SAL station in Ybor City, FL.?

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Some years ago while visiting the Plant City Union station, I was shown color photos of a large Seaboard Mediteranean-style stucco station. There were also two stainless passenger cars in the photo, one being a round-end tavern-obs. It's not known whether they were part of an SAL "open house" or were on static display. The woman showing me the photos said this was the station in Ybor City on the eastern outskirts of Tampa. (The pictures looked very much like the current scene at the FEC Boca Raton FL. depot, which is of a similar style with the same type cars adjoining). Was she mistaken, or did such a building exist at one time, possibly before Tampa Union Station was built? Thanks for any info!

-- Bob Venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), September 27, 1999

Answers

She was wrong Bob.That type of building showed up in Fla. before the depression and was very prominate on the SAL Miami extention and in parts of west Fla.when the building boom was on during the twenties. Examples: Auburndale,Old Winter Haven,West Lake Wales, Avon Park Sebring,Indiantown West Palm Beach etc on to Miami,with the exception of Opalocka,which was Morrish style.Most of these are still standing,tho,not all are being used for passenger service. BTW, TUS was built in 1912,long before lightweight cars. However,ACL did have a station in Ybor City.

-- Joseph Oates (jlosal@gte.net), September 28, 1999.

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