Mainline Report
Now that the train station has re-opened for the public’s use and the parking lot construction has been completed, P.R.P.S. has begun resuming activities. The museum is open based on Ride Solutions staffing (typically Mon.–Fri., 9AM–5PM). We hope to announce other activities soon.
Our activities require members and volunteers to be available on select days/times to operate the layouts and greet guests. If you have any interest in railroads, history, or model railroading, we invite you to partner with like-minded people. Even if you can only spare a few hours each month, we still encourage your involvement.
Check our website for future updates or contact us via email: palatkarailroad@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Calendar Dates
Saturday – May 13th – 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Members O.H. Preparation
Saturday – May 13th – 11 AM to 3 PM
National Train Day - OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday – May 16th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
OPERATIONS NIGHT (Tentative)
Saturday – May 27th
Ocala Model RRs Historic Pres. Soc. 1247 NE 3rd St., Ocala OPEN HOUSE - 10 AM to 3 PM
Saturday – June 10th
LIONS CLUB TRAIN SHOW 1908 E. Ft. King St., Ocala 9 AM to 2 PM
Did You Know?
UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
By 1914, war had broken out in Europe. Unable to broker a peace, America finally declared war on Germany in April of 1917.
Before the end of the year, President Woodrow Wilson established the United States Railroad Administration in the interest of national defense. As a war measure it took control of 385 major American railroads as well as other carriers and communication companies.
The U.S.R.A. centralized operations and consolidated many functions. It developed “standard” designs for steam locomotives to meet the anticipated increased needs of the railroads to support the war effort. ”. Most railroad employees were exempt from military service because they were needed to operate the railroads.
The Railway Administration Act of 1918 “guaranteed” railroads to be returned to private control in “at least as good condition as when they were taken over
By March of 1920 when railroads returned to private control, many lines were simply worn out. Within three years most lines had received their final cash compensation from the government, and were able to begin rebuilding.
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 area historical rail photos.
HISTORY
An interstate line:
Georgia Southern & Florida Railway –“Suwanee River Route”
Originally chartered in 1881 in Georgia with a planned route from Macon, GA to Florida’s state line, it eventually crossed into Florida reaching Palatka in March of 1890. Crossing the Suwanee River near White Springs, Florida, it was promoted as the “Suwanee River Route”.
.
Apparently the organizers ‘woke up’ when a rival company organized for essentially the same purpose. In 1886, ‘movers and shakers’ in the Gem City sought to have the terminus of the line at Palatka’s waterfront. After the two rival companies consolidated in 1887, construction finally began at Macon with maps indicating Palatka as the southern terminus of the line.
It was published that through trains would be operating into Palatka by fall of 1888, despite the fact that only fifteen miles of rail had been laid in Georgia. Apparently newspaper editors knew nothing about rail construction. Although the city was ‘on board’ with another railroad entering Palatka, Florida Southern and Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West initially put up “considerable opposition”.
The 285-mile line to Palatka officially opened March 21, 1890, when the first southbound passenger train departed from Macon, GA. One hundred eighteen miles of the interstate line was located in Florida with remainder in Georgia. The route was never extended to the west coast of Florida as originally proposed. Within a year the line went into receivership, but remained in operation. In 1895 it was sold and reorganized with a minor name change – ‘Railroad’ became ‘Railway’.
In the 1900s it came under control of Southern Railway, and ultimately was consolidated with Southern Railway.
Now that the train station has re-opened for the public’s use and the parking lot construction has been completed, P.R.P.S. has begun resuming activities. The museum is open based on Ride Solutions staffing (typically Mon.–Fri., 9AM–5PM). We hope to announce other activities soon.
Our activities require members and volunteers to be available on select days/times to operate the layouts and greet guests. If you have any interest in railroads, history, or model railroading, we invite you to partner with like-minded people. Even if you can only spare a few hours each month, we still encourage your involvement.
Check our website for future updates or contact us via email: palatkarailroad@gmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Calendar Dates
Saturday – May 13th – 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Members O.H. Preparation
Saturday – May 13th – 11 AM to 3 PM
National Train Day - OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday – May 16th – 5:30 to 6:30PM
OPERATIONS NIGHT (Tentative)
Saturday – May 27th
Ocala Model RRs Historic Pres. Soc. 1247 NE 3rd St., Ocala OPEN HOUSE - 10 AM to 3 PM
Saturday – June 10th
LIONS CLUB TRAIN SHOW 1908 E. Ft. King St., Ocala 9 AM to 2 PM
Did You Know?
UNITED STATES RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
By 1914, war had broken out in Europe. Unable to broker a peace, America finally declared war on Germany in April of 1917.
Before the end of the year, President Woodrow Wilson established the United States Railroad Administration in the interest of national defense. As a war measure it took control of 385 major American railroads as well as other carriers and communication companies.
The U.S.R.A. centralized operations and consolidated many functions. It developed “standard” designs for steam locomotives to meet the anticipated increased needs of the railroads to support the war effort. ”. Most railroad employees were exempt from military service because they were needed to operate the railroads.
The Railway Administration Act of 1918 “guaranteed” railroads to be returned to private control in “at least as good condition as when they were taken over
By March of 1920 when railroads returned to private control, many lines were simply worn out. Within three years most lines had received their final cash compensation from the government, and were able to begin rebuilding.
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 area historical rail photos.
HISTORY
An interstate line:
Georgia Southern & Florida Railway –“Suwanee River Route”
Originally chartered in 1881 in Georgia with a planned route from Macon, GA to Florida’s state line, it eventually crossed into Florida reaching Palatka in March of 1890. Crossing the Suwanee River near White Springs, Florida, it was promoted as the “Suwanee River Route”.
.
Apparently the organizers ‘woke up’ when a rival company organized for essentially the same purpose. In 1886, ‘movers and shakers’ in the Gem City sought to have the terminus of the line at Palatka’s waterfront. After the two rival companies consolidated in 1887, construction finally began at Macon with maps indicating Palatka as the southern terminus of the line.
It was published that through trains would be operating into Palatka by fall of 1888, despite the fact that only fifteen miles of rail had been laid in Georgia. Apparently newspaper editors knew nothing about rail construction. Although the city was ‘on board’ with another railroad entering Palatka, Florida Southern and Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West initially put up “considerable opposition”.
The 285-mile line to Palatka officially opened March 21, 1890, when the first southbound passenger train departed from Macon, GA. One hundred eighteen miles of the interstate line was located in Florida with remainder in Georgia. The route was never extended to the west coast of Florida as originally proposed. Within a year the line went into receivership, but remained in operation. In 1895 it was sold and reorganized with a minor name change – ‘Railroad’ became ‘Railway’.
In the 1900s it came under control of Southern Railway, and ultimately was consolidated with Southern Railway.
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