Sanford Railroad Historical Data
Posted by: 
Markerman62
N 28° 48.712 W 081° 16.198
17R E 473657 N 3187172
In downtown Sanford.
Waymark Code: WMK6MH
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 02/20/2014
Views: 6
Sanford railroading had its physical beginning January 10, 1880 when former President U.S. Grant broke ground near this spot for the South Florida RR. The South Florida RR operated from 1880-1886, its name successively changed to Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Ry. 1886-1899, the Plant System 1899-1902, the Atlantic Coast Line RR 1902-1967, the Seaboard Coast Line RR 1967-1980, and in 1980 becoming the CSX Corporation, a union of the Seaboard and the Chessie Systems. With at least 25 railroad trains a day positioned along these facilities, Sanford became an important early railroad center. A 12 mile loop route around the celery farms east of Sanford made it Florida's first city with an integrated rail system. The state's largest railroad ice plant at the Rand Yard allowed farmers to ship celery and other produce nationwide, making Sanford the "Celery Capital of the World." Today, in 1995 Sanford is the southern terminus of Auto Train. The other side of the marker shows locations of important transportation sites of the 1890s.
Marker Number: 0
Date: None
County: Seminole
Marker Type: Roadside
Sponsored or placed by: Seminole County Historical Commission
Website: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
Please post a photo at the marker location.