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{{short description|Historic railroad in Central Florida}}
{{Short description|Historic railroad in Central Florida}}
{{Infobox rail
{{Infobox rail
| railroad_name=South Florida Railroad
| railroad_name=South Florida Railroad
| system_map={{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|text=Map of West Coast Line|from=South Florida Railroad.map}}
| map_caption=Interactive Map of South Florida Railroad main line (red) and branches (dark red)
| logo_filename=
| logo_filename=
| logo_size=
| logo_size=
Line 9: Line 11:
| locale=[[Florida]]
| locale=[[Florida]]
| start_year=1880
| start_year=1880
| end_year=1893
| end_year=1902
| successor_line=[[Plant System]]
| successor_line=[[Plant System]]<br>[[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]]
| hq_city=
| hq_city=
}}
}}
Line 28: Line 30:
On May 4, 1883, [[Henry B. Plant]] and his [[Plant System]] (headed by the [[Savannah, Florida and Western Railway]]) bought 3/5 of the stock of the South Florida after an unsuccessful attempt to buy the [[Florida Southern Railway]]. Plant had made an agreement with the Florida Southern not to build the SF&W south of [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]] or [[Palatka, Florida|Palatka]], the northern ends of the Florida Southern, but the existing South Florida was immune from this. Plant then made agreements with all the railroads building towards Tampa except for the [[Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad]]. Specifically, the Florida Southern would not build any lines south of [[Pemberton's Ferry, Florida|Pemberton's Ferry]] and [[Brooksville, Florida|Brooksville]] or north of [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]], and the South Florida would build its Pemberton Ferry Branch between the two and assign [[trackage rights]] to the Florida Southern. The agreement with the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] specified that that company would only build north of [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]; in both cases the South Florida would give up their rights to the territories given to the other companies. The JT&KW had already done some grading at [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]] and [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], and sold them to the South Florida.
On May 4, 1883, [[Henry B. Plant]] and his [[Plant System]] (headed by the [[Savannah, Florida and Western Railway]]) bought 3/5 of the stock of the South Florida after an unsuccessful attempt to buy the [[Florida Southern Railway]]. Plant had made an agreement with the Florida Southern not to build the SF&W south of [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]] or [[Palatka, Florida|Palatka]], the northern ends of the Florida Southern, but the existing South Florida was immune from this. Plant then made agreements with all the railroads building towards Tampa except for the [[Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad]]. Specifically, the Florida Southern would not build any lines south of [[Pemberton's Ferry, Florida|Pemberton's Ferry]] and [[Brooksville, Florida|Brooksville]] or north of [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]], and the South Florida would build its Pemberton Ferry Branch between the two and assign [[trackage rights]] to the Florida Southern. The agreement with the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] specified that that company would only build north of [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]; in both cases the South Florida would give up their rights to the territories given to the other companies. The JT&KW had already done some grading at [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]] and [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], and sold them to the South Florida.


Thus two railroads remained in a race towards Tampa - the South Florida and the [[Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad]]. The South Florida managed to get there first, and obtained the best ports (now known as [[Port Tampa]]). The South Florida's original passenger depot in Tampa was located on the east side of the intersection of Ashley and Madison Streets.<ref name="TBT">{{cite web |title=First Railroads in Tampa |url=http://tampabaytrains.com/firstRailroadsInTampa.htm |website=Tampa Bay Trains |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615141631/http://tampabaytrains.com/firstRailroadsInTampa.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Tampa end opened on December 10, 1883, and on January 25, 1884 service began over the full line, built to {{track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]]. On February 20, 1886 the {{track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] opened to Sanford, and the South Florida was converted to standard gauge on September 22.
[[File:SunRail Church Street.jpg|thumb|250px|South Florida Railroad's historic Church Street Station in 2014. It now serves SunRail trains.]]
Thus two railroads remained in a race towards Tampa - the South Florida and the [[Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad]]. The South Florida managed to get there first, and obtained the best ports (now known as [[Port Tampa]]). The South Florida's original passenger depot in Tampa was located on the east side of the intersection of Ashley and Madison Streets.<ref name="TBT">{{cite web |title=First Railroads in Tampa |url=http://tampabaytrains.com/firstRailroadsInTampa.htm |website=Tampa Bay Trains |accessdate=26 May 2020}}</ref> The Tampa end opened on December 10, 1883, and on January 25, 1884 service began over the full line, built to {{track gauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]]. On February 20, 1886 the {{track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] opened to Sanford, and the South Florida was converted to standard gauge on September 22.


In 1893 the [[Savannah, Florida and Western Railway]] ([[Plant System]]) directly acquired the South Florida. Henry Plant died in 1899, which led his heirs to sell the Plant System to the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] in 1902. The Atlantic Coast Line would then designate the South Florida Railroad main line (along with the main line of the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] and other railroads to the north) as their nearly 900-mile main line from [[Richmond, Virginia]] to Tampa.<ref name="Turner">{{cite book|last1=Turner|first1=Gregg|title=A Short History of Florida Railroads|date=2003|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-2421-4}}</ref>
In 1893 the [[Savannah, Florida and Western Railway]] ([[Plant System]]) directly acquired the South Florida. Henry Plant died in 1899, which led his heirs to sell the Plant System to the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] in 1902. The Atlantic Coast Line would then designate the South Florida Railroad main line (along with the main line of the [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] and other railroads to the north) as their nearly 900-mile main line from [[Richmond, Virginia]] to Tampa.<ref name="Turner">{{cite book|last1=Turner|first1=Gregg|title=A Short History of Florida Railroads|date=2003|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-2421-4}}</ref>


In 1967 the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] (who operated the former [[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]], the South Florida's former competitor), becoming the [[Seaboard Coast Line Railroad]]. Seaboard Coast Line eventually became [[CSX]] in the 1980s, and the South Florida/Atlantic Coast Line main line now operates as part of one of its two main lines in the area, known as the "A" Line.
In 1967 the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] (who operated the former [[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]], the South Florida's former competitor), becoming the [[Seaboard Coast Line Railroad]]. Seaboard Coast Line eventually became [[CSX]] in the 1980s, and the South Florida/Atlantic Coast Line main line now operates as part of one of its two main lines in the area, known as the "A" Line.


In 2011, CSX sold the line from Poinciana north (as well as part of the former [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]]) to the [[Florida Department of Transportation]]. This state-owned segment is now known as the Central Florida Rail Corridor, which makes up a vast majority of the track that the [[SunRail]] commuter rail service operates on. SunRail began operation on May 1, 2014 from [[Sand Lake Road station|Sand Lake Road]] north to [[DeBary station|DeBary]] and extended service south to [[Poinciana station|Poinciana]] on July 30, 2018. SunRail also revived passenger service to the South Florida Railroad's historic [[Church Street Station (Orlando)|Church Street Station]] in Downtown Orlando.
In 2011, CSX sold the line from Poinciana north (as well as part of the former [[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]]) to the [[Florida Department of Transportation]]. This state-owned segment is known as the Central Florida Rail Corridor, which includes most of the track that the [[SunRail]] commuter rail service operates on. SunRail began operation on May 1, 2014, from [[Sand Lake Road station|Sand Lake Road]] north to [[DeBary station|DeBary]] and extended service south to [[Poinciana station|Poinciana]] on July 30, 2018. SunRail also revived passenger service to the South Florida Railroad's historic [[Church Street Station (Orlando)|Church Street Station]] in Downtown Orlando.

{{Clear}}


==Lines==
==Lines==
===Main Line===
===Main Line===
{{see also|Main Line (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)}}
{{South Florida Railroad}}
{{South Florida Railroad}}
[[File:SunRail Church Street.jpg|left|thumb|250px|South Florida Railroad's historic Church Street Station in 2014. It now serves SunRail trains.]]
When completed in 1884, the South Florida Railroad's main line ran from Sanford southwest through Orlando and Lakeland to Tampa, terminating at Port Tampa. The main line today runs south of and roughly parallel to [[Interstate 4]]. Some of the towns along the line were named for railroad officials. [[Plant City, Florida|Plant City]] was named for Henry Plant, and [[Haines City, Florida|Haines City]] was named for Colonel [[Henry Haines]], who organized the construction of the line and was considered to be Plant's most trusted employee.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgPWo-qn5AkC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=%2522colonel+henry+haines%2522+civil+war&source=bl&ots=XLA8d011Zg&sig=w1BVtuXRos7TXEjuobqL0n0MFXA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GRPwUbLvGpCm9gS1s4DACA&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%2522colonel%2520henry%2520haines%2522%2520civil%2520war&f=false|title=The Two Henrys: Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads|last=Sammons|first=Sandra Wallus|date=2010-01-01|publisher=Pineapple Press Inc|isbn=9781561644612|page=13|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19600814&id=W38wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912,1492998&hl=en | title=First Polk Settlers Had to Build Towns, Then Name Them | work=[[Lakeland Ledger]] | date=14 August 1960 | accessdate=22 April 2015 | author=Whitehead, Bill | pages=7-A}}</ref>
When completed in 1884, the South Florida Railroad's main line ran from Sanford southwest through Orlando and Lakeland to Tampa, terminating at Port Tampa. The main line today runs south of and roughly parallel to [[Interstate 4]]. Some of the towns along the line were named for railroad officials. [[Plant City, Florida|Plant City]] was named for Henry Plant, and [[Haines City, Florida|Haines City]] was named for Colonel [[Henry Haines]], who organized the construction of the line and was considered to be Plant's most trusted employee.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgPWo-qn5AkC&q=%2522colonel%2520henry%2520haines%2522%2520civil%2520war&pg=PA13|title=The Two Henrys: Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads|last=Sammons|first=Sandra Wallus|date=2010-01-01|publisher=Pineapple Press Inc|isbn=9781561644612|page=13|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19600814&id=W38wAAAAIBAJ&pg=6912,1492998&hl=en | title=First Polk Settlers Had to Build Towns, Then Name Them | work=[[Lakeland Ledger]] | date=14 August 1960 | accessdate=22 April 2015 | author=Whitehead, Bill | pages=7–A}}</ref>


The main line remains in service and is today the southernmost segment of CSX's A Line and the Central Florida Rail Corridor. The line now operates in the following segments:
The main line remains in service and is today the southernmost segment of CSX's [[Main Line (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)|A Line]]
* [[SunRail|Central Florida Rail Corridor]] (Sanford to Poinciana)
* CSX (Poinciana to Port Tampa)
* CSX (Poinciana to Port Tampa)
** [[Carters Subdivision]] (Poinciana to South Lakeland)
** [[Carters Subdivision]] (Poinciana to South Lakeland)
Line 51: Line 55:
[[Amtrak]] continues to operate passenger service on the line and uses it to reach [[Tampa Union Station]]. Amtrak's Miami-bound trains also travel the line to [[Auburndale, Florida|Auburndale]] and turn south on to the [[Florida Western and Northern Railroad|Auburndale Subdivision]].
[[Amtrak]] continues to operate passenger service on the line and uses it to reach [[Tampa Union Station]]. Amtrak's Miami-bound trains also travel the line to [[Auburndale, Florida|Auburndale]] and turn south on to the [[Florida Western and Northern Railroad|Auburndale Subdivision]].


Prior to the sale of the north end of the line to FDOT, the line was part of CSX's [[Sanford Subdivision]] from Auburndale north. Since the sale, CSX only operates local freight on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. Freight service on the CFRC is based out of Taft Yard in Pine Castle, which CSX still owns. All of CSX's through freight traffic to northern Florida now uses the adjacent [[Wildwood Subdivision|S Line]]. The [[Florida Central Railroad (current)|Florida Central Railroad]], which connects to the Central Florida Rail Corridor in Downtown Orlando, also has freight trackage rights from its connection south to Taft Yard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harmon |first1=Danny |title=How CSX Numbers Its Trains |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGW3MERGFKE |website=YouTube |accessdate=23 August 2018}}</ref>
Prior to the sale of the north end of the line to FDOT, the line was part of CSX's [[Sanford Subdivision]] from Auburndale north. Since the sale, CSX only operates local freight on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. Freight service on the CFRC is based out of Taft Yard in Pine Castle, which CSX still owns. All of CSX's through freight traffic to northern Florida now uses the adjacent [[Wildwood Subdivision|S Line]]. The [[Florida Central Railroad (current)|Florida Central Railroad]], which connects to the Central Florida Rail Corridor in Downtown Orlando, also has freight trackage rights from its connection south to Taft Yard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harmon |first1=Danny |title=How CSX Numbers Its Trains |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGW3MERGFKE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/oGW3MERGFKE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |date=12 August 2018 |accessdate=23 August 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


===Pemberton Ferry Branch===
===Pemberton Ferry Branch===
{{see also|DuPont—Lakeland Line|Lakeland—Fort Myers Line}}
{{SFR Pemberton Ferry Branch}}
{{SFR Pemberton Ferry Branch}}
Part of the agreement worked out by Henry Plant between the South Florida and the [[Florida Southern Railway]] specified that the South Florida would build the north-south Pemberton Ferry Branch. This branch began at a junction with the Florida Southern at [[Pemberton Ferry, Florida|Pemberton Ferry]] (known today as Croom), running south-southeast across the mainline at [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]] to [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]]. South of Bartow, the Florida Southern continued to [[Punta Gorda, Florida|Punta Gorda]], using trackage rights over the branch. The branch was completed in September 1884. Once the [[Bone Valley]] [[phosphate]] district was discovered near Lakeland, pressure increased to [[standard-gauge]] the line, and that was done on August 7, 1891.<ref name="Turner"/>
Part of the agreement worked out by Henry Plant between the South Florida and the [[Florida Southern Railway]] specified that the South Florida would build the north-south Pemberton Ferry Branch. This branch began at a junction with the Florida Southern at [[Pemberton Ferry, Florida|Pemberton Ferry]] (known today as Croom), running south-southeast across the mainline at [[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]] to [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]]. South of Bartow, the Florida Southern continued to [[Punta Gorda, Florida|Punta Gorda]], using trackage rights over the branch. The branch was completed in September 1884. Once the [[Bone Valley]] [[phosphate]] district was discovered near Lakeland, pressure increased to [[standard-gauge]] the line, and that was done on August 7, 1891.<ref name="Turner"/>
Line 59: Line 64:
After the Plant System bought the South Florida, an extension was built north from Pemberton Ferry to [[Inverness, Florida|Inverness]], where the Plant System's [[Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad]] continued north, which was completed in 1891.<ref name="Turner"/>
After the Plant System bought the South Florida, an extension was built north from Pemberton Ferry to [[Inverness, Florida|Inverness]], where the Plant System's [[Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad]] continued north, which was completed in 1891.<ref name="Turner"/>


In the Atlantic Coast Line era, the north leg of the Pemberton Ferry Branch would serve as the southernmost segment of their R Line, which ran from [[Du Pont, Georgia|DuPont, Georgia]] to Lakeland via [[High Springs, Florida|High Springs]].<ref name="ACL">[http://multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/ACL/ACL%20ETT%20Southern%20Div%20%233%2012-16-1949.pdf Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Southern Division Timetable (1949)]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harmon |first1=Danny |title=What Those CSX Letter Prefixes Mean |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Zhshc6bEY&t=288s |website=YouTube |accessdate=10 June 2020}}</ref>
In the Atlantic Coast Line era, the north leg of the Pemberton Ferry Branch would serve as the southernmost segment of their R Line, which ran from [[Du Pont, Georgia|DuPont, Georgia]] to Lakeland via [[High Springs, Florida|High Springs]].<ref name="ACL">[http://multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/companies/ACL/ACL%20ETT%20Southern%20Div%20%233%2012-16-1949.pdf Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Southern Division Timetable (1949)]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harmon |first1=Danny |title=What Those CSX Letter Prefixes Mean |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Zhshc6bEY&t=288s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/T0Zhshc6bEY |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |date=6 April 2020 |accessdate=10 June 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By the 1920s, the line was busy enough that the Atlantic Coast Line expanded the line north of Vitis Junction to double track to increase capacity.<ref name="Turner" />


The line is also notable for being the location of the Great Train Wreck of 1956 in [[Pineola, Florida|Pineola]] (just north of Pemberton Ferry), which was head-on collision between two [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] freight trains on October 18, 1956, a killing five crewmen. A signpost at the site of the crash on the [[Withlacoochee State Trail]] memorializes the event.<ref>{{cite video |people=[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:DanTD DanTD] |date=December 3, 2009 |title=WST Great Train Wreck of 1956(Pineola, Florida) |url= http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WST_Great_Train_Wreck_of_1956(Pineola,_Florida).jpg |medium= photograph |accessdate= April 3, 2013 }}</ref>
The line is also notable for being the location of the Great Train Wreck of 1956 in [[Pineola, Florida|Pineola]] (just north of Pemberton Ferry), which was head-on collision between two [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] freight trains on October 18, 1956, killing five crewmen. A signpost at the site of the crash on the [[Withlacoochee State Trail]] memorializes the event.<ref>{{cite video |people=[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:DanTD DanTD] |date=December 3, 2009 |title=WST Great Train Wreck of 1956(Pineola, Florida) |url= http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WST_Great_Train_Wreck_of_1956(Pineola,_Florida).jpg |medium= photograph |accessdate= April 3, 2013 }}</ref>


The branch's north leg is still in service from Lakeland to Owensboro (just southwest of Lacoochee) and the south leg is still in service from the main line to Eaton Park. The abandoned segment north of Owensboro is now part of the [[Withlacoochee State Trail]] (which also continues up the abandoned extension to Inverness).<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Withlacoochee State Trail|url=https://www.floridastateparks.org/trail/Withlacoochee|website=Florida State Parks|accessdate=30 August 2017}}</ref> The south leg is now an industrial spur. The [[Fort Fraser Trail]] today runs along the abandoned right-of way from Eaton Park south to Bartow.
The branch's north leg is still in service from Lakeland to Owensboro (just southwest of Lacoochee) and the south leg is still in service from the main line to Eaton Park. The abandoned segment north of Owensboro is now part of the [[Withlacoochee State Trail]] (which also continues up the abandoned extension to Inverness).<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Withlacoochee State Trail|url=https://www.floridastateparks.org/trail/Withlacoochee|website=Florida State Parks|accessdate=30 August 2017}}</ref> The south leg is now an industrial spur. The [[Fort Fraser Trail]] today runs along the abandoned right-of way from Eaton Park south to Bartow.
Line 68: Line 73:
* [[Wildwood Subdivision]] (Owensboro to Vitis Junction)
* [[Wildwood Subdivision]] (Owensboro to Vitis Junction)
* [[Vitis Subdivision]] (Vitis Junction to Lakeland)
* [[Vitis Subdivision]] (Vitis Junction to Lakeland)
* '''CH Spur''' (Lakeland to Eaton Park)
* [[Carters Subdivision|CH Spur]] (Lakeland to Eaton Park)


===Bartow Branch===
===Bartow Branch===
{{SFR Bartow Branch}}
{{SFR Bartow Branch}}
The charter specified that the railroad must pass through [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]]; thus the Bartow Branch was built from the mainline at [[Lake Alfred, Florida|Lake Alfred]] (Bartow Junction) southwest to Bartow. It opened in 1884 and was standard gauged on September 23, 1886.
The charter specified that the railroad must pass through [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]]; thus the Bartow Branch was built from the mainline at [[Lake Alfred, Florida|Lake Alfred]] (Bartow Junction) southwest to Bartow. It opened in 1884 and was standard gauged on September 23, 1886.

In the Atlantic Coast Line era, many of their passenger trains to [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]] and [[Naples, Florida|Naples]] would run on the Bartow Branch.<ref name="ACL"/>


Part of the Bartow branch remains today from [[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]] south to Gordonville (just northeast of Bartow). This segment is operated by the [[Florida Midland Railroad (current)|Florida Midland Railroad]]. The abandoned segment between Lake Alfred and Winter Haven is now the route of the [[Chain of Lakes Trail]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Construction Begins on Chain of Lakes Trail Pedestrian Bridge|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20130730/construction-begins-on-chain-of-lakes-trail-pedestrian-bridge|accessdate=30 March 2017|agency=The Ledger}}</ref>
Part of the Bartow branch remains today from [[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]] south to Gordonville (just northeast of Bartow). This segment is operated by the [[Florida Midland Railroad (current)|Florida Midland Railroad]]. The abandoned segment between Lake Alfred and Winter Haven is now the route of the [[Chain of Lakes Trail]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Construction Begins on Chain of Lakes Trail Pedestrian Bridge|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20130730/construction-begins-on-chain-of-lakes-trail-pedestrian-bridge|accessdate=30 March 2017|agency=The Ledger}}</ref>
Line 78: Line 85:
===Other Branches===
===Other Branches===
;Lake Charm
;Lake Charm
The '''Sanford and Indian River Railroad''' was chartered in 1881 to run from [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]] southeast to [[Oviedo, Florida|Oviedo]] and [[Lake Charm]]. The South Florida leased it in 1883, and it was standard gauged on September 21, 1886. Today, the route is still in service as CSX's Aloma Spur from Sanford to [[Winter Springs, Florida|Winter Springs]]. The [[Cross Seminole Trail]] runs along the former right of way from Winter Springs to Oviedo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cross Seminole Trail... Seminole County Biking Trail|url=http://www.bikeorlando.net/cross-seminole-trail.htm|website=Bike Orlando|accessdate=16 May 2017}}</ref>
The [[Sanford and Indian River Railroad]] was chartered in 1881 to run from [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]] southeast to [[Oviedo, Florida|Oviedo]] and [[Lake Charm]]. The South Florida leased it in 1883, and it was standard gauged on September 21, 1886. Today, the route is still in service as CSX's Aloma Spur from Sanford to [[Winter Springs, Florida|Winter Springs]]. The [[Cross Seminole Trail]] runs along the former right of way from Winter Springs to Oviedo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cross Seminole Trail... Seminole County Biking Trail|url=http://www.bikeorlando.net/cross-seminole-trail.htm|website=Bike Orlando|accessdate=16 May 2017}}</ref>


;Apopka
;Apopka
Line 86: Line 93:
The '''St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway''' was incorporated in 1888 to connect [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] to [[St. Cloud, Florida|St. Cloud]] and [[Narcoossee, Florida|Narcoossee]]. It was immediately operated by the South Florida, and was merged into it in 1893. Neptune Road runs along some of the former right of way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kissimmee to Narcoossee|url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Kissimmee_to_Narcoossee|website=Abandoned Rails|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref>
The '''St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway''' was incorporated in 1888 to connect [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] to [[St. Cloud, Florida|St. Cloud]] and [[Narcoossee, Florida|Narcoossee]]. It was immediately operated by the South Florida, and was merged into it in 1893. Neptune Road runs along some of the former right of way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kissimmee to Narcoossee|url=http://www.abandonedrails.com/Kissimmee_to_Narcoossee|website=Abandoned Rails|accessdate=7 December 2016}}</ref>


==Historic stations==

==Station listing==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Main Line
!Milepost
!Milepost
!City
!City/Location
!Station<ref name="Ferguson">{{cite web |title=Florida Railroads: Passenger Stations & Stops |url=http://www.railwaystationlists.co.uk/pdfusarr/floridarrs.pdf |website=Jim Fergusson's Railway and Tramway Station Lists |accessdate=5 June 2020}}</ref>
!Station
!Opening date
!Opening Date
!Connections and notes
!Connections and notes
|-
|-
|{{ACL mi|A}} 766.4
|{{ACL mi|A}} 766.3
|[[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]
|[[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]
|[[Sanford (ACL station)|Sanford]]
|[[Sanford (ACL station)|Sanford]]
|1880
|1880
|junction with:<br>{{bulleted list
|rebuilt in 1913 and 1953<br>junction with:<br>{{bulleted list
|[[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|[[Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|[[Sanford and Lake Eustis Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|[[Sanford and Lake Eustis Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|[[Sanford and Indian River Railroad]] (SFRR)
|[[Sanford and Indian River Railroad]] (SFRR/ACL)}}
|[[Orange Belt Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])}}
|-
|-
|
|
Line 112: Line 118:
|-
|-
|A 771.3
|A 771.3
|[[Lake Mary, Florida|Lake Mary]]
|
|Lake Mary
|Lake Mary
|1888 c.
|1888 c.
|
|
|-
|-
|A 774.4
|
|
|
|Soldiers Creek
|Soldiers Creek
Line 124: Line 130:
|-
|-
|A 778.4
|A 778.4
|[[Longwood, Florida|Longwood]]
|
|Longwood
|Longwood
|1880
|1880
Line 132: Line 138:
|-
|-
|A 781.3
|A 781.3
|[[Altamonte Springs, Florida|Altamonte Springs]]
|
|Altamonte Springs
|Altamonte Springs
|1880
|1880
Line 144: Line 150:
|-
|-
|A 783.0
|A 783.0
|[[Maitland, Florida|Maitland]]
|
|Maitland
|Maitland
|1880
|1880
Line 153: Line 159:
|[[Winter Park (Amtrak station)|Winter Park]]
|[[Winter Park (Amtrak station)|Winter Park]]
|1882
|1882
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Meteor]], [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]] and [[Sunset Limited]]
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Meteor]], [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]] and [[Sunset Limited]]<br>rebuilt in 1912 and 1962
|-
|-
|
|
Line 161: Line 167:
|
|
|-
|-
|A 790.4
|A 791.1
|! rowspan="2" |[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
|! rowspan="2" |[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]
|[[Church Street Station (Orlando)|Church Street Station]]
|[[Church Street Station (Orlando)|Church Street Station]]
Line 169: Line 175:
|[[East Florida and Atlantic Railroad]] ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])}}
|[[East Florida and Atlantic Railroad]] ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])}}
|-
|-
|A 790.4
|
|[[Orlando Health/Amtrak station|Orlando]]
|[[Orlando Health/Amtrak station|Orlando]]
|1926
|1926
Line 199: Line 205:
|-
|-
|A 793.1
|A 793.1
|[[Pine Castle, Florida|Pine Castle]]
|
|Pine Castle
|Pine Castle
|1882
|1882
Line 205: Line 211:
|-
|-
|A 798.4
|A 798.4
|[[Taft, Florida|Taft]]
|
|Taft
|Taft
|1886 c.
|1886 c.
Line 231: Line 237:
|-
|-
|A 812.0
|A 812.0
|[[Campbell, Florida|Campbell]]
|
|Campbell
|Campbells
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|A 819.1
|[[Loughman, Florida|Loughman]]
|Loughman
|
|
|originally Lake Locke
|
|Lake Locke
|
|
|-
|-
|
|
Line 278: Line 284:
|
|
|-
|-
|A 844.7
|
|
|Carters Kill
|
|-
|
|
|[[Acton, Florida|Acton]]
|Acton
|Acton
|
|
|Absorbed into Lakeland by 1894.
|
|-
|-
|A 851.8
|A 851.8
Line 288: Line 299:
|[[Lakeland (Amtrak station)|Lakeland]]
|[[Lakeland (Amtrak station)|Lakeland]]
|1884
|1884
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]<br>junction with Pemberton Ferry Branch
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]<br>rebuilt in 1910 and 1998<br>junction with Pemberton Ferry Branch
|-
|A 855.4
|
|[[Winston, Florida|Winston]]
|
|junction with [[Winston and Bone Valley Railroad]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|-
|A 858.4
|
|Youmans
|
|
|-
|-
|A 861.1
|A 861.1
Line 294: Line 317:
|Plant City
|Plant City
|
|
|junction with:<br>{{bulleted list
|replaced by [[Plant City Union Depot]] in 1909<br>junction with:<br>{{bulleted list
|[[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]] Tampa Division ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])
|[[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]] Tampa Division ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])
|[[Plant City, Arcadia, and Gulf Railroad]] ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])}}
|[[Plant City, Arcadia, and Gulf Railroad]] ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])}}
|-
|-
|A 867.8
|
|
|[[Dover, Florida|Dover]]
|
|
|also known as Cork<ref>{{cite web |title=HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY REPORT. |url=https://moam.info/dover-hillsborough-community-atlas_59d37d371723ddc0d88df79c.html |accessdate=28 October 2020}}</ref>
|Cork
|
|
|-
|-
|
|
Line 310: Line 333:
|
|
|-
|-
|A 870.9
|
|
|
|Seffner
|Seffner
Line 324: Line 347:
|
|
|
|
|Orient
|[[Orient Park, Florida|Orient]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|A 878.8
|
|! rowspan="7" |[[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]
|
|[[Uceta Yard|Uceta]]
|East Cove
|
|
|junction with [[Tampa Southern Railroad]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|junction with [[Tampa Southern Railroad]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|-
|-
|A 879.6
|A 879.6
|! rowspan="3" |[[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]
|Thonotosassa Junction
|Thonotosassa Junction
|
|
Line 353: Line 375:
|-
|-
|
|
|[[Henry B. Plant Museum|Tampa Bay Hotel]]
|
|located on a wye
|-
|
|
|Citronia
|Citronia
Line 359: Line 385:
|-
|-
|A 890.1
|A 890.1
|
|Port Tampa
|Port Tampa
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|}
!colspan=6|

===Pemberton Ferry Branch===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Pemberton Ferry Branch
!Milepost
!City/Location
!Station<ref name="Ferguson"/>
!Opening Date
!Connections and notes
|-
|-
|{{nowrap|AR 794.3}}
|{{nowrap|AR 794.3}}
Line 380: Line 412:
|-
|-
|AR 812.2
|AR 812.2
||[[Istachatta, Florida|Istachatta]]
|
|[[Istachatta, Florida|Istachatta]]
|Istachatta
|
|
|
|
Line 404: Line 436:
|-
|-
|
|
|[[Rital, Florida|Rital]]
|
|Bay City
|Bay City
|
|
Line 410: Line 442:
|-
|-
|AR 823.3
|AR 823.3
|
|[[Trilby, Florida|Trilby]]
|[[Trilby, Florida|Trilby]]
|Trilby
|
|
|junction with [[Orange Belt Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|junction with [[Orange Belt Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|-
|-
|AR 824.7
|AR 824.7
|
|[[Trilacoochee, Florida|Owensboro]]
|[[Trilacoochee, Florida|Owensboro]]
|Owensboro
|
|
|junction with [[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]] Tampa Division ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])
|junction with [[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]] Tampa Division ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])
Line 457: Line 489:
|
|
|-
|-
|A 851.8
|AR 856.5<br>A 851.8<br>AX 851.8
|[[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]]
|[[Lakeland, Florida|Lakeland]]
|[[Lakeland (Amtrak station)|Lakeland]]
|[[Lakeland (Amtrak station)|Lakeland]]
|1884
|1884
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]<br>junction with Main Line
|[[Amtrak]] [[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]<br>junction with Main Line
|-
|AX 859.0
|[[Highland City, Florida|Highland City]]
|Haskell
|
|later renamed Highland City
|-
|-
|AX 864.0
|AX 864.0
Line 472: Line 510:
|[[Florida Southern Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])}}
|[[Florida Southern Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])}}
|-
|-
|}
!colspan=6|


{| class="wikitable"
===Bartow Branch===
|+ Bartow Branch
!Milepost
!City/Location
!Station<ref name="Ferguson"/>
!Opening Date
!Connections and notes
|-
|-
|{{nowrap|AW 835.6}}
|{{nowrap|AW 835.6}}
Line 480: Line 524:
|Lake Alfred
|Lake Alfred
|
|
|originally Bartow Junction
|originally Bartow Junction<br>junction with Main Line
junction with Main Line
|-
|-
|AW 839.1
|AW 839.1
|! rowspan="2" |[[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]]
|
|Florence Villa
|Florence Villa
|
|
|junction with Niles Branch
|
|-
|-
|AW 842.0
|AW 842.0
|[[Winter Haven, Florida|Winter Haven]]
|Winter Haven
|Winter Haven
|
|
Line 514: Line 556:
|Pemberton Ferry Branch|[[Florida Southern Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|Pemberton Ferry Branch|[[Florida Southern Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|[[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] [[Valrico Subdivision]]}}
|[[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] [[Valrico Subdivision]]}}
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Lake Charm Branch
!Milepost
!City/Location
!Station<ref name="Ferguson"/>
!Opening Date
!Connections and notes
|-
|AU 766.0
|[[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]]
|Sanford
|
|junction with Main Line
|-
|
|
|French Avenue
|
|
|-
|
|
|Speer Grove
|
|
|-
|AU 769.2
|
|Fort Reed
|
|
|-
|
|
|Onoro
|
|
|-
|AU 770.0
|
|Silver Lake
|
|
|-
|
|
|Rutledge
|
|
|-
|AU 771.6
|
|[[Lake Jesup]]
|
|
|-
|
|
|Clydes
|
|
|-
|
|
|Clifton
|
|junction with [[Florida Midland Railway (defunct)|Florida Midland Railway]] ([[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad|ACL]])
|-
|
|
|Tuscawilla
|
|
|-
|AU 785.5
|[[Oviedo, Florida|Oviedo]]
|Oviedo
|
|junction with [[Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad]] Orlando Division ([[Seaboard Air Line Railroad|SAL]])
|-
|AU 786.9
|
|Lake Charm
|
|
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Narcoossee Branch
!Milepost
!City/Location
!Station<ref name="Ferguson"/>
!Opening Date
!Connections and notes
|-
|0.0
|[[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]]
|Kissimmee
|
|junction with Main Line
|-
|1.0
|
|Hammock Grove
|
|
|-
|4.5
|
|Peghorn
|
|
|-
|9.0
|[[St. Cloud, Florida|St. Cloud]]
|St. Cloud
|
|
|-
|10.0
|
|Ashton
|
|
|-
|11.0
|
|Peen-To
|
|
|-
|12.8
|
|Runnymede
|
|
|-
|14.4
|[[Narcoossee, Florida|Narcoossee]]
|Narcoossee
|
|
|-
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://taplines.net/southflorida/southflorida Tap Lines - The South Florida Railroad]
*[http://taplines.net/southflorida/southflorida Tap Lines - The South Florida Railroad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523085816/http://taplines.net/southflorida/southflorida |date=2005-05-23 }}
*[https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/755 List of coordinates] of the Sanford and Indian River Railroad
*[https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/755 List of coordinates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170949/https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/755 |date=2015-12-22 }} of the Sanford and Indian River Railroad

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:South Florida Railroad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Florida Railroad}}

Latest revision as of 17:38, 15 November 2024

South Florida Railroad
Map
Interactive Map of South Florida Railroad main line (red) and branches (dark red)
Overview
LocaleFlorida
Dates of operation1880–1902
SuccessorPlant System
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Previous gaugeoriginally 3 ft (914 mm) gauge

1888 map

The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Sanford, Florida, to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. It served as the southernmost segment of the Atlantic Coast Line's main line. The line remains in service today and is now part of the Central Florida Rail Corridor in the Orlando metro area. The rest of the line remains under the ownership of CSX Transportation as part of their A Line.

History

[edit]

The Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad was organized in 1875 with a charter to build from the St. Johns River port of Sanford south to Orlando. The South Florida Railroad was incorporated on October 16, 1878, but was unable to obtain a charter until December 9, 1879, when it took over the charter of the Lake Monroe and Orlando, which was in danger of losing its land grants. The South Florida first ran on November 11, 1880, running the short distance between Sanford and Orlando. However the company had plans to continue to the Gulf of Mexico, reaching it at Tampa.

Henry B. Plant

On May 4, 1883, Henry B. Plant and his Plant System (headed by the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway) bought 3/5 of the stock of the South Florida after an unsuccessful attempt to buy the Florida Southern Railway. Plant had made an agreement with the Florida Southern not to build the SF&W south of Gainesville or Palatka, the northern ends of the Florida Southern, but the existing South Florida was immune from this. Plant then made agreements with all the railroads building towards Tampa except for the Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad. Specifically, the Florida Southern would not build any lines south of Pemberton's Ferry and Brooksville or north of Bartow, and the South Florida would build its Pemberton Ferry Branch between the two and assign trackage rights to the Florida Southern. The agreement with the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway specified that that company would only build north of Sanford; in both cases the South Florida would give up their rights to the territories given to the other companies. The JT&KW had already done some grading at Bartow and Tampa, and sold them to the South Florida.

Thus two railroads remained in a race towards Tampa - the South Florida and the Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad. The South Florida managed to get there first, and obtained the best ports (now known as Port Tampa). The South Florida's original passenger depot in Tampa was located on the east side of the intersection of Ashley and Madison Streets.[1] The Tampa end opened on December 10, 1883, and on January 25, 1884 service began over the full line, built to 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge. On February 20, 1886 the 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway opened to Sanford, and the South Florida was converted to standard gauge on September 22.

In 1893 the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway (Plant System) directly acquired the South Florida. Henry Plant died in 1899, which led his heirs to sell the Plant System to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The Atlantic Coast Line would then designate the South Florida Railroad main line (along with the main line of the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway and other railroads to the north) as their nearly 900-mile main line from Richmond, Virginia to Tampa.[2]

In 1967 the Atlantic Coast Line merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (who operated the former Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad, the South Florida's former competitor), becoming the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. Seaboard Coast Line eventually became CSX in the 1980s, and the South Florida/Atlantic Coast Line main line now operates as part of one of its two main lines in the area, known as the "A" Line.

In 2011, CSX sold the line from Poinciana north (as well as part of the former Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway) to the Florida Department of Transportation. This state-owned segment is known as the Central Florida Rail Corridor, which includes most of the track that the SunRail commuter rail service operates on. SunRail began operation on May 1, 2014, from Sand Lake Road north to DeBary and extended service south to Poinciana on July 30, 2018. SunRail also revived passenger service to the South Florida Railroad's historic Church Street Station in Downtown Orlando.

Lines

[edit]

Main Line

[edit]
See also: Main Line (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)
South Florida Railroad's historic Church Street Station in 2014. It now serves SunRail trains.

When completed in 1884, the South Florida Railroad's main line ran from Sanford southwest through Orlando and Lakeland to Tampa, terminating at Port Tampa. The main line today runs south of and roughly parallel to Interstate 4. Some of the towns along the line were named for railroad officials. Plant City was named for Henry Plant, and Haines City was named for Colonel Henry Haines, who organized the construction of the line and was considered to be Plant's most trusted employee.[3][4]

The main line remains in service and is today the southernmost segment of CSX's A Line

Amtrak continues to operate passenger service on the line and uses it to reach Tampa Union Station. Amtrak's Miami-bound trains also travel the line to Auburndale and turn south on to the Auburndale Subdivision.

Prior to the sale of the north end of the line to FDOT, the line was part of CSX's Sanford Subdivision from Auburndale north. Since the sale, CSX only operates local freight on the Central Florida Rail Corridor. Freight service on the CFRC is based out of Taft Yard in Pine Castle, which CSX still owns. All of CSX's through freight traffic to northern Florida now uses the adjacent S Line. The Florida Central Railroad, which connects to the Central Florida Rail Corridor in Downtown Orlando, also has freight trackage rights from its connection south to Taft Yard.[5]

Pemberton Ferry Branch

[edit]
See also: DuPont—Lakeland Line and Lakeland—Fort Myers Line

Part of the agreement worked out by Henry Plant between the South Florida and the Florida Southern Railway specified that the South Florida would build the north-south Pemberton Ferry Branch. This branch began at a junction with the Florida Southern at Pemberton Ferry (known today as Croom), running south-southeast across the mainline at Lakeland to Bartow. South of Bartow, the Florida Southern continued to Punta Gorda, using trackage rights over the branch. The branch was completed in September 1884. Once the Bone Valley phosphate district was discovered near Lakeland, pressure increased to standard-gauge the line, and that was done on August 7, 1891.[2]

After the Plant System bought the South Florida, an extension was built north from Pemberton Ferry to Inverness, where the Plant System's Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad continued north, which was completed in 1891.[2]

In the Atlantic Coast Line era, the north leg of the Pemberton Ferry Branch would serve as the southernmost segment of their R Line, which ran from DuPont, Georgia to Lakeland via High Springs.[6][7] By the 1920s, the line was busy enough that the Atlantic Coast Line expanded the line north of Vitis Junction to double track to increase capacity.[2]

The line is also notable for being the location of the Great Train Wreck of 1956 in Pineola (just north of Pemberton Ferry), which was head-on collision between two Atlantic Coast Line Railroad freight trains on October 18, 1956, killing five crewmen. A signpost at the site of the crash on the Withlacoochee State Trail memorializes the event.[8]

The branch's north leg is still in service from Lakeland to Owensboro (just southwest of Lacoochee) and the south leg is still in service from the main line to Eaton Park. The abandoned segment north of Owensboro is now part of the Withlacoochee State Trail (which also continues up the abandoned extension to Inverness).[9] The south leg is now an industrial spur. The Fort Fraser Trail today runs along the abandoned right-of way from Eaton Park south to Bartow.

The branch is operated by CSX in the following segments:

Bartow Branch

[edit]

The charter specified that the railroad must pass through Bartow; thus the Bartow Branch was built from the mainline at Lake Alfred (Bartow Junction) southwest to Bartow. It opened in 1884 and was standard gauged on September 23, 1886.

In the Atlantic Coast Line era, many of their passenger trains to Fort Myers and Naples would run on the Bartow Branch.[6]

Part of the Bartow branch remains today from Winter Haven south to Gordonville (just northeast of Bartow). This segment is operated by the Florida Midland Railroad. The abandoned segment between Lake Alfred and Winter Haven is now the route of the Chain of Lakes Trail.[10]

Other Branches

[edit]
Lake Charm

The Sanford and Indian River Railroad was chartered in 1881 to run from Sanford southeast to Oviedo and Lake Charm. The South Florida leased it in 1883, and it was standard gauged on September 21, 1886. Today, the route is still in service as CSX's Aloma Spur from Sanford to Winter Springs. The Cross Seminole Trail runs along the former right of way from Winter Springs to Oviedo.[11]

Apopka

The Apopka Branch was part of the original charter, running from Mayo on the mainline west to the Withlacoochee River via Apopka. The line was never opened by the South Florida, instead partially opening as the Apopka and Atlantic Railroad. It was never a success.

Narcoossee

The St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway was incorporated in 1888 to connect Kissimmee to St. Cloud and Narcoossee. It was immediately operated by the South Florida, and was merged into it in 1893. Neptune Road runs along some of the former right of way.[12]

Historic stations

[edit]
Main Line
Milepost City/Location Station[13] Opening Date Connections and notes
A 766.3 Sanford Sanford 1880 rebuilt in 1913 and 1953
junction with:
Belair/Bents 1888-1893
A 771.3 Lake Mary Lake Mary 1888 c.
A 774.4 Soldiers Creek 1888-1900 c.
A 778.4 Longwood Longwood 1880 junction with:
A 781.3 Altamonte Springs Altamonte Springs 1880 Originally Snowville
Mayo/Woodbridge 1888-1899 c. junction with Apopka and Atlantic Railroad
A 783.0 Maitland Maitland 1880
A 785.6 Winter Park 1882 Amtrak Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Sunset Limited
rebuilt in 1912 and 1962
Wilcox/Formosa 1880-1899 c.
A 791.1 Orlando Church Street Station 1880-1926 original station
junction with:
A 790.4 Orlando 1926 Amtrak Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Sunset Limited
Eight Oaks 1890-1900 c.
Troy 1886-1900 c.
Gatlin 1890-1898 c.
Jessamine 1888-1898 c.
A 793.1 Pine Castle Pine Castle 1882
A 798.4 Taft Taft 1886 c. originally Big Cypress
McKinnon 1886-1910 c.
Marydia 1886-1898 c.
A 808.0 Kissimmee Kissimmee 1882 Amtrak Silver Meteor and Silver Star
junction with:
A 812.0 Campbell Campbell
A 819.1 Loughman Loughman originally Lake Locke
Emmaton
A 824.8 Davenport Davenport
A 829.4 Haines City Haines City 1920 junction with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Haines City Branch
A 835.6 Lake Alfred Lake Alfred c. 1920 originally Bartow Junction
junction with Bartow Branch
A 839.7 Auburndale Auburndale junction with Seaboard Air Line Railroad Miami Subdivision
Fitzhughs
A 844.7 Carters Kill
Acton Acton Absorbed into Lakeland by 1894.
A 851.8 Lakeland Lakeland 1884 Amtrak Silver Star
rebuilt in 1910 and 1998
junction with Pemberton Ferry Branch
A 855.4 Winston junction with Winston and Bone Valley Railroad (ACL)
A 858.4 Youmans
A 861.1 Plant City Plant City replaced by Plant City Union Depot in 1909
junction with:
A 867.8 Dover also known as Cork[14]
Sparkman
A 870.9 Seffner c.1927
A 873.5 Mango
Orient
A 878.8 Tampa Uceta junction with Tampa Southern Railroad (ACL)
A 879.6 Thonotosassa Junction junction with Tampa and Thonotosassa Railroad (ACL)
A 881.7 Tampa Union Station 1912 Amtrak Silver Star
junction with:
Tampa 1883-1912 original station located at Ashley and Madison Streets[1]
Tampa Bay Hotel located on a wye
Citronia
A 890.1 Port Tampa
Pemberton Ferry Branch
Milepost City/Location Station[13] Opening Date Connections and notes
AR 794.3 Inverness Inverness 1891 junction with Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad (ACL)
AR 805.3 Floral City Floral City
AR 812.2 Istachatta Istachatta
AR 814.5 Pemberton Ferry 1884 later renamed Croom
junction with Florida Southern Railway (ACL)
Fitzgerald
Oriole
Rital Bay City
AR 823.3 Trilby Trilby junction with Orange Belt Railway (ACL)
AR 824.7 Owensboro Owensboro junction with Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Tampa Division (SAL)
AR 830.2 Dade City Dade City
AR 832.8 Ellerslie
AR 835.2 Richland
Tedderville
AR 849.8 Kathleen
Griffin's Mill
AR 856.5
A 851.8
AX 851.8 		Lakeland Lakeland 1884 Amtrak Silver Star
junction with Main Line
AX 859.0 Highland City Haskell later renamed Highland City
AX 864.0 Bartow Bartow junction with:
Bartow Branch
Milepost City/Location Station[13] Opening Date Connections and notes
AW 835.6 Lake Alfred Lake Alfred originally Bartow Junction
junction with Main Line
AW 839.1 Winter Haven Florence Villa junction with Niles Branch
AW 842.0 Winter Haven junction with Seaboard Air Line Railroad Miami Subdivision
AW 844.0 Eagle Lake Eagle Lake
AW 848.0 Gordonville
AW 851.0 Bartow Bartow junction with:
Lake Charm Branch
Milepost City/Location Station[13] Opening Date Connections and notes
AU 766.0 Sanford Sanford junction with Main Line
French Avenue
Speer Grove
AU 769.2 Fort Reed
Onoro
AU 770.0 Silver Lake
Rutledge
AU 771.6 Lake Jesup
Clydes
Clifton junction with Florida Midland Railway (ACL)
Tuscawilla
AU 785.5 Oviedo Oviedo junction with Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Orlando Division (SAL)
AU 786.9 Lake Charm
Narcoossee Branch
Milepost City/Location Station[13] Opening Date Connections and notes
0.0 Kissimmee Kissimmee junction with Main Line
1.0 Hammock Grove
4.5 Peghorn
9.0 St. Cloud St. Cloud
10.0 Ashton
11.0 Peen-To
12.8 Runnymede
14.4 Narcoossee Narcoossee

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "First Railroads in Tampa". Tampa Bay Trains. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Turner, Gregg (2003). A Short History of Florida Railroads. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-2421-4.
  3. ^ Sammons, Sandra Wallus (2010-01-01). The Two Henrys: Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 13. ISBN 9781561644612.
  4. ^ Whitehead, Bill (14 August 1960). "First Polk Settlers Had to Build Towns, Then Name Them". Lakeland Ledger. pp. 7–A. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. ^ Harmon, Danny (12 August 2018). "How CSX Numbers Its Trains". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Southern Division Timetable (1949)
  7. ^ Harmon, Danny (6 April 2020). "What Those CSX Letter Prefixes Mean". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. ^ DanTD (December 3, 2009). WST Great Train Wreck of 1956(Pineola, Florida) (photograph). Retrieved April 3, 2013. {{cite AV media}}: External link in |people= (help)
  9. ^ "Welcome to Withlacoochee State Trail". Florida State Parks. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Construction Begins on Chain of Lakes Trail Pedestrian Bridge". The Ledger. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Cross Seminole Trail... Seminole County Biking Trail". Bike Orlando. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Kissimmee to Narcoossee". Abandoned Rails. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Florida Railroads: Passenger Stations & Stops" (PDF). Jim Fergusson's Railway and Tramway Station Lists. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. ^ "HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY REPORT". Retrieved 28 October 2020.
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