares , with plans to continue east to Titusville . That extension was not built, but pieces were built by other companies. The Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad

450-680: The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad , which obtained trackage rights over the Florida Central Railroad , the 1868 reorganization of the Florida, Atlantic and Gulf. The railroad eventually was built west to Chattahoochee, Florida , a major junction with the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad continuing west and the Chattahoochee and East Pass Railroad running northeast. In 1882, Sir Edward Reed purchased

495-646: The Leon Railway , changing its name in 1834. It opened in 1837, connecting Tallahassee, Florida to the Gulf of Mexico port of St. Marks, Florida . This was the second steam railroad in Florida, opening just a year after the Lake Wimico and St. Joseph Canal and Railroad . The Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad was chartered January 24, 1851, to build west from Jacksonville, Florida , and construction began in 1857. The Pensacola and Georgia Railroad

SECTION 10

#1732798515771

540-687: The Peninsula Railroad north of Ocala and the Tropical Florida Railroad south of Ocala. After the Seaboard acquisition, this route became the southernmost segment of their main line. It subsequently became part of CSX's S Line. While mostly intact, a short 16-mile segment of the S Line has been abandoned between Lacoochee and Zephyrhills, where the line now briefly detours along a former Atlantic Coast Line route (using former South Florida Railroad and Tampa and Thonotosassa Railroad trackage). Despite not being part of

585-533: The 1970s when tracks were removed between Leesburg and Tavares. Since 1986, the remaining line from Tavares to Orlando has been operated by the Florida Central Railroad , a short line that was run by the Pinsly Railroad Company from 1986 to 2019 and is now operated by Regional Rail, LLC . The Florida Midland Railroad, another Pinsly-operated short line, operated the segment from Wildwood to Leesburg from 1987 until 2005, when most of that end of

630-629: The FC&;P on July 1, 1900, and the latter was merged into the former on August 15, 1903. The FC&P tracks from Savannah, Georgia to Tampa, Florida via Jacksonville became part of Seaboard's main line. Though a series of mergers between 1967 and 1987, the Seaboard became part of CSX Transportation . Much of the former FC&P network remains in service today. By the time the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad reached its greatest extent in 1893, it essentially had two main lines. One of

675-582: The Florida Railway and Navigation Company in 1885. The South Bound Railroad was organized in 1887 and completed in 1891, connecting Columbia, South Carolina to Savannah, Georgia . The FC&P leased it in 1893. In 1892 the Florida Northern Railroad was chartered by the FC&P to continue the Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad north into Georgia , where the FC&P continued the line to Savannah. This opened in 1894, forming

720-484: The Florida Transit at Waldo, Florida to Ocala, Florida and beyond to Tampa, Florida . In 1884-85, Reed merged the Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad with the Florida Central and Western Railroad , Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad , and Leesburg and Indian River Railroad as the Florida Railway and Navigation Company, which instantly became the largest railroad system in Florida. The new company

765-493: The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile, absorbing the Florida Central and reorganizing the two as the Florida Central and Western Railroad . The Florida Railroad was incorporated January 8, 1853, to build a line across the state, from Fernandina, Florida (north of Jacksonville, Florida ) southwest to Cedar Key, Florida . The first train ran in 1861, but the line failed and the company was reorganized in 1866. In 1872 it

810-558: The Ocala Northern Railroad in 1909. The Ocala Northern extended the line to Palatka by 1912. The Ocala Northern was reorganized as the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad in 1915, but the line was abandoned by 1922. The Lake Weir Branch ran from Summerfield east to South Lake Weir , and was built along with the Tampa Division. The short Sumterville branch from Sumterville Junction to Sumterville

855-537: The SAL's swing bridge over the Manatee River was also removed in the wake of the merger in an effort to consolidate the company's operation on to a single bridge crossing (which also resulted in the removal of track between Palmetto Junction and Bradenton Junction). The Seaboard Coast Line then designated the remaining track north of the Manatee River as the Parrish Subdivision , and track south of

900-503: The Southern Division at Callahan . The Northern Division remains today in segments. The abandoned segment within Jacksonville is now the S-Line Urban Greenway. After the Seaboard Coast Line became the CSX Corporation in the 1980s, CSX abandoned the S Line between Riceboro, Georgia (just southwest of Savannah) and Bladen, Georgia in 1986. Track between Bladen and Seals was removed in 1990. The Northern Division

945-560: The end of the Southern Division south to Amelia Beach . The FC&P leased it in 1891, and it was abandoned around 1900. The Wannee Branch was originally part of the Atlantic, Suwannee River and Gulf Railway . It branched off the Southern Division at Starke and headed west to Wannee. Construction of the line began in 1863. The line was bought by the FC&P in 1899 and it was completed to Wannee in 1902. The branch remains in service as part of CSX's Brooker Subdivision from Starke to

SECTION 20

#1732798515771

990-576: The former right of way of the Arcadia, Gulf Coast and Lakeland Railroad , an earlier unsuccessful railroad between Bradenton and Sarasota. The line also had a spur to Terra Ceia , as well as spurs into the central areas of Ellenton, Palmetto, and Bradenton (known then as Bradentown). The Seaboard Air Line operated the line's first train to Sarasota on March 23, 1903. Upon completion, the United States & West Indies Railroad and Steamship Company

1035-643: The line connected with a small logging railroad operated by the Manasota Lumber Co. The extension to Venice greatly benefited the city's economy. The railroad would be used by cadets and faculty of the Kentucky Military Institute 's Venice campus for winter classes from 1933 to 1970. It also transported patients to Fred H. Albee 's Florida Medical Center from 1932 to 1942 and transported goods and servicemen to Venice Army Air Field during World War II . Another major customer on

1080-677: The line from Venice to Palmer Ranch in 2004, and the line from there to Sarasota was abandoned in 2019. The Legacy Trail now runs on the former right of way from the Venice Depot to Fruitville Road in Sarasota. The remaining right of way south of the Venice Depot is now home to the Venice Urban Forest. Terra Ceia Spur Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad

1125-704: The line was abandoned. All that remains on the Wildwood end is a short wye which CSX uses to turn locomotives from Wildwood Yard. East of Orlando, the abandoned right of way is now the Cady Way Trail and the southern extension of the Cross Seminole Trail . The Monticello Branch ran from the Western Division at Drifton north to Monticello . The Fernandina and Amelia Beach Railway was organized in 1883 to run from Fernandina at

1170-564: The line would be the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus , which was headquartered in Sarasota from 1927 to 1959 and then in Venice from 1959 to 1990. By 1925, at the height of the Florida land boom of the 1920s , Seaboard considered extending the line further south through Englewood along Lemon Bay to Placida to intercept with their Boca Grande Subdivision (the former Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway ). The extension

1215-468: The line. In 1901, construction commenced with the line branching off the Seaboard main line near Turkey Creek . It proceeded south through Durant , Willow , and Palmetto . It crossed the Manatee River via a long swing bridge into Bradenton , which was located just east of the current Desoto Bridge . From Bradenton the line continued south to downtown Sarasota. Here, some of the line ran along

1260-417: The lines in 1900, although Seaboard designated the route to Tampa as the main line south of Waldo instead of the route to Cedar Key. Seaboard abandoned the former Southern Division from Archer to Cedar Key in 1932. The line was abandoned between Callahan and Yulee in 1954. The line from Archer to Waldo was removed in the late 1980s. Today, State Road 24 runs along much of the former right of way of

1305-817: The main lines (the Western Division) extended from Jacksonville west to Tallahassee and Chattahoochee, where it connected to the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad (a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad ). The other main line (the Southern Division) was what was previously the Florida Railroad extending from Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key. These two main lines intersected at Baldwin Junction just west of Jacksonville. The routes continued in operation after Seaboard acquired

1350-589: The network, track was abandoned between Durant and Willow. Though, the bridge over the Little Manatee River still stands with the tracks removed. From Willow to Palmetto, the line is still in service as CSX's Parrish Spur. The former spur in Palmetto now connects the line to the Palmetto Subdivision main track (the ex-ACL line). The right of way of the Parrish Spur north and east of Ellenton

1395-405: The original line, this former Atlantic Coast Line segment is considered to be an unofficial part of the S Line since it carries all S Line traffic. The Tampa Division now operates as the following routes on the S Line: The Fernandina and Jacksonville Railroad was organized in 1874 and opened in 1881, connecting Jacksonville north to the Southern Division at Yulee . It was consolidated into

Sarasota Subdivision - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-588: The remaining Seaboard Air Line track from Bradenton to Venice (except through downtown Sarasota). Passenger service was discontinued in the Sarasota area after the Seaboard Coast Line's passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971. In 1970, the Parrish Subdivision became the original route of the Tropicana Juice Train which brought fresh orange juice in insulated boxcars from Bradenton to Kearny , New Jersey six days

1485-453: The river became part of the Palmetto Subdivision (which also included the former Atlantic Coast Line route). The Parrish Subdivision became a freight-only route after the merger. Passenger operations from Tampa to Venice in the combined network was provided by the Champion once daily. The Champion ran from Tampa to Bradenton on the former Atlantic Coast Line route, but still ran on

1530-514: The route between Waldo and Cedar Key. The Waldo Road Greenway also runs along the former right of way between Gainesville and Waldo. South of Baldwin, it is part of CSX's S Line. FC&P's Southern Division is still active and in service as the following: The Western Division remains operates as the following routes: The Tampa Division ran from the Fernandina-Cedar Key line at Waldo south to Tampa . This had been chartered as

1575-567: Was a historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Sarasota , Florida , United States. It was located at 1 South School Avenue. The Tampa Southern Railroad began service through Sarasota in May 1924. The first passenger train arrived in December 1924 at the freight and temporary passenger station north of Fruitville Road . A permanent Atlantic Coast Line passenger depot, Sarasota Station ,

1620-742: Was built with the Tampa Division. The St. Mark's branch was built by the Tallahassee Railroad ran from Tallahassee south. It was one of the first operating railroads in Florida. It's become the longest-operating railroad in Florida at 147 years. It was abandoned in 1983. The Florida Park Service currently maintains it as the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail . Southern Division Tampa Division Western Division Orlando Division Northern Division Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Depot (Sarasota, Florida) The Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Depot

1665-647: Was chartered in January 1853, to be built east from Pensacola, Florida , but started at Tallahassee. The two lines met at Lake City, Florida in 1860, and the latter also built from Tallahassee west to four miles (6 km) short of Quincy, Florida , stopping in 1863 in the middle of the American Civil War . In 1855 the Pensacola and Georgia bought the Tallahassee. In 1869 the two merged to form

1710-499: Was constructed in 1925. The architect was Alpheus M. Griffin . In 1967, Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and Seaboard Air Line Railway (SAL) merged as the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL). The West Coast Champion made its last run to Sarasota and Venice from Boston and New York on May 1, 1971. On March 22, 1984, the depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . Two years later, it

1755-486: Was incorporated in 1883, and built an extension of line from Tavares to Orlando . The FC&P leased it in 1891. The Orlando and Winter Park Railway was incorporated in 1886 and extended the line from Orlando to Winter Park . The Osceola and Lake Jesup Railway , incorporated 1888, continued the line past Oviedo to Lake Charm . In 1891 the two companies merged into the East Florida and Atlantic Railroad , which

1800-790: Was leased by the FC&P in 1892. In the line's early days, passenger trains served the historic Church Street Station in Orlando, which belonged to the South Florida Railroad . Trains turned onto the South Florida Railroad (which became the main line of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , the Seaboard Air Line's competitor) in Downtown Orlando just north of the station. In 1896, the FC&P built its own Orlando station. The line west of Orlando remained intact under Seaboard and its successors until

1845-480: Was never built. By the 1940s, the Seaboard Air Line removed the segment between the main line at Turkey Creek and Durant at the north end. The Seaboard's Valrico Cutoff , which was built in 1925 and crossed the Sarasota Subdivision at Durant, was then used to access the line and provided a slightly shorter route to Tampa. By then, two local passenger trains were running the line daily in addition to

Sarasota Subdivision - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-545: Was placed in receivership in October 1885, sold at foreclosure and reorganized as the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Company in 1886. On May 1, 1889, the company was reorganized again, as the Florida Central and Peninsular Railway , and on January 16, 1893, the final reorganization produced the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad , along with a merger of the Florida Northern Railroad (a line from Yulee to Savannah, Georgia). The Seaboard Air Line Railway leased

1935-589: Was renamed the Florida West Shore Railway . By 1905, the line was extended east from downtown into Fruitville . In 1909, Seaboard fully acquired the Florida West Shore Railway subsidiary, ending the Florida West Shore Railway's separate corporate identity. The Seaboard Air Line extended the line south to Venice in 1911 after being convinced by local socialite Bertha Honoré Palmer who owned land in Venice. In Venice,

1980-553: Was reorganized again as the Atlantic, Gulf and West India Transit Company. In 1881, Sir Edward Reed purchased the railroad and reorganized it as the Florida Transit Company, which in 1883 was reorganized again as the Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad. The Florida Transit and Peninsular operated two subsidiaries, the Peninsula Railroad and Tropical Florida Railroad , organized to build lines respectively from

2025-420: Was the final name of a system of railroads throughout Florida , becoming part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in 1900. The system, including some of the first railroads in Florida, stretched from Jacksonville west through Tallahassee and south to Tampa . Much of the FC&P network is still in service under the ownership of CSX Transportation . The Tallahassee Rail Road was first organized in 1832 as

#770229