TAMPA'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

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

Union Station
601 Nebraska Ave.
Opened 1912, consolidating the stations of some railroads

Number of station tracks: 8

ATLANTIC COAST LINE

Departures



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

 96                        Fort Myers      2:50
375  Southland             Sarasota        8:55   75   9:30
 80  Florida Mail          Washington     10:00        8:30
 92  West Coast Champion   New York        1:25        1:00       11:05
 24  Silver Star           Jacksonville                            1:20
 91  West Coast Champion   Sarasota                    3:00
 32  Southland             Cincinnati      7:50        7:25
 76                        Jacksonville   11:00       11:00
Arrivals



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

 75                        Jacksonville    6:10        5:45
 33  Southland             Cincinnati      8:40        9:15
 23  Silver Star           Jacksonville                            9:30
 92  West Coast Champion   Sarasota                   12:35
 91  West Coast Champion   New York        1:00        2:40        3:25
 89  Florida Mail          Washington      3:45        6:40
376  Southland             Sarasota        7:35   76   7:00
 97                        Fort Myers     11:50
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

Until early 1940's, Atlantic Coast Line passenger trains operated north of Tampa to Vitis and Perry FL, via the Ocala District.

SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY

Departures



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

  1  Palmland              St. Petersb.    5:45   58   2:40 pm
409                        Boca Grande     6:45  321   8:25
 23  Silver Star           St. Petersb.                            9:35
344  Silver Meteor         Wildwood       12:15  158  11:30
343  Silver Meteor         St. Petersb.   12:25  157   1:40
507                        Venice          1:10  257   1:45   81   3:45
108  Sun Queen             New York        2:50    8   2:30
 91  West Coast Champion   St. Petersb.                            3:40
 28                        W. Lake Wales  11:35   57  10:00 am
  2  Palmland              Jacksonville   11:55       10:30
Arrivals



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

 27                        W. Lake Wales   4:30   58   2:25 pm
  1  Palmland              Jacksonville    5:00        5:00
 92  West Coast Champion   St. Petersb.                           10:50
508                        Venice         11:59  258  11:10   82  10:45
344  Silver Meteor         St. Petersb.   12:10  158  11:20
 24  Silver Star           St. Petersb.                            1:15
343  Silver Meteor         Wildwood       12:20  157   1:30
107  Sun Queen             New York        1:00    7   1:25
410                        Boca Grande     9:15  322   6:30
  2  Palmland              St. Petersb.   11:25   57   9:45 am
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

Until early 1940's, Seaboard passenger trains operated north of Tampa to Brooksville and Waldo.

STATIONS TODAY

Tampa Union Station was initially vacated by Amtrak 1982. And the station went unused, until renovation for Amtrak's return to the station in 1998.

Union Station (Wikipedia)

Link to Web site containing further historical information on Tampa Union Station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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

Tampa Union Station was served by main lines of Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line, both of which originated in Richmond VA. ACL main line trains terminated in Tampa. SAL trains continued beyond to Clearwater and St. Petersburg, using SAL's Yeoman Subdivision. SAL served Tampa using a spur from Gary, 2 miles east of Union Station. At Valrico, 12 miles east of Tampa, SAL branch lines diverted south towards Venice and Boca Grande. ACL's Palmetto Subdivision extended south to Sarasota, diverting from its main line at Uceta, 4 miles east of Union Station.