JACKSONVILLE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Jacksonville in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Jacksonville, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Union Station
1000 Water St.
Opened 1919, replacing earlier station at same location built in 1897

Number of station tracks: 6 through/16 stub
Interlocked switches controlled as follows:
Lee Street: controlled the south end of the station
Myrtle Avenue: controlled the north end of the station
Beaver Street: controlled junctions north of the station

ATLANTIC COAST LINE

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 18  Flamingo              Cincinnati      8:00        7:45
 91  West Coast Champion   Tampa           8:00        9:40       10:05
 76  Havana Special        New York        8:10        9:15        8:50
 39  West Coast Champion   St. Petersb.    8:35  191   9:35   93  10:45
 89  Florida Mail          Tampa           8:45       10:45
  5  Chicago Streamliner   Miami                                  10:50
  2  East Coast Champion   New York        3:40        5:05
 92  West Coast Champion   New York        6:55        6:30        4:55
 80  Florida Mail          Washington      8:15
 94  Dixie Flyer           Chicago         9:25        9:45
 37                        St. Petersb.   10:35       11:00   23   4:40 am
 75                        Tampa          10:40       10:15
  6  Miami Streamliner     Chicago        11:15        8:30        6:30
376  Everglades            Washington                 11:25   86  11:00
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

375  Everglades            Washington                  3:30   85   3:25
 95  Dixie Flyer           Chicago         6:30        6:00
 76                        Tampa           6:45        6:30
 38                        St. Petersb.    6:50        6:00   24   6:30 pm
 91  West Coast Champion   New York        7:25        9:00        9:45
 89  Florida Mail          Washington      7:45
  5  Miami Streamliner     Chicago         8:10        9:15       10:25
  1  East Coast Champion   New York       10:10        7:55
 80  Florida Mail          Tampa           5:25        5:30
 40  West Coast Champion   St. Petersb.    6:20  192   6:00   94   4:35
 92  West Coast Champion   Tampa           6:25        6:05        4:30
  6  Chicago Streamliner   Miami                                   6:05
 75  Havana Special        New York        8:20        5:30        7:30
 17  Flamingo              Cincinnati      9:00        9:20
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

"Miami Streamliner" refers to the City of Miami, the South Wind, and the Dixie Flagler, each operating every third day over different routes north of Florida. But operating on an identical route within Florida, providing overall daily service on the same schedule within Florida.

FLORIDA EAST COAST

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3  Chicago Streamliner   Miami           8:25    5   9:45
 29  Daylight Express      Miami           8:45       11:00
  1  East Coast Champion   Miami          10:25        8:20
  5  Tiresaver             Miami           3:00
 75  Havana Special        Miami          10:00       10:30
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1w942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 76  Havana Special        Miami           7:00        7:00
  2  East Coast Champion   Miami           3:30        4:50
 30  Daylight Express      Miami           6:10        5:10
  6  Tiresaver             Miami           8:45
  4  Chicago Streamliner   Miami          11:00    6   8:10
Passenger service suspended in 1963 due to a lengthy strike, through service to and from points north permanently rerouted via Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard between Jacksonville and Miami. Passenger service resumed in 1965 and was permanently discontinued in 1968. With the continuing strike, passengers were notified of the possibility of acts of sabotage or vandalism along the railroad.

"Chicago Streamliner" refers to the City of Miami, the South Wind, and the Dixie Flagler, each operating every third day over different routes north of Florida. But operating on an identical route within Florida, providing overall daily service on the same schedule within Florida.

SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 21  Silver Star           Miami                       3:45        4:35
 43  Silver Meteor         Miami           8:20   57   9:20        8:30
107  Sun Queen             Tampa           8:25    7   8:40
192  Palmland              New York        8:30   10   8:55
  2                        Washington     10:55
 37  New Orleans Limited   Pensacola      11:15        9:45
 44  Silver Meteor         New York        4:20   58   4:00        4:10
108  Sun Queen             New York        8:00    8   9:00
 39  Seaboard Mail         Flomaton        9:00        5:15        7:45
191  Palmland              Miami           9:45    9  10:00
  1  Palmland              St. Petersb.   10:15
  4                        Washington     10:25
 22  Silver Star           New York                    7:20        6:55
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 21  Silver Star           New York                    3:30        4:15
  3                        Washington      5:00
 38  Seaboard Mail         Flomaton        6:35        8:45   40  10:00
  2  Palmland              St. Petersb.    7:15
192  Palmland              Miami           7:30   10   6:30
107  Sun Queen             New York        7:50    7   8:05
 43  Silver Meteor         New York        8:15   57   9:05        8:20
 44  Silver Meteor         Miami           4:15   58   3:50        4:00
 36  New Orleans Limited   Pensacola       6:20        5:45
108  Sun Queen             Tampa           7:35    8   7:30
  1                        Washington      8:10
191  Palmland              New York        8:40    9   8:20
 22  Silver Star           Miami                       7:05        6:35
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  2  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati      8:30 am     9:00 am
  8  KC Florida Special    Birmingham      8:55 pm     9:20 pm
  4  Royal Palm            Cincinnati     10:00 pm    10:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  7  KC Florida Special    Birmingham      6:35 am     7:30 am
  3  Royal Palm            Cincinnati      7:30 am     6:55 am
  1  Ponce De Leon         Cincinnati      8:45 pm     6:00 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1966, last train was the Royal Palm.

STATIONS TODAY

Amtrak vacated the Union Station in 1974 in favor of the Clifford Lane station, and the station was transformed into a convention center.

Union Station - Jacksonville

Links to Web sites containing further information on this classic station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.