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CSX photo by Dave Shepperd, all others by Jerry Sullivan.
1200 Lake Jeffery Road, Lake City 32055 |
Amtrak
U.S. Congress
State Legislature |
| A small unstaffed concrete block building stands in the midst of several hundred feet of platform for the Amtrak station in Lake City, Florida. The city was established near the site of Seminole village whose named translated as "Alligator Town." American settlers knew the community as "Alligator" until 1859!
In the early 20th Century, Lake City had become an important railroad town, servicing as it did the Seaboard Air Line, Atlantic Coast Line, the Georgia Railroad, and the Florida Railroad. Two colorful posters are painted on the front of the station facing the track and are in excellent condition. One depicts the Battle of Olustee, the only Civil War battlefield of significance in Florida which was about 10 miles east and is clearly visible from passing trains. The other indicates one of the many nice clean springs in the area which are favorite places for picnics etc. As the photos show, there is a pay telephone and parking for at about 30 vehicles If you would like to use Amtrak from Lake City either to connect to trains in Jacksonville, Florida or New Orleans, Louisiana, or ride the Sunset Limited to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California, you need to let your Federal legislators know before it is too late! There is no reason, now that the CSX has restore their track, that Amtrak should not restore the Sunset Limited. Make your feelings known to the Amtrak Board of Directors, AND you own Senator and Congressperson. The money has been in the budget for two years to run the Sunset Limited from Coast to Coast.. Wikipedia has more information about Lake Charles.
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SAVE THE SUNSET LIMITED, NOW! |
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