Mainline Report
Members clear your calendars for our upcoming RailFest, October 26th, Saturday. Invite former members, as well as family and friends to assist us as volunteers during RailFest. We can use them as greeters in the museum or in front of Railrodeo. Even if they are only available for an hour or two, it would be helpful. Workdays will be scheduled during September to get things ready in the museum and on the layouts.
Remember, there are extended hours for members and guests on the fourth Tuesdays until 7:30 PM. This is for the convenience of those who get off work latter and for out of town members.
Check our website for future updates.
Also note our new email: [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday – July 7th – CLOSED
Saturday – July 20th – 1 PM to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday – July 16th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
INFORMAL OPERATIONS
Tuesday – July 23rd – 5:30 to 7:30PM
Extended hours for members
Sunday – August 4th – 1 PM to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday – August 17th – CLOSED
VILLAGES TRAIN SHOW - 9 AM to 4 PM
Tuesday – August 20th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
INFORMAL OPERATIONS
Tuesday – August 27th – 5:30 to 7:30PM
Extended hours for members
Sunday – September 1st – CLOSED
Saturday – September 21st – 1 to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Did You Know?
RAILROAD “STANDARD” TIME
Timekeeping on the earliest American railroads was based on local time, or “mean solar” time. Since the early rail lines were initially short, it was adequate. As mileage increased and connections with other lines were made, this “hodgepodge” of times became a cause for concern.
Each railroad initially came up with its own solution. The solutions varied from using the local time at the line‟s headquarters or at its most important terminus, to having multiple time zones over the length of the line. Telegraph offices along the lines would receive periodic time signals.
Railroad managers recognized the need for a standard time system. Confusion in their schedules could be minimized. Most early rail lines operated on time schedules, so uniformity in time was essential for safe and efficient operation.
Wm. F. Allen, editor of the Traveler's Official Railway Guide, was selected as Secretary of the General Time Convention (established by the railroads). He proposed five “standard” time zones. When the proposal was adopted, it superseded 49 different operating times in the U.S. and Canada. “Railway Standard Time” went into effect on November 18, 1883.
HISTORY
A CSX Predecessor:
Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railway – “Gem City Route”
Chartered in 1881 with a planned route from Jacksonville to Tampa, and then to Charlotte Harbor where steamships would disembark for Key West. Construction began in Jacksonville in March of 1883, and the line was completed to Palatka one year later.
South of Palatka the line acquired Palatka & Indian River Rwy. right of way south crossing the St. Johns River at Buffalo Bluff. The line bypassed Crescent City due to residents‟ concerns about noise. The line was not complete to Sanford until early 1886.
Tampa was reached by changing trains at Sanford to the previously constructed South Florida Railroad. Thus Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West did not build south of Sanford. Steamship connections to Key West were made at Tampa, not Charlotte Harbor.
By 1893, the line went into receivership. For the next few years it was operated in conjunction with several connecting lines under the moniker “The Tropical Trunk Line”. The Plant Investment Co. acquired it in 1899, reincorporated it as Jackson-ville & St. Johns River Railroad, and operated it as a division of the Savannah, Florida & Western.
After Henry Plant‟s death, it was acquired by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The A.C.L. became Seaboard Cost Line in 1967, morphed into the Family Lines System around 1971, becoming Seaboard System in 1982.
Seaboard System became CSX Transportation in 1986. Today‟s CSX route through Palatka is called the “A” line and uses the same right of way as the original Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West.
NEW MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS
We are still seeking photos (or copies) as part of our purpose to preserve the heritage of the rail history of Palatka and surrounding areas.
We are interested in: trains „street-running‟ on Main & Laurel; rail yard & maintenance facilities in Palatka: train depots
throughout Putnam County; any historical rail photos.
Members clear your calendars for our upcoming RailFest, October 26th, Saturday. Invite former members, as well as family and friends to assist us as volunteers during RailFest. We can use them as greeters in the museum or in front of Railrodeo. Even if they are only available for an hour or two, it would be helpful. Workdays will be scheduled during September to get things ready in the museum and on the layouts.
Remember, there are extended hours for members and guests on the fourth Tuesdays until 7:30 PM. This is for the convenience of those who get off work latter and for out of town members.
Check our website for future updates.
Also note our new email: [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday – July 7th – CLOSED
Saturday – July 20th – 1 PM to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday – July 16th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
INFORMAL OPERATIONS
Tuesday – July 23rd – 5:30 to 7:30PM
Extended hours for members
Sunday – August 4th – 1 PM to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday – August 17th – CLOSED
VILLAGES TRAIN SHOW - 9 AM to 4 PM
Tuesday – August 20th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
INFORMAL OPERATIONS
Tuesday – August 27th – 5:30 to 7:30PM
Extended hours for members
Sunday – September 1st – CLOSED
Saturday – September 21st – 1 to 4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
Did You Know?
RAILROAD “STANDARD” TIME
Timekeeping on the earliest American railroads was based on local time, or “mean solar” time. Since the early rail lines were initially short, it was adequate. As mileage increased and connections with other lines were made, this “hodgepodge” of times became a cause for concern.
Each railroad initially came up with its own solution. The solutions varied from using the local time at the line‟s headquarters or at its most important terminus, to having multiple time zones over the length of the line. Telegraph offices along the lines would receive periodic time signals.
Railroad managers recognized the need for a standard time system. Confusion in their schedules could be minimized. Most early rail lines operated on time schedules, so uniformity in time was essential for safe and efficient operation.
Wm. F. Allen, editor of the Traveler's Official Railway Guide, was selected as Secretary of the General Time Convention (established by the railroads). He proposed five “standard” time zones. When the proposal was adopted, it superseded 49 different operating times in the U.S. and Canada. “Railway Standard Time” went into effect on November 18, 1883.
HISTORY
A CSX Predecessor:
Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railway – “Gem City Route”
Chartered in 1881 with a planned route from Jacksonville to Tampa, and then to Charlotte Harbor where steamships would disembark for Key West. Construction began in Jacksonville in March of 1883, and the line was completed to Palatka one year later.
South of Palatka the line acquired Palatka & Indian River Rwy. right of way south crossing the St. Johns River at Buffalo Bluff. The line bypassed Crescent City due to residents‟ concerns about noise. The line was not complete to Sanford until early 1886.
Tampa was reached by changing trains at Sanford to the previously constructed South Florida Railroad. Thus Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West did not build south of Sanford. Steamship connections to Key West were made at Tampa, not Charlotte Harbor.
By 1893, the line went into receivership. For the next few years it was operated in conjunction with several connecting lines under the moniker “The Tropical Trunk Line”. The Plant Investment Co. acquired it in 1899, reincorporated it as Jackson-ville & St. Johns River Railroad, and operated it as a division of the Savannah, Florida & Western.
After Henry Plant‟s death, it was acquired by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. The A.C.L. became Seaboard Cost Line in 1967, morphed into the Family Lines System around 1971, becoming Seaboard System in 1982.
Seaboard System became CSX Transportation in 1986. Today‟s CSX route through Palatka is called the “A” line and uses the same right of way as the original Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West.
NEW MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS
We are still seeking photos (or copies) as part of our purpose to preserve the heritage of the rail history of Palatka and surrounding areas.
We are interested in: trains „street-running‟ on Main & Laurel; rail yard & maintenance facilities in Palatka: train depots
throughout Putnam County; any historical rail photos.
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