The Ocklawaha Valley Railroad , originally the Ocala Northern Railroad , was a railroad running from Silver Springs Junction, Florida (east of Ocala, Florida ) to Palatka, Florida , running roughly parallel to the Oklawaha River . Except for the southernmost part, from Silver Springs Junction to Silver Springs , which was leased from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (with trackage rights on the SAL main line to Ocala), the railroad never had any corporate relationship with larger railroad companies.
35-497: The Ocala Northern Railroad , a new railroad company, leased the 1.9-mile (3.1 km) Seaboard Air Line Railroad spur to Silver Springs on December 14, 1909, and obtained trackage rights over four miles (6 km) of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to downtown Ocala . The ONRR was owned by E. P. Rentz , who owned a saw mill at Silver Springs. He soon built his railroad north to Fort McCoy and built
70-569: A company town . Rodman, Florida, became a boom town and eventually reached a population of over 4,000 persons. The town even sported a central city park with an oriental garden and the mill provided high quality tool handles for industries across the United States . The logging operation initially depended on the nearby St. Johns River at Horse Landing, to ship raw logs out of the Ocklawaha River Valley. The completion of
105-463: A marketing tool. New settlers along the railroad were given their own baby 'Billy The Ocklawaha Valley Railroad Goat.' The truth may be stranger than fiction but Florida's first documented railroad enthusiast had 4 legs. The mill closed in 1922, and Cummings had grown ill. The railroad was sold at a bankruptcy auction. Each major railroad wanted the line, but they were all afraid of a bidding war , so they agreed to allow an independent company to win
140-553: A minimum $ 9.25 discount on their monthly phone bills, or a free Lifeline cell phone and monthly minutes from certain wireless providers. Dozens of local, state, and federal agencies, organizations and businesses, and telecommunications companies were involved in the collaborative effort to increase awareness and participation in the Lifeline program in 2022. Promotional activities in 2022 featured National Consumer Protection Week and ongoing efforts to increase awareness and enrollment in
175-528: A series of logging railroads into the forest. He continued to build the ONRR, and it reached Palatka, Florida by 1912, with 45.5 miles (73.2 km) of track stretching from Silver Springs to Palatka. According to E.P. Rentz quoted in the Palatka Daily News there were dreams of a great diagonal railroad running from Jacksonville to Tampa via Ocala. Rentz may have had in mind an associations with
210-450: A statewide election; the 1978 Legislature changed the FPSC to a five-member appointed board. The chair is the chief administrative officer of the FPSC, presiding at all hearings and conferences when present, setting FPSC hearings, and performing those duties prescribed by law. The chair is elected by the FPSC. Source: The Florida Legislature established the powers and responsibilities of
245-631: A two-year term. Current commissioners include Chairman Mike La Rosa, Andrew Giles Fay, Art Graham, Gary F. Clark, and Gabriella Passidomo. Created by the Florida Legislature in 1887, the FPSC was originally called the Florida Railroad Commission and primarily regulated railroad passenger and freight rates and operations. As Florida grew, the Commission's purpose expanded. The first Florida Railroad Commission
280-781: The Florida Railroad Commission "no recourse but to declare the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad abandoned". Several station foundations remain, and large parts of right-of-way are visible on aerial photos and on the ground. Parts of the right-of-way were used for CR 315 from Orange Springs to Kenwood and SR 19 into Palatka. Connections were provided to every major railroad and one area shortline: Florida Railroad Commission The Florida Public Service Commission ( FPSC ) regulates investor-owned electric, natural gas, and water and wastewater utilities. The FPSC facilitates competitive markets in
315-643: The Ocala Southwestern Railroad , which ran about 6 miles southwest of Ocala in the direction of Tampa ; no but nothing more ever came of it. Plans to extend the railroad across the St. Johns River to Hastings and then north on the east shore to Jacksonville fell through; the company went bankrupt in May 1913. H. S. Cummings of Cummings Lumber built a large cypress sawmill in Rodman, Florida ,
350-639: The Oklawaha River . Except for the southernmost part, from Silver Springs Junction to Silver Springs , which was leased from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (with trackage rights on the SAL main line to Ocala), the railroad never had any corporate relationship with larger railroad companies. The Ocala Northern Railroad , a new railroad company, leased the 1.9-mile (3.1 km) Seaboard Air Line Railroad spur to Silver Springs on December 14, 1909, and obtained trackage rights over four miles (6 km) of
385-434: The Seaboard Air Line Railroad to downtown Ocala . The ONRR was owned by E. P. Rentz , who owned a saw mill at Silver Springs. He soon built his railroad north to Fort McCoy and built a series of logging railroads into the forest. He continued to build the ONRR, and it reached Palatka, Florida by 1912, with 45.5 miles (73.2 km) of track stretching from Silver Springs to Palatka. According to E.P. Rentz quoted in
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#1732776666044420-521: The U.S. Department of Energy . National Consumer Protection Week observed each year in March, highlights consumer protection and education efforts around the country, and is important to the FPSC's conservation education efforts. The Florida Lifeline program is part of the federal Universal Service Program (USP) designed to enable low-income households to obtain and maintain basic local telephone service. The Lifeline program offers qualifying households
455-403: The United States . The logging operation initially depended on the nearby St. Johns River at Horse Landing, to ship raw logs out of the Ocklawaha River Valley. The completion of the railroad to Rodman Junction spelled the end of hauling logs to market by wagon, soon Cummings Lumber was operating a large rail system reaching into the forest in every direction. On April 16, 1915, the railroad
490-404: The Commission exercises safety authority over all electric and natural gas systems operating in the state. The FPSC participates in consumer forums, community meetings, customer meetings and hearings, and consumer publications. The FPSC participates in consumer programs and distributes conservation-related materials through partnerships with governmental entities, and consumer groups. Each year,
525-548: The FPSC as a regulator of public utilities under its jurisdiction. This includes electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater. The FPSC exercises the following regulatory authority: In 2022, the FPSC regulated five investor-owned electric companies, eight investor-owned natural gas utilities, and 149 investor-owned water and/or wastewater utilities. The FPSC also had competitive market oversight for 286 telecommunications companies in Florida. The FPSC does not regulate
560-533: The FPSC provides educational brochures to Florida public libraries for consumer distribution. The Commission has recently increased its Library Outreach Campaign participants to educate consumers across the state. Through the program, a variety of FPSC publications highlighting practical energy and water conservation measures are distributed to library patrons throughout the year. Events to promote energy efficiency and conservation education are annually observed during October's Energy Action Month, sponsored annually by
595-596: The Florida Lifeline customers. The FPSC oversees the administration of a statewide telecommunications access system to provide access to Telecommunications Relay Services by persons who are deaf , hard of hearing or speech impaired , or others who communicate with them. In 2021, the Commission opened a docket to request proposals from companies to provide relay service in Florida beginning in March 2022. Two companies filed proposals, Hamilton Relay and Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (Sprint). After reviewing
630-544: The Lifeline program. Each month, the FPSC sends a cover letter and informational packet to two organizations to encourage continued Lifeline outreach to their eligible clientele. In addition, the FPSC attends as least two community events each month to promote Lifeline. As of June 2022, 300,285 eligible customers participated in the Florida Lifeline program. The five companies with the highest Lifeline enrollment in Florida were SafeLink Wireless , Assurance Wireless , Access Wireless, T-Mobile , and CenturyLink with 99 percent of
665-402: The Palatka Daily News there were dreams of a great diagonal railroad running from Jacksonville to Tampa via Ocala. Rentz may have had in mind an associations with the Ocala Southwestern Railroad , which ran about 6 miles southwest of Ocala in the direction of Tampa ; no but nothing more ever came of it. Plans to extend the railroad across the St. Johns River to Hastings and then north on
700-531: The auction unopposed. Unfortunately for them, that independent company, Assets Realization of New York , had bought it for scrap value. Residents and companies along the line and connecting railroads protested, and brought the case all the way to the Supreme Court , which ordered that it would not be abandoned. However, Assets Realization disobeyed the court and tore it up anyway in December 1922, leaving
735-429: The east shore to Jacksonville fell through; the company went bankrupt in May 1913. H. S. Cummings of Cummings Lumber built a large cypress sawmill in Rodman, Florida , a company town . Rodman, Florida, became a boom town and eventually reached a population of over 4,000 persons. The town even sported a central city park with an oriental garden and the mill provided high quality tool handles for industries across
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#1732776666044770-421: The entire feat without human assistance, in fact, it became a habit. The legend quickly spread and H.S. Cummings snapped it up as a marketing tool. New settlers along the railroad were given their own baby 'Billy The Ocklawaha Valley Railroad Goat.' The truth may be stranger than fiction but Florida's first documented railroad enthusiast had 4 legs. The mill closed in 1922, and Cummings had grown ill. The railroad
805-525: The railroad goat. Billy belonged to the daughter of the railroads chief engineer and the day after the family's arrival in Fort Mc Coy the goat escaped and reboarded the next train out. The railroad crew knew who the little critter belonged to and promptly returned him on another train, further investigation proved Billy performed the entire feat without human assistance, in fact, it became a habit. The legend quickly spread and H.S. Cummings snapped it up as
840-510: The railroad to Rodman Junction spelled the end of hauling logs to market by wagon, soon Cummings Lumber was operating a large rail system reaching into the forest in every direction. On April 16, 1915, the railroad was bought by H.S. Cummings of Rodman Lumber in Rodman, Florida, and reorganized as the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad. The lease of the SAL's Silver Springs Branch was transferred on August 19, 1915. A short 1.5-mile (2.4 km) branchline
875-471: The rates and service quality of publicly owned municipal or cooperative electric utilities; however, the FPSC does have jurisdiction regarding rate structure, territorial boundaries, bulk power supply operations, and power supply planning over 35 municipally owned electric systems and 18 rural electric cooperatives. The FPSC has jurisdiction regarding territorial boundaries and safety, over 27 municipally owned natural gas utilities and 4 gas districts. In addition,
910-501: The right-of-way were used for CR 315 from Orange Springs to Kenwood and SR 19 into Palatka. Connections were provided to every major railroad and one area shortline: Ocala Northern Railroad The Ocklawaha Valley Railroad , originally the Ocala Northern Railroad , was a railroad running from Silver Springs Junction, Florida (east of Ocala, Florida ) to Palatka, Florida , running roughly parallel to
945-533: The telecommunications industry, has authority over intercarrier disputes, and oversees pay telephones , the federal Lifeline Assistance Program and Telecommunications Relay Service . Five commissioners serve staggered four-year terms on the FPSC. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Florida and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The FPSC Chairman is elected by their fellow commissioners to serve
980-406: The way to the Supreme Court , which ordered that it would not be abandoned. However, Assets Realization disobeyed the court and tore it up anyway in December 1922, leaving the Florida Railroad Commission "no recourse but to declare the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad abandoned". Several station foundations remain, and large parts of right-of-way are visible on aerial photos and on the ground. Parts of
1015-472: Was bought by H.S. Cummings of Rodman Lumber in Rodman, Florida, and reorganized as the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad. The lease of the SAL's Silver Springs Branch was transferred on August 19, 1915. A short 1.5-mile (2.4 km) branchline was built from Rodman Junction to Rodman. and many logging lines were built to connect to the OVRR. Passenger service was also provided. H.S. Cummings no doubt knew of 'Billy'
1050-514: Was built from Rodman Junction to Rodman. and many logging lines were built to connect to the OVRR. Passenger service was also provided. H.S. Cummings no doubt knew of 'Billy' the railroad goat. Billy belonged to the daughter of the railroads chief engineer and the day after the family's arrival in Fort Mc Coy the goat escaped and reboarded the next train out. The railroad crew knew who the little critter belonged to and promptly returned him on another train, further investigation proved Billy performed
1085-523: Was changed from three elected to five appointed commissioners. The 1980s saw the beginning of deregulation, with motor carriers (1980) and railroads (1985) deregulated that decade. The telecommunications market was slowly opened up by the Legislature in 1995, and FPSC jurisdiction over telecom was reduced in 2011. However, in 1986, the commission gained safety jurisdiction over all electric utilities, and jurisdiction over intrastate natural gas pipelines
Ocklawaha Valley Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-750: Was changed to the Florida Railroad and Public Utilities Commission in 1947, followed by jurisdiction over investor-owned electric utilities in 1951, investor-owned natural gas utilities and safety issues at municipally owned gas utilities in 1952 and privately owned water and wastewater companies in 1959. The name was modified to the Florida Public Utilities Commission in 1963 and the Florida Public Service Commission in 1965. From 1972 to 1978, it regulated airlines, and in 1979, its composition
1155-526: Was established in 1887 and abolished in 1891. It was reestablished in 1897 and issued its first decision in September 1899, affirming the right of the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway to enter and use Jacksonville Union Terminal As Florida grew, the commission's purpose expanded. In 1911, it gained jurisdiction over telephone services, followed by motor carrier transportation in 1929. Its name
1190-473: Was granted in 1992. The FPSC consists of five members with experience in fields including economics , accounting , engineering, finance, natural resource conservation , energy, public affairs, and law. The governor appoints the commissioners, who are then confirmed by the Florida Senate . Commissioners serve four-year terms without term limits. Prior to 1979, three commissioners were elected in
1225-411: Was sold at a bankruptcy auction. Each major railroad wanted the line, but they were all afraid of a bidding war , so they agreed to allow an independent company to win the auction unopposed. Unfortunately for them, that independent company, Assets Realization of New York , had bought it for scrap value. Residents and companies along the line and connecting railroads protested, and brought the case all
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