Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad was a railroad company
that, in 1860, completed a railroad line
running from Jacksonville, Florida
, west to Lake City, Florida
. The line was eventually renamed and merged into other railroad companies, the last of which ended up being acquired by the Seaboard Air Line Railway
, whose successor, CSX
, operates trains over the line today.
The company charter was secured by Abel S. Baldwin in 1851, but ground was not broken on the line to Lake City until 1857. During the Civil War
, the railroad figured into the Battle of Olustee
when Union Brigadier General Truman Seymour
led troops west toward Lake City along the line, destroying the junction at Baldwin
, and then engaging Confederate troops near Olustee Station
. The tracks and junction were rebuilt after the war, but the railroad defaulted on its payments to the Florida Internal Improvement
Fund. Consquently, in 1868, the company was purchased by notorious carpetbagger
George W. Swepson
, who renamed it the Florida Central Railroad. Two years later, the Central, as it was known, was consolidated into the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad
(JP&M), which had been known as the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad
until Swepson purchased it in 1868.
Railway company
A railway company or railroad company is an entity that operates a railroad track and/or trains. Such a company can either be private or public...
that, in 1860, completed a railroad line
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
running from Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, west to Lake City, Florida
Lake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
. The line was eventually renamed and merged into other railroad companies, the last of which ended up being acquired by the Seaboard Air Line Railway
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
, whose successor, CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
, operates trains over the line today.
The company charter was secured by Abel S. Baldwin in 1851, but ground was not broken on the line to Lake City until 1857. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the railroad figured into the Battle of Olustee
Battle of Olustee
The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...
when Union Brigadier General Truman Seymour
Truman Seymour
Truman Seymour was an a career soldier and an accomplished painter. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, rising to the rank of major general. He commanded the Union troops at the Battle of Olustee, the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida.-Early life and career:Seymour...
led troops west toward Lake City along the line, destroying the junction at Baldwin
Baldwin, Florida
Baldwin is a town in Duval County, Florida, United States. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Baldwin, along with Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach, Florida, remained quasi-independent...
, and then engaging Confederate troops near Olustee Station
Olustee, Florida
Olustee is an unincorporated community in Baker County, Florida, United States.-Geography:Olustee is located at .-External links:*...
. The tracks and junction were rebuilt after the war, but the railroad defaulted on its payments to the Florida Internal Improvement
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
Fund. Consquently, in 1868, the company was purchased by notorious carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
George W. Swepson
George William Swepson
George William Swepson was a carpetbagger and a swindler. notable for his involvement in the 1868 North Carolina railroad bonds scandal.-References:...
, who renamed it the Florida Central Railroad. Two years later, the Central, as it was known, was consolidated into the Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad
Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad
The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad was a Florida railroad line charted in 1869. It consisted of the former Pensacola and Georgia Railroad, which ran east from Quincy, Florida through Tallahassee to Lake City, Florida, and the subsequently consolidated Florida Central Railroad, which...
(JP&M), which had been known as the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad
Pensacola and Georgia Railroad
The Pensacola and Georgia Railroad was a railroad line chartered in January 1853 that, by 1863, ran from Tallahassee, Florida east to Lake City, Florida and west to Quincy, Florida...
until Swepson purchased it in 1868.