Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway
Encyclopedia
The Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway was a railroad and steamboat
network in Florida
, USA at the end of the 19th century. Most of its lines became part of the Plant System
in 1899 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
in 1902.
south past Sanford
. The JT&KW bought it in 1887. Eventually the JT&KW main line stretched from Jacksonville
to the St. Johns River
port of Sanford, where the separately-owned South Florida Railroad
continued to Tampa
. The full line opened on February 20, 1886.
The Atlantic Coast, St. Johns and Indian River Railroad was organized in 1883 to build a connection from the JT&KW's branch to Enterprise
, another St. Johns River port, southeast to Titusville
on the Indian River
. The JT&KW acquired the line in 1886.
The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway
opened in 1889 as a short connection between the JT&KW's Indian River Steamboat Company at Jupiter
and the north end of Lake Worth
, where steamers continued south. The line was abandoned by 1896 after the completion of the parallel Florida East Coast Railway
.
In 1893 the JT&KW went bankrupt. The Southeastern Railway bought the line from Enterprise to Titusville in 1899, and later that year sold it to the Florida East Coast Railway
. Also that year, the rest of the system was reincorporated as the Jacksonville and St. Johns River Railway and sold to the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway (the Plant System
). The Plant System became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
in 1902. In 1967 the ACL merged into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
, eventually becoming part of CSX. The JT&KW is now part of the "A" Line, one of CSX's two main lines into Florida.
The Orange Ridge, DeLand and Atlantic Railroad
was incorporated by Laws of Florida Chapter 3332, No. 114 on March 7, 1881, running from DeLand
west across the JT&KW at DeLand Junction to the St. Johns River
. It became the De Land and St. Johns River Railroad in 1886, and the JT&KW bought it in 1890.
Enterprise
The Enterprise Branch ran from the main line at Benson Junction east to Enterprise
. It continued to Titusville
as the Atlantic Coast, St. Johns and Indian River Railroad, acquired in 1886.
Lake Eustis
The Sanford and Lake Eustis Railroad was organized in 1886 and merged into the JT&KW on May 1, 1890. The line ran west from Sanford to Tavares on Lake Eustis
.
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
network in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA at the end of the 19th century. Most of its lines became part of the Plant System
Plant System
The Plant System was a system of railroads and steamboats in the U.S. South, taken over by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The original line of the system, named after its owner, Henry B...
in 1899 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
in 1902.
History
The Tampa, Peace Creek and St. Johns River Railroad was incorporated in 1879, and on June 27, 1881 the name was changed to the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway. The Palatka and Indian River Railroad was incorporated in 1881 to run from PalatkaPalatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
south past Sanford
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
. The JT&KW bought it in 1887. Eventually the JT&KW main line stretched from Jacksonville
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...
to the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
port of Sanford, where the separately-owned South Florida Railroad
South Florida Railroad
The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:...
continued to Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. The full line opened on February 20, 1886.
The Atlantic Coast, St. Johns and Indian River Railroad was organized in 1883 to build a connection from the JT&KW's branch to Enterprise
Enterprise, Florida
Enterprise is an unincorporated community in Volusia County, in the U.S. state of Florida, and its former county seat. Situated on the northern shore of Lake Monroe, it is flanked by the cities of DeBary and Deltona. Enterprise was once the head of navigation on the St. Johns River and at various...
, another St. Johns River port, southeast to Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
on the Indian River
Indian River (Florida)
The Indian River is a waterway in Florida, a part of the Indian River Lagoon system which forms the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It extends southward from the Ponce de Leon inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Florida [Volusia County] southward and across the "Haulover Canal" and along the western shore...
. The JT&KW acquired the line in 1886.
The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway
Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway
The Jupiter and Lake Worth Railway was a connection between the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway system. It connected Lake Worth at Juno, Florida to Jupiter Inlet at Jupiter, Florida. With intermediate stops at Venus and Mars, the railroad was often called the Celestial Railroad.The...
opened in 1889 as a short connection between the JT&KW's Indian River Steamboat Company at Jupiter
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
and the north end of Lake Worth
Lake Worth
Lake Worth is the name of several places in the United States:*Lake Worth, Florida, a city*Lake Worth Lagoon, a lagoon in Florida*Lake Worth, Texas, a town in Texas*Lake Worth , a lake in Texas...
, where steamers continued south. The line was abandoned by 1896 after the completion of the parallel Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
.
In 1893 the JT&KW went bankrupt. The Southeastern Railway bought the line from Enterprise to Titusville in 1899, and later that year sold it to the Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
. Also that year, the rest of the system was reincorporated as the Jacksonville and St. Johns River Railway and sold to the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway (the Plant System
Plant System
The Plant System was a system of railroads and steamboats in the U.S. South, taken over by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The original line of the system, named after its owner, Henry B...
). The Plant System became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
in 1902. In 1967 the ACL merged into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a former Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971...
, eventually becoming part of CSX. The JT&KW is now part of the "A" Line, one of CSX's two main lines into Florida.
Branches
DeLandThe Orange Ridge, DeLand and Atlantic Railroad
Orange Ridge, DeLand and Atlantic Railroad
The Orange Ridge, DeLand and Atlantic Railroad was a railroad in Central Florida, United States, linking DeLand with the main line . It opened in 1884...
was incorporated by Laws of Florida Chapter 3332, No. 114 on March 7, 1881, running from DeLand
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is the county seat of Volusia County, Florida. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 24,375. It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 436,575 in 2006...
west across the JT&KW at DeLand Junction to the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
. It became the De Land and St. Johns River Railroad in 1886, and the JT&KW bought it in 1890.
Enterprise
The Enterprise Branch ran from the main line at Benson Junction east to Enterprise
Enterprise, Florida
Enterprise is an unincorporated community in Volusia County, in the U.S. state of Florida, and its former county seat. Situated on the northern shore of Lake Monroe, it is flanked by the cities of DeBary and Deltona. Enterprise was once the head of navigation on the St. Johns River and at various...
. It continued to Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
as the Atlantic Coast, St. Johns and Indian River Railroad, acquired in 1886.
Lake Eustis
The Sanford and Lake Eustis Railroad was organized in 1886 and merged into the JT&KW on May 1, 1890. The line ran west from Sanford to Tavares on Lake Eustis
Lake Eustis
Lake Eustis is located in Central Florida, west of the city of Eustis. It covers approximately 7,000 acres . It is spring feed and is a member of the Harris Chain of Lakes, and is connected to Lake Harris by means of the Dead River. It is also connected to the St. Johns River via Haines Creek to...
.
Station listing
| Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville 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... |
Jacksonville Terminal | union station Union station A union station is the term used for a train station where tracks and facilities are shared by two or more railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently between them... "A" Line continues north via East Florida Railroad |
||
| Lavilla Junction | junction with Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad Florida, Atlantic and Gulf Central Railroad 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... (SAL 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... ) |
|||
| Edgewood | ||||
| Black Point | ||||
| Reeds | ||||
| Orange Park | ||||
| Peoria | ||||
| Black Creek | ||||
| Fleming | ||||
| Magnolia | ||||
| Green Cove Springs | ||||
| Melrose Crossing | junction with Green Cove Springs and Melrose Railroad | |||
| Walkill | ||||
| 682.2 | West Tocoi | |||
| 690.8 | Bostwick | |||
| Teasdale | ||||
| Sauble | ||||
| 698.0 | Palatka Palatka (Amtrak station) The Palatka Amtrak station is a historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Palatka, Florida. It is located at 220 North Eleventh Street, on the corner of US 17-FL 100. It opened in 1909 and originally served as a junction with Florida Southern Railway, Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad and... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Silver Meteor Silver Meteor The Silver Meteor is a 1389-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Silver Service brand, running from New York City, New York, south to Miami, Florida, via the Northeast Corridor to Washington, D.C., thence via Richmond, Virginia; Fayetteville, North Carolina; North Charleston, South... , Silver Star and Sunset Limited Sunset Limited The Sunset Limited is a passenger train that for most of its history has run between New Orleans, Louisiana and Los Angeles, California, and that from early 1993 through late August 2005 also ran east of New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida, making it during that time the only true transcontinental... junction with Florida Southern Railway (ACL Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad... ), Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad (SOU) and Florida East Coast Railway Florida East Coast Railway The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison... Palatka Branch |
||
| Lund | ||||
| Peniel | ||||
| Buffalo Bluff | ||||
| 708.1 | Satsuma | |||
| Sisco | ||||
| Pomona | ||||
| Como | ||||
| 716.7 | Huntington | |||
| Denver | ||||
| Hammond | ||||
| 726.6 | Seville | |||
| Bakersburg | ||||
| Pierson | ||||
| Eldridge | ||||
| 737.9 | Barberville | |||
| Deep Creek | ||||
| Spring Garden | ||||
| Glenwood | ||||
| Highland Park | ||||
| 750.0 | DeLand DeLand (Amtrak station) The DeLand Amtrak station is located several miles west of downtown DeLand, at the location formerly known as DeLand Junction. DeLand Station was originally built in 1918, and stood across from the former Volusia County Fairgrounds... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Silver Meteor Silver Meteor The Silver Meteor is a 1389-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Silver Service brand, running from New York City, New York, south to Miami, Florida, via the Northeast Corridor to Washington, D.C., thence via Richmond, Virginia; Fayetteville, North Carolina; North Charleston, South... , Silver Star and Sunset Limited Sunset Limited The Sunset Limited is a passenger train that for most of its history has run between New Orleans, Louisiana and Los Angeles, California, and that from early 1993 through late August 2005 also ran east of New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida, making it during that time the only true transcontinental... originally De Land Junction junction with De Land and St. Johns River Railroad (JT&KW) |
||
| Beresford | ||||
| Orange City Junction | junction with Atlantic and Western Railroad (FEC Florida East Coast Railway The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison... ) |
|||
| 760.8 | Enterprise Junction | junction with Enterprise Branch | ||
| Monroe | junction with Sanford and St. Petersburg Railway (ACL Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad... ) |
|||
| Sanford Sanford (Amtrak station) Sanford is a railroad terminal in Sanford, Florida. It is the southern terminus for Amtrak's Auto Train which runs between this station and Lorton, VA. The original facility, which opened in 1971, was an older and smaller facility than the terminal at Lorton... |
Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... Auto Train Auto Train Auto Train is an scheduled train service for passengers and their automobiles operated by Amtrak between Lorton, Virginia , and Sanford, Florida . Although there are similar services around the world, the Auto Train is the only one of its kind in the United States... , Silver Meteor Silver Meteor The Silver Meteor is a 1389-mile passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Silver Service brand, running from New York City, New York, south to Miami, Florida, via the Northeast Corridor to Washington, D.C., thence via Richmond, Virginia; Fayetteville, North Carolina; North Charleston, South... , Silver Star and Sunset Limited Sunset Limited The Sunset Limited is a passenger train that for most of its history has run between New Orleans, Louisiana and Los Angeles, California, and that from early 1993 through late August 2005 also ran east of New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida, making it during that time the only true transcontinental... |
|||
| Sanford | old ACL station junction with South Florida Railroad South Florida Railroad The South Florida Railroad was a railroad from Orlando to Tampa, Florida, becoming part of the Plant System in 1893 and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902.-History:... (ACL Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad... , now CSX "A" Line), Sanford and Lake Eustis Railroad (JT&KW), Sanford and Indian River Railroad (ACL) and Sanford and St. Petersburg Railway (ACL) |