Ocala Union Station

Last updated
Ocala, FL
Ocalaunionstation2.jpg
A frontal view of the Ocala Union Station.
General information
Location531 Northeast First Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34770
Line(s) Amtrak Thruway service to the Silver Meteor and Silver Star
Other information
Station codeOCA
History
Opened1917
Closed2004 [1]
Former services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Following station
Wildwood
toward Miami
Floridian
Waldo
toward Chicago
Palmetto Waldo
toward New York
Preceding station Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Following station
Trilby Ocala District Gainesville
toward Jacksonville
Preceding station Seaboard Air Line Railroad Following station
Wildwood
toward Tampa or Miami
Main Line Waldo
toward Richmond
Ocala Union Station
Ocalaunionstation1.jpg
USA Florida location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Ocala, Florida
Coordinates 29°11′31″N82°8′9″W / 29.19194°N 82.13583°W / 29.19194; -82.13583
ArchitectA. M. Williamson Walkup
NRHP reference No. 97001557 [2]
Added to NRHPDecember 22, 1997
Location
Ocala Union Station

The Ocala Union Station (also known as Union Station Plaza) is a bus station and former train station in Ocala, Florida, United States. It is located at 531 Northeast First Avenue, and was built in 1917 by both the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line Railroad. Prior to this, ACL and SAL had separate depots in Ocala. The former ACL station was originally built by the Florida Southern Railroad, while the former SAL station was built by the Florida Transit and Peninsular Railroad. [3] On December 22, 1997, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Contents

History

Ocala Union Station saw many passenger trains through the years, mainly from the Seaboard Air Line. This was due to the fact that the station was located on their mainline, also known as the "S-Line", while ACL's line was a secondary route. Seaboard's trains included the New York-originating Silver Meteor, Silver Star,Sunland, and Palmland. [4] The station's ACL New York-originating trains included the West Coast Champion and Havana Special. [5] Those trains made connections at Jacksonville's Union Station primarily for trains to Mid-Western cities, including the City of Miami, South Wind, Dixie Flagler, Dixie Flyer,Dixie Limited, Flamingo, and Seminole .

In 1971, most passenger service in the United States was transferred to Amtrak, and the Silver Meteor retained its stop in Ocala, running along the former Seaboard, then Seaboard Coast Line tracks. [6] However, the West Coast Champion was discontinued, and passenger service ended for good on the ACL tracks. Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, Amtrak would move trains off and onto the S-Line. Some of these trains include the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Floridian , and Palmetto . In 1997, the city of Ocala spent 4 millions dollars to renovate the station to its former glory. [7]

Finally, Amtrak revived the Silver Palm along the now CSX owned S-Line in 1996, where it would keep its name, sleepers, and diner until 2002. [8] [9] In 2002, the train would be renamed back to Palmetto. Two years later, the Palmetto was truncated to Savannah, Georgia on November 1, 2004, prompting Amtrak to revive Silver Star service to Tampa along the CSX A-Line shared by the current Silver Meteor , and part of the suspended Sunset Limited , and finally ending passenger service to Ocala.

Today, the station operates as a bus terminal for Ocala's SunTran, and Amtrak Thruway bus service between Jacksonville and Lakeland. The platform north of the diamond was abandoned after a derailment took out the canopies in 2009. In 2013, fences were installed all around the station platform to prevent people from walking onto the still very active tracks of the Wildwood Subdivision (excluding the abandoned section).

A southbound photo showing the station and the abandoned platform. Ocala union station,florida looking west.jpg
A southbound photo showing the station and the abandoned platform.

CSX leased the former ACL line to the Pinsly Railroad Company in 1988 who established the Florida Northern Railroad. The ACL line on which the FNOR operates used to run from Jacksonville to Trilby, but now only runs between Lowell and Candler. This line has seen sporadic freight service since it was severed at its current terminuses in the 1980's.

Ocala's SunTran bus service began using the station in 1998, and still uses it to this day. [10] The Shuttleliner limo/van service offers several trips daily to Orlando International Airport from the station. In 2013, Greyhound moved out of the station to the Pilot Travel Center at 4032 West Highway 326, two blocks east of Interstate 75. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaboard Coast Line Railroad</span> Transport company

The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971. Eventually, the railroad was merged with its affiliate lines to create the Seaboard System in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaboard Air Line Railroad</span> Defunct American railroad

The Seaboard Air Line Railroad, which styled itself as "The Route of Courteous Service", was an American railroad that existed 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 Railroad. Predecessor railroads dated from the 1830s and reorganized extensively to rebuild after the American Civil War. The company was headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, until 1958, when its main offices were relocated to Richmond, Virginia. The Seaboard Air Line Railway Building in Norfolk's historic Freemason District still stands and has been converted into apartments.

<i>Silver Meteor</i> Amtrak service between New York and Florida

The Silver Meteor is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Miami, Florida. Introduced in 1939 as the first diesel-powered streamliner between New York and Florida, it was the flagship train of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL) and one of the flagship trains of its successor, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL). The train was transferred to Amtrak when it took over intercity passenger rail service in 1971.

<i>Silver Star</i> (Amtrak train) Amtrak service between New York and Florida

The Silver Star is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 1,522-mile (2,449 km) route between New York City and Miami via Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, Jacksonville, Florida, and Tampa, Florida. The Silver Star and its sister train in the Silver Service brand, the Silver Meteor, are the descendants of numerous long-distance trains that operated between Florida and New York for most of the 20th century.

<i>Palmetto</i> (train) Amtrak service between New York City, NY and Savannah, GA

The Palmetto is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 829-mile (1,334 km) route between New York City and Savannah, Georgia, via the Northeast Corridor, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. The Palmetto is a shorter version of the Silver Meteor, which continues south to Miami, Florida. From 1996 to 2002 this service was called the Silver Palm. Although currently a day train, the Palmetto is considered a long-distance train by Amtrak and previously provided overnight sleeper service to Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orlando Health/Amtrak station</span> Passenger train station in Orlando, Florida

Orlando Health/Amtrak station, also known as Orlando station, is a train station in Orlando, Florida. It is served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system of the United States, and SunRail, the commuter rail service of Greater Orlando, as well as local and intercity buses. It serves Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star lines. Built in 1926, the historic station is located in Downtown Orlando approximately one mile south of the central business district, near the campus of Orlando Health. Serving 160,442 passengers at last measure in 2013, The station is Amtrak's fifth busiest in the Southeastern United States; it is the second busiest Amtrak station in Florida, behind the Sanford station of the Auto Train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dade City station</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakeland station</span> Passenger train station in Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland station is a train station in Lakeland, Florida, that is served by Amtrak, the national passenger rail system of the United States. It is served by the Silver Star train, which runs daily between New York City and Miami. The station is located on the northern shore of Lake Mirror.

<i>Champion</i> (train)

The Champion was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Florida East Coast Railway between New York City and Miami or St. Petersburg, Florida. It operated from 1939 until 1979, continuing under the Seaboard Coast Line and Amtrak. It was a direct competitor to the Seaboard Air Line Railway's Silver Meteor, the first New York-Florida streamliner.

The South Wind was a named passenger train equipped and operated jointly by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and the Florida East Coast Railway. The South Wind began operations in December 1940, providing streamliner service between Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida. This was one of three new seven-car, all-coach streamliners operating in coordination every third day along different routes between Chicago and Miami. The other two longest enduring Chicago-Florida trains were the City of Miami and the Dixie Flagler. The South Wind remained in service through the creation of Amtrak in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildwood station</span>

Wildwood station is a bus station, and former train station, in Wildwood, Florida. It serves Amtrak Thruway buses and formerly served trains for Amtrak and other rail companies. The station is located on 601 North Main Street in Wildwood, Florida. Along with the northern terminus of Florida's Turnpike, the station gave Wildwood a reason to refer to itself as "The Crossroads of Florida."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldo station</span>

Waldo station is a former train station in Waldo, Florida along the CSX S-Line. It serves Amtrak Thruway buses and previously served trains for Amtrak and other rail operators. The station is located at the interchange of US 301 and State Road 24 in Waldo, Florida.

The Tampa Southern Railroad was a subsidiary of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) originally running from Uceta Yard in Tampa south to Palmetto, Bradenton, and Sarasota with a later extension southeast to Fort Ogden in the Peace River valley built shortly after. It was one of many rail lines completed during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Most of the remaining trackage now serves as CSX Transportation's Palmetto Subdivision. Another short portion just east of Sarasota also remains that is now operated by Seminole Gulf Railway.

The Florida Western and Northern Railroad was a subsidiary of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad that expanded their network in the 1920s by building a rail line from Coleman, Florida all the way to West Palm Beach via Auburndale and Sebring, a distance of 204 miles. The line would be extended to Miami by the Seaboard-All Florida Railway, another Seaboard Air Line subsidiary, shortly after with the full line from Coleman to Miami becoming the Seaboard Air Line's Miami Subdivision. The line is still in service today from Auburndale to West Palm Beach and is now operated by Seaboard successor CSX Transportation as their Auburndale Subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanford station (SunRail)</span>

Sanford station is a SunRail commuter rail station in Sanford, Florida. It is the penultimate station in SunRail's phase one. It opened May 1, 2014, and marks the nine-year return of regular passenger rail service to Sanford following the closure of the Amtrak station in 2005. Sanford station is the northernmost SunRail station within Seminole County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clearwater Subdivision</span>

The Clearwater Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the Tampa Bay region of Florida. The line begins just east of downtown Tampa in Gary and heads north through some of Tampa's suburban neighborhoods. In Sulphur Springs, the Clearwater Subdivision turns and runs west through Oldsmar, where it crosses Tampa Bay. It briefly shifts south running through Safety Harbor, and then heads west again to Clearwater. In Clearwater, it turns southeast, running through Largo and Pinellas Park before terminating at Fifth Avenue North in St. Petersburg near Tropicana Field. The distance from Gary to St. Petersburg along the line is 48.6 miles (78.2 km). At the line's north end it continues from the Tampa Terminal Subdivision and at its south end the track comes to an end.

The Wildwood Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in Florida. It runs along CSX's S Line from Baldwin south to Zephyrhills via Ocala and Wildwood for a total of 155.7 miles. The S Line is CSX's designation for the line that was the Seaboard Air Line Railroad main line from 1903 to 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clearwater station (Amtrak)</span>

Clearwater station was an Amtrak train station in Clearwater, Florida, served by the Floridian until 1979 and the Silver Service until February 1, 1984. Thereafter, it continued to be used for Amtrak Thruway motor coach service until 1995, connecting to Amtrak Silver Service trains at Tampa Union Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarasota Subdivision</span> Seaboard Air Line Railroad line in Florida

The Seaboard Air Line Railroad's Sarasota Subdivision was a rail line that ran from the company's main line at Turkey Creek south to Palmetto, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Venice. The line was built in phases from 1901 to 1911.

The Seaboard Air Line Railroad’s Main Line was the backbone of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad's network in the southeastern United States. The main line ran from Richmond, Virginia to Tampa, Florida, a distance of over 800 miles. Along its route it passed through Petersburg, Raleigh, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Ocala, Florida. While some segments of the line have been abandoned as of 2023, most of the line is still in service and is owned by the Seaboard Air Line's successor, CSX Transportation as their S-Line.

References

  1. "Loss of Amtrak Service Shouldn't Derail Dade City". The Tampa Bay Times. October 29, 2004. p. 161. Retrieved January 13, 2019 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. Mulligan, M. (2008). Railroad Depots of Central Florida. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 40, 84, 117–119. ISBN   978-0738553900.
  4. Official Guide of the Railways . December 1954. Seaboard Air Line Railroad section, Condensed Table
  5. Official Guide of the Railways . June 1961. Atlantic Coast Line section
  6. "Amtrak Timetable". December 17, 1971. p. 59.
  7. "Historic Ocala Union Station".
  8. "Amtrak Timetable". November 10, 1996. p. 29.
  9. "Amtrak Timetable". April 29, 2002. p. 33.
  10. "SunTran Overview".
  11. Carr, Susan Latham (November 4, 2013). "Greyhound leaving city, moving station to I-75/CR 326". OcalaSun. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013.