Hampton, Fl Interchange with the Southern Rwy

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I have been to Hampton, Fl on the old SAl S Line, and found an old Southern Railway green sign with HAMPTON on it. I know the the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway went from Valdosta, Ga. to Palatka, Fl, through Hampton, I was told by locals that the Southern passengers trains through cars were given to the SAL for either Miami or Tampa from here. I have not been able to find any pictures of this or any buildings that would show that cars were exchanged at Hampton. If any one has any information on this I would appreciate it very much with any information on the structures, schedules between the SAl and Sou Rwy at this site. And if any one has photos I would gladly pay and reprints of the Hampton area. I plan to model thia area on a HO Module for the Ocala Model Railroaders Club. Thanks for the help. Allen Wiener

-- Allen L. Wiener (SouRwy@aol.com), March 15, 2000

Answers

In the 20's, the Suwanee River Special was a winter train operated via Southern-Hampton-SAL for St. Petersburg. It was a tri-weekly train with through sleeping car service to/from Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland. It operated FROM St. Petersburg on Monday, Thursday, Saturday.

-- Harry Bundy (y6b@aol.com), March 20, 2000.

The following is courtesy of R. Lyle Key's "Midwest Florida Sunliners" published in 1979 by RPC Publications. The Florida Sunbeam was a seasonal train which made its first run January 1, 1936. The train was annulled 1942-1946. The last run was April 30, 1949. There are several photos of the train, including some showing SAL equipment, in the book. There is one photo of Hampton in the "Seaboard Air Line Album", however, it shows the northbound turnout and the southbound turnout. Thats all there was, plus a signal box. Let me know if you want xerox copies of the photos.

-- Michael W. Savchak (Savchak @MNR.org), March 20, 2000.

Until the winter season of 1949-1950 when Southern started running the New Royal Palm via Jacksonville-FEC, Southern and SAL operated seasonal passenger trains between the Midwest and Florida via Hampton. The last train operated was the Florida Sunbeam between Detroit and Miami with service to and from other NYC points connecting at Cincinnati.

Since the interchange at Hampton both ways was in the early morning, I would be surprised if any photos of the train at Hampton exist. Account weight restrictions on the Southern line, double headed 4-6-0's and possibly 2-8-0's were likely the motive power for the Florida Sunbeam between Valdosta and Hampton.

-- Jack Wyatt (cjwyatt@wavegate.com), March 16, 2000.


The Seaboard and the Southern did have a through train between Chicago and Florida which was discontinued in 1949. The details are in the book "Midwest Sunliners". I will go through the book tonight and I will post more information on the website on Monday. Other photos of the Hampton site are in the "Seaboard Air Line Album". Give me an E-mail with your snail mail address and I will send you copies of what I have.

-- Michael W. Savchak (Savchak @MNR.org), March 16, 2000.

Further to my previous answer, a search of additional materials indicates that the GS&F/SR and SAL/SCL exchanged freight cars at Hampton, Fla., though one would assume that the prefered interchange point would have been Jacksonville, except for local traffic on the GS&F/SR between Valdosta and Hampton.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), March 16, 2000.


I can find no reference to the Southern Ry. running through passenger cars onto the Seaboard at Hampton, Fla., at least as regularly scheduled trains. The only passenger service through Hampton on the SR was a mixed train No.s 14 & 15, Valdosta to Palatka. Train was mixed from mid-1930's until circa 1956 when it went freight only. This train was dieselised in 1951. As for buildings, check with the "city hall" in Hampton, or a library, or the county court house and library for Hampton's county, for Sanborn Insurance maps, town plats, etc., to find out what buildings were extant in your desired period and era.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), March 16, 2000.

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