I am curious about the GSF/SAL junction at Sampson City. I assume the crossing was at grade. Does anyone know how this diamond was protected...type of signal or semaphore? To compound matters, a map shows the Jacksonville, Gainesville and Gulf RR starting very close to this junction spot and then running SW to Gainesville. (I believe the JG&G would become a SAL branch in its later years.)

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), January 14, 2002

Answers

Greg -

I can't answer your question, but can add that the GS&F had a significant investment in the Tampa & Jacksonville Ry (predecessor to the Jacksonville, Gainesville & Gulf.) This included $150,000 in bonds (about 1/3 the total issue) and an undetermined amount of the stock. While this did not constitute control, I suspect that the management of the T&J listened when the GS&F cleared its throat. The T&G became the Jacksonville, Gainesville & Gulf in a reorganization in 1926, was purchased by the Seaboard Air Line, and was abandoned in 1943.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

Greg, the Sampson City diamond is still in place 2 years ago when I was there. It is at grade, with GS&F track cut back about 3 feet from the old SAL Wannee Brach, that ran from Stark, Florida to the small town of Wannee, on the Suwanee River. I do not know how the diamond was protected, and the old SAL (JG&G) line is no where to be seen. On a 1930 SAL map it shows the JG&G leaving the Wannee Branch after the SAL-GS&F diamond and heading south. The JG&G was formed by SAL in 1927 and at it's height it was 56 miles long from Emathia (located 10 miles west of Ocala, FL) to Sampson City. In 1927 after the SAL took over they cut the line north of Gainesville to Sampson City, and used it as a feeder line from Marion County to Gainesville's SAL junction. The JG&G was abandoned in 1944. The old Wanee Brach is now CSX's line from Stark to Newberry, FL and south on the old ACL line to the Florida Power Corp. coal burning plant at Red Level, FL. Allen L. Wiener, Ocala, FL

-- Allen L. Wiener (SouRwu@aol.com), January 16, 2002.