I'm trying to find out where I can get info on the railraod that served St. Petersburg, FL from 1900 or 1910 until it ended (1940?). I am willing to buy books, or surf the net some more, but I'm coming up dry so far. Any help you can provide will be appreciated.

-- Jim Mac Dougald (macdou@earthlink.net), September 11, 1999

Answers

Greetings to all....

I am also interested in the history of the RR's in Pinellas County. I have managed to obtain original valuation maps for the T&GC and ACL predecessors in the county. (the maps actually belong to the ACL & SAL HS). I have also obtained slides of most of the stations and sidings in Pinellas County. All of this is for a future article in Lines South on the "History of Railroading in Pinellas County". I am still looking for a photo of the old SAL station...before it was replaced by the "new" station at US19 and Fairfield Ave (now Cox lumber).

As for me, I live in South St. Pete and work at Bay Pines, and cross the Long Bayou bridge every day. At that point it parallels the old SAL (ex TG&C) main, just east of the old Bay Pines Station. Bay Pines not only had a station (on 100th, about one mile north of the hospital) but also a spur which came "on station" to service the National Cemetary, among other things.

The TG&C was purchased by SAL in 1928, in the heat of the Florida expansion. I have ETT's of TG&C from 1915 and 1928. At one time there was a spur which went over the intracostal waterway to Indian Rocks Beach...this was removed in 1928, shortly after the SAL purchased the TG&C. (I have a photo of an old steamer on the trestle)

I would be interested in speaking to Mr. Raynolds, and others to help fill the gaps in my information.

I can be reached at 727-866-1023.

Thanks to all, in advance,

Ted

P.S. L.G.--Thanks for the tip!!!

-- Ted Strickland (tstrickland@pol.net), October 13, 1999.

My new book on ACL passenger trains (Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Service - The Postwar Years) has some information on ACL service to St. Petersburg, including several photos (one of which is of the last train leaving the old station). The book is available from the ACL & SAL Historical Society, PO Box 325, Valrico, FL 33595-0325, for $25 plus $3 s/h.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), October 13, 1999.

Hello Jim, I grew up within hearing distance of the SAL, in the Jungle area of St. Pete. What is it you wish to know? The SAL entered St. Pete from the NW corner of the city, from across the Long Bayou bridge after passing the Bay Pines Station. The SAL had as I recall two passing sidings between the Long Bayou Bridge and their engine/yard facilities along 8th Ave South and 31th St. From the yard eastward to the original station, it was mostly double tracks. The SAL station was located across the street from a huge department store called Webb's City. (None of which is there now.) The tracks ran down the middle of the street for about five blocks. Now, the ACL entered St. Pete from the north on a near US 19 and 39th Ave., North. The ACL was also a single line into the city until it got to its facilities south of 22nd Ave. North and 20th St. From this point southeastward, they ran mostly double tracks in a private RoW until it got down to the station at 3rd St and 1st Ave. South. Between the fourth and fifth streets, they had a hand thrown double crossover. This old station was a real realic in 1963 when the last train pulled out to go to the opening of the new station. I was on both that train on June 3rd, and the last one from Pinellas County, Feb. 1989. The station was near the shores of Tampa Bay, and from there to the yard area, it was a uphill climb. I personally do not remember seeing them using helper engines, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did because I had seen a switcher at the station on several occations. According to "Topo USA, 2.o" in the first 3/4 mile from the station the track rises 35 feet at a 1% grade. I hope this answers your questions. All you wanted to learn with only a simple question asked!

Arthur, "Old railfans never die, they just lose track".

-- Arthur Raynolds (ARdiver@citcom.net), October 06, 1999.

Jim,

I have a 1923 Official Railway Equipment Guide indicating that St. Petersburg was served by the Atlantic Coast Line and the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railway Company. The ACL ultimately merged with the Seaboard, became part of the Family Lines and now I guess is part of CSX. By 1937, the OREG shows Seaboard connecting with ACL at St. Petersburg and the Tampa & Gulf Coast is no longer listed. Apparently, Tampa & Gulf Coast was out of business by then. Maybe Seaboard bought out the Tampa & Gulf Coast or obtained trackage rights to St. Petersburg after the line went out of business. I do not have copies of the Railway Official Guides but they would give you better insight to what roads served St. Petersburg when. I don't have much info on Florida roads. There should be individuals on the 'net with far better Florida info than I. Hope this helped.

-- Jerry Dowling (jdowling@lcc.net), September 12, 1999.