South Florida Railroad
Encyclopedia
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.
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 grant
s. 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.
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 built 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 Tampa end opened on December 10, 1883, and on January 25, 1884 service began over the full line, built to three-foot (914 mm) narrow gauge. On February 20, 1886 the 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. In 1902 the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
acquired the Plant System, and in 1967 the ACL merged into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
. The line eventually passed to CSX, and now operates as part of one of its two main lines in the area, known as the "A" Line.
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.
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.
Bartow
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.
Pemberton Ferry
Part of the agreement 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's Ferry, 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. 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.
After the Plant System bought the South Florida, an extension was built north from Pemberton's Ferry to Inverness, where the Plant System's Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad
continued north.
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....
, becoming 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 1893 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 Lake Monroe and Orlando Railroad was organized in 1875 with a charter to build from the St. Johns RiverSt. 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 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 grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
s. 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
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, reaching it at Tampa.
On May 4, 1883, Henry B. Plant
Henry B. Plant
Henry Bradley Plant , was involved with many transportation projects, mostly railroads, in the U.S. state of Florida. Eventually he owned the Plant System of railroads which became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad...
and his 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...
(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 built 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
Trackage rights
Trackage rights , running rights or running powers is an agreement whereby a railway company has the right to run its trains on tracks owned by another railway company....
to the Florida Southern. The agreement with the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway
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.-History:...
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 Tampa end opened on December 10, 1883, and on January 25, 1884 service began over the full line, built to three-foot (914 mm) narrow gauge. On February 20, 1886 the standard-gauge Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway
Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway
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.-History:...
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
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...
) directly acquired the South Florida. In 1902 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...
acquired the Plant System, and 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...
. The line eventually passed to CSX, and now operates as part of one of its two main lines in the area, known as the "A" Line.
Branches
Lake CharmThe 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.
Apopka
The Apopka Branch was part of the original charter, running from Mayo
Mayo, Florida
Mayo is a town and the only municipality in Lafayette County, Florida, United States. The population was 988 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,009...
on the mainline west to the Withlacoochee River
Withlacoochee River (South)
The Withlacoochee River originates in central Florida's Green Swamp, east of Polk City. It flows west, then north, and then turns northwest and finally west again before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is long and has a drainage basin of...
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
Narcoossee, Florida
Narcoossee is a small unincorporated community in eastern Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east side of East Lake Tohopekaliga. The only major road which runs through Narcoossee is State Road 15, commonly referred to as Narcoossee Road, which connects to U.S. Route 192...
. It was immediately operated by the South Florida, and was merged into it in 1893.
Bartow
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.
Pemberton Ferry
Part of the agreement 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's Ferry, 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. Once the Bone Valley
Bone Valley
The Bone Valley is a region of central Florida, encompassing portions of present-day Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk counties, in which phosphate is mined for use in the production of agricultural fertilizer...
phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
district was discovered near Lakeland, pressure increased to standard-gauge the line, and that was done on August 7, 1891.
After the Plant System bought the South Florida, an extension was built north from Pemberton's Ferry to Inverness, where the Plant System's Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad
Silver Springs, Ocala and Gulf Railroad
The Silver Springs, Ocala, and Gulf Railroad was assigned land grants on March 12, 1879 by the state legislature of Florida. This was accomplished by Florida State Law Chapter 3170. This law required a set completion time in order for the land grant measures to take effect...
continued north.
Station listing
| Milepost | City | Station | Opening date | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | 1913 | junction with Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway 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.-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 (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 and Indian River Railroad (SFRR) and 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... ) |
||
| Belair | ||||
| Lake Mary | ||||
| Soldiers Creek | ||||
| 778.4 | Longwood | junction with Florida Midland Railroad Florida Midland Railroad (defunct) The Florida Midland Railway Company was incorporated under the general incorporation laws of Florida, and surveyed a line* from Lake Jessup, in Orange county, to Leesburg, in Sumter County.... (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... ) and original Orange Belt 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... ) |
||
| Altamonte | ||||
| Mayo | junction with Apopka and Atlantic Railroad | |||
| Maitland | ||||
| 785.6 | Winter Park Winter Park (Amtrak station) The Winter Park Amtrak station is a train station in Winter Park, Florida, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station was originally built in 1890 as a South Florida Railroad depot, ten years after South Florida Railroad built a line from Sanford to Orlando... |
1890 | 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... |
|
| Wilcox | ||||
| 790.4 | Orlando | original station junction with Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad Florida state law chapter 3499, approved March 5, 1883, incorporated the Tavares, Orlando and Atlantic Railroad Company, owned by Alexander St. Clair-Abrams, W. R. Anno, Nat Poyntz and J. L. Bryan of Orange County, Florida; L. H. Davis of New Jersey; John P... (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... ) and East Florida and Atlantic Railroad East Florida and Atlantic Railroad The East Florida and Atlantic Railroad was a railroad line from Orlando, Florida northeast and east to Lake Jesup via Winter Park and Oviedo. It eventually became part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway system, and was most recently part of CSX before being abandoned.Until April 9, 1891, the line was... (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... ) |
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| Orlando Orlando (Amtrak station) The Orlando Amtrak station lies south of Downtown Orlando, about a mile south of the old stations at Church Street and Central Boulevard. It was built in 1926 by M. A. Griffith and W. T. Hadlow for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in the Spanish Mission style, and used by the Seaboard Coast Line... |
1926 | 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... |
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| Troy | ||||
| Jessamine | ||||
| Pine Castle | ||||
| 798.4 | Taft | originally Big Cypress | ||
| McKinnon | ||||
| Marydia | ||||
| 808.0 | Kissimmee Kissimmee (Amtrak station) The Kissimmee Amtrak station is a train station in Kissimmee, Florida, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. Kissimmee station was originally built as a South Florida Railroad Depot 1883, and replaced by an Atlantic Coast Line Depot in 1910, which is the building... |
1883 | 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... and Silver Star junction with St. Cloud and Sugar Belt Railway (SFRR) and Florida Midland Railroad Florida Midland Railroad (defunct) The Florida Midland Railway Company was incorporated under the general incorporation laws of Florida, and surveyed a line* from Lake Jessup, in Orange county, to Leesburg, in Sumter County.... (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... ) |
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| Campbells | ||||
| Lake Locke | ||||
| Emmaton | ||||
| 824.8 | Davenport | |||
| 829.4 | Haines City | 1920 | junction with 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... Everglades Branch |
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| 835.6 | Lake Alfred | c. 1920 | originally Bartow Junction junction with Bartow Branch |
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| 839.7 | Auburndale | junction with Florida Western and Northern Railroad (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... ) |
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| Fitzhughs | ||||
| Acton | ||||
| 851.8 | Lakeland Lakeland (Amtrak station) The Lakeland Amtrak station is a train station in Lakeland, Florida, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. Lakeland is unique in that it has two separate Amtrak station codes; one for passengers traveling to points north and the other for passengers traveling... |
1884 | 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 Star junction with Pemberton Ferry Branch |
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| 861.1 | Plant City | junction with Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad was the final name of a system of railroads throughout Florida, becoming part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in 1900... (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... ) and Plant City and Arcadia Railroad (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... ) |
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| Cork | ||||
| Sparkman | ||||
| Seffner | c.1927 | |||
| 873.5 | Mango | |||
| Orient | ||||
| East Cove | junction with 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... Sarasota Branch |
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| junction with Tampa and Thonotosassa Railroad (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... ) |
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| 881.7 | Tampa | 1912 | 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 Star junction with Tampa Northern Railroad (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... ) and Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad was the final name of a system of railroads throughout Florida, becoming part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway in 1900... (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... ) |
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| Citronia | ||||
| Port Tampa |