The Green Cove Springs and Melrose Railroad was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge[1] common carrier and logging railroad that operated between 1881 and 1899. Its core route ran for 33.5 miles in a southwesterly direction from the city of Green Cove Springs, Florida, United States, to the lakeside town of Melrose.
The company was incorporated under Florida state law and approved on February 28, 1881, with construction commencing a short time later. In March 1883, the first section of the route from Green Cove Springs to the community of Sharon was opened. Further construction proceeded gradually, with the railroad finally reaching Melrose in 1890.[2]
During the mid-1880s, the railroad was faced with financial troubles and the company underwent reorganization twice, becoming the Green Cove Springs & Midland Railway in 1885 and then Western Railway of Florida a year later. In 1892, the railroad was sold and the company reorganized for a third and final time to South-Western Railroad.[3]
Land grantsedit
Once construction commenced, the railroad was promised land grants from the state of Florida.
Florida state law chapter 3495, approved March 2, 1883, enlarged the area from which they could choose land grants. At the time, their route had been adopted, and most of the land along the route had already been sold off.
Florida state law chapter 3644, approved February 11, 1885, further enlarged the area for land grants, and extended the deadline to January 1, 1886.
Florida state law chapter 3796, approved June 7, 1887, extended the deadline for land grants to July 1, 1888.
Closureedit
The beginning of the end came during the late 1890s following a Great Freeze which devastated the local economy and resulted in a loss of passenger and freight traffic. The railroad held on for a few more years to continue serving the logging industry before finally shutting down in 1899.
Portions of the rail bed can still be seen in some places including "Tram Road", an unpaved footpath at Gold Head Branch State Park which follows the old right of way for about a mile or so.[4] In addition, part of the railroad's route through Green Cove Springs is today Melrose Avenue.
Referencesedit
^Tap Lines: Shortline & Industrial Railroading in the South
^"Melrose Marker - Historic Markers Across Florida". www.lat34north.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
^Wilson, Gil. "Green Cove Springs Clay County, Florida St. Johns River". www.drbronsontours.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
^Molloy, Johnny (2011-06-15). The Best in Tent Camping: Florida: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos. Menasha Ridge Press. ISBN9780897328531.
December 18, 2023
green, cove, springs, melrose, railroad, narrow, gauge, common, carrier, logging, railroad, that, operated, between, 1881, 1899, core, route, miles, southwesterly, direction, from, city, green, cove, springs, florida, united, states, lakeside, town, melrose, o. The Green Cove Springs and Melrose Railroad was a 3 ft 914 mm narrow gauge 1 common carrier and logging railroad that operated between 1881 and 1899 Its core route ran for 33 5 miles in a southwesterly direction from the city of Green Cove Springs Florida United States to the lakeside town of Melrose Green Cove Springs and Melrose RailroadOverviewOther name s South Western RailroadWestern Railway of FloridaStatusDefunctLocaleClay County Florida amp Putnam County FloridaTerminiGreen Cove Springs FloridaMelrose FloridaServiceTypeCommon carrier forest railwayHistoryCommenced1881Opened1883Completed1890Closed1899TechnicalLine length33 5 mi 53 9 km Track gauge3 ft 0 in 914 mm Route mapvteLegendJT amp KW line to Jacksonville0 0 Green Cove SpringsJT amp KW line to Sanford6 0 Wilkinson s7 1 Novella9 4 East Sharon10 4 Sharon13 7 Belmore14 9 Wilderness16 7 Athens19 0 Kellums24 0 Spring LakeGS amp F line to Valdosta GA27 9 NewburgGS amp F line to Palatka28 2 Hunter s Mill30 0 Saranac33 5 Melrose Contents 1 History 1 1 Land grants 1 2 Closure 2 ReferencesHistory editThe company was incorporated under Florida state law and approved on February 28 1881 with construction commencing a short time later In March 1883 the first section of the route from Green Cove Springs to the community of Sharon was opened Further construction proceeded gradually with the railroad finally reaching Melrose in 1890 2 During the mid 1880s the railroad was faced with financial troubles and the company underwent reorganization twice becoming the Green Cove Springs amp Midland Railway in 1885 and then Western Railway of Florida a year later In 1892 the railroad was sold and the company reorganized for a third and final time to South Western Railroad 3 Land grants edit Once construction commenced the railroad was promised land grants from the state of Florida Florida state law chapter 3495 approved March 2 1883 enlarged the area from which they could choose land grants At the time their route had been adopted and most of the land along the route had already been sold off Florida state law chapter 3644 approved February 11 1885 further enlarged the area for land grants and extended the deadline to January 1 1886 Florida state law chapter 3796 approved June 7 1887 extended the deadline for land grants to July 1 1888 Closure edit The beginning of the end came during the late 1890s following a Great Freeze which devastated the local economy and resulted in a loss of passenger and freight traffic The railroad held on for a few more years to continue serving the logging industry before finally shutting down in 1899 Portions of the rail bed can still be seen in some places including Tram Road an unpaved footpath at Gold Head Branch State Park which follows the old right of way for about a mile or so 4 In addition part of the railroad s route through Green Cove Springs is today Melrose Avenue References edit Tap Lines Shortline amp Industrial Railroading in the South Melrose Marker Historic Markers Across Florida www lat34north com Retrieved 2018 01 17 Wilson Gil Green Cove Springs Clay County Florida St Johns River www drbronsontours com Retrieved 2018 01 17 Molloy Johnny 2011 06 15 The Best in Tent Camping Florida A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs Concrete Slabs and Loud Portable Stereos Menasha Ridge Press ISBN 9780897328531 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Green Cove Springs and Melrose Railroad amp oldid 991050346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
