Ocala Division

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I would like to now of any trains that opertated between Dunnellon and Vitis during the 1950's? Also on the Dunnellon to Vitis route what was the name of subdivision called, did the double track run between these two points,was it CTC, and where were the cross overs located on this route.

-- Eric Johnson (don_john@bellsouth.net), February 07, 2000

Answers

It was indeed CTC from Dunnellon to Vitis Junction, former ACL Tampa- High Springs Main line, West Coast Subdivision. The line runs down to Zephyrhills where it joins the ex-SAL main. There is a Jct switch at Vitis which is the Vitis Subdivision running down to Lakeland joining the Tampa-Sanford-Jax ACL main with a wye.

-- Walt Rogers (wjriii@gte.net), July 03, 2001.

According to an ACL employee timetable I have from October 1956, The Dunellon-Vitis section was part of the "High Springs-Tampa Main Line" Hope this helps.

-- Danny Harmon (DistSig@aol.com), February 08, 2000.

The current issue of Lines South, 4th Quarter 1999, has an issue- length feature on ACL operations in this territory, and includes reproductions of several timetable pages and a discussion of the double track, CTC, etc. The issue is available from our Valrico address for $6.00 plus 1.50 s/h.

Our web site section on back issues has not been updated in some time, but we do have the following 1999 back issues available:

1st quarter 1999 - $5.00 3rd quarter 1999 - $5.00 4th quarter 1999 - $6.00

Shipping is 1.50 for one issue, 3.00 for two or more issues. Sorry, but our 2nd quarter 1999 is sold out.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), February 08, 2000.


Eric - Here is a partial answer to your questions. According to maps in the ACL public timetables, 1950-1959, the Dunnellon-Vitis was double tracked throughout the 1950's. As far as trains on the line, passenger service was provided by at least three trains each way over portions of that stretch of track. #32-33, THE SOUTHLAND, a Chicago-Fort Meyers train ran the entire segment, though a portion was split off at Trilby and run to St.Petersburg. Vitis is not listed as an open station. There were two other trains that ran between Trilby and Croom only, #37-38, a Jacksonville-St.Petersburg local, and #191-192, a connection to #91-92, THE WEST COAST CHAMPION, which had sleepers for St.Pete. The rest of the W.C.C. ran via Orlando. The name of the sub-division and whether there was CTC will have to be answered by another member with ACL employee timetables. Tom

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), February 08, 2000.

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