ACL freight and passenger operations in Palatka in late 1950s

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Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me about the ACL's operations in Palatka in the mid to late 1950s. I am looking for info on freight trains and consists. I would also appreciate any info on local passenger trains as well as the big mainline trains. Any info such as locos used, consists, HW or LW, frequency, type of freight etc is very much appreciated.

This question comes to you from across the pond in England where info on the ACL is pretty limited!

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Matt

-- matthew strickland (matthewjstrickland@yahoo.co.uk), September 07, 2004

Answers

Bill Cogswell of DeLand adds the following:

Also there was Coast Line's pride and joy # 109, their hotshot freight that ran on a first class schedule. It was so important that two cabooses were used between Moncrief and Sanford so they could uncouple the Sanford cars with caboose and change engine crews in a matter of minutes and be on their way. Frank Sineith, now deceased and Coast Line's Chief of Motive power at that time, commented that #109 was called their "million-dollar train" by Champ Davis because it grossed at least that much in revenue each trip.

-- Larry Goolsby (lgoolsby@aphsa.org), September 15, 2004.


Matt, the Oct. 1955 timetable shows ACL ran one long-distance passenger train, the West Coast Champion, and a couple of locals. The WCC usually had 2 or 3 EMD E units and 15 cars or so, usually all lightweight. The locals typically had 1 or 2 FP7s and were normally all heavyweight. One of the locals, 75/76, was the connection for the Havana Special, and I believe still carried a sleeper. The other, 80/89, was the "Florida Mail" and was just that, head-end cars and a coach or 2. The "Mail" was daily except Sunday, the others were daily.

The timetable also shows 2 daily through freights south and one north, and a daily-except-Sunday local freight. Power would have been EMD F units and GP7s. Most freight was merchandise traffic plus perishables, mostly carried in reefers by that time but also some still in "watermelon" ventilated boxcars. Someone from the area can no doubt add more detail.

-- Larry Goolsby (lgoolsby@aphsa.org), September 07, 2004.


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