The ACL had some curious little branchlines in the Sunshine State, such as the mile long siding to the Belleview Hotel at Belleair, which all passenger trains backed into. But, can anyone tell me the purpose for the following branches?: 1. Ten miles south of Jacksonville, at Yukon, there was a branch to State Camp, or Camp, circa 1916-1941, and 2. at Arcadia, on the Bone Valley-Punta Gorda line, a branch east to "Carlstrom Field", circa 1931-1935. The first sounds like maybe a National Guard site, while the later sounds like Army Air Corps. Does anybody know the reason for these two lines, or know the exact opening and abandonment dates? Thanks in advance for your answers.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), January 25, 2000

Answers

In 1907, a special commission of the Florida Legislature recommended that land at Black Point be purchased for use as a training ground for the State troops-what we would now call the National Guard. Encampments were held there from 1909 on. In 1917, the Federal government took over the facility and leased adjacent land. During World War I it was called Camp Joseph E. Johnston and was a training base for the quartermaster corps. Track was laid into it at that time for troop movements and military freight. The Traction Company extended its Ortega line to the camp, although the line was not opened until the war had ended. In 1921 the property was returned to the State and resumed its role as a training ground. In the late Thirties, the Federal government acquired the property and during the War, it became a Navy facility. The track crossing Roosevelt Boulevard (US 17) was finally removed i

-- Larry Brennan (lpbrennan@aol.com), April 06, 2001.

The spur at Yukon served what is now the Naval Air Station- Jacksonville. I remember seeing that it was a military camp or reeservation back in the 1930s and 40s. The base is located between the A-line/US17 and the St. Johns River. On base trackage served warehouses and went down to the river along side the runways. The track was pulled up about 7 or 8 years ago. All total there was probably between 3 and 4 miles on on base track.

-- William Billy (crrgator@juno.com), February 17, 2000.

Tom: the ACL branch from Arcadia to Carlstrom Field, 7.3 miles long, was begun in December, 1917 in order that the U.S. Government Aviation Camp had a rail connection during the First World War. The project got passing notice in the ACL annual report of 1917, pg. 31. While researching my new book,'Railroads of Southwest Florida' (which is noted in the Q & A Forum), I established contact with a local historian who might be of further help. His name: Howard Melton, 417 North Polk Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266. Good luck! Gregg Turner

-- Gregg Turner (gturnerfamily@webtv.net), January 25, 2000.