M&B Railroad Memorial Park - Blountstown, FL
N 30° 26.752 W 085° 02.734
16R E 687670 N 3369815
The M&B Railroad Memorial Park is located in the small town of Blountstown, Florida, USA.
Waymark Code: WMKBF2
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/14/2014
Views: 3
The park is a small strip of land that houses Marianna & Blountstown Rainroad Steam Locomotive 444 and M&B Railroad Caboose 102. A plaque on a granite slab in the park provides a Resolution passed by City of Blountstown "honoring the memory of a group of distinguished citizens of Blountstown and Calhoun County."
An historical marker in the park provides the following information about the railroad for which this park is named:
"For 63 years (1909-1972) the Marianna and Blountstown Railroad was Calhoun County's link to the railroads and commerce of the nation. Sometimes known as "Many Bumps" or "Meat and Bread," the M&B had a significant impact on the lives of Calhoun Countians. Until 1929, before automobile travel was commonplace, the M&B provided passenger service. Farmers used the railroad to ship a wide array of agricultural products. In the early years, logging spur lines extended into remote areas of the county and millions of board feet of long-leaf pine lumber were shipped from local sawmills. The M&B also carried mail, manufactured goods and building products. During its operation, the 29-mile-long line was Florida's shortest railroad. Until 1938 it ran 16 miles farther south to Scotts Ferry. Steam locomotive #444 was in operation when the M&B's first diesel engine arrived in 1947 and rests today on the exact location of the M&B roadbed."