Whatever we do, we can’t loose sight of future needs. Many Amshack stations were built with a single track, maybe two at best. Clifford Lane in Jacksonville was no different. Then someone realized trains could be split or added to both coasts of Florida in Jacksonville. Further, storage mail and bulk mail required a last minute siding addition. Dining cars running short on ice or other food items required restocking, add a ramp to another track. In the end Amtrak cuts eliminated most of these needs, but what if?
Any station revival downtown needs to consider these items (=jobs) plus mixing Amtrak, Brightline and any JTA commuter runs. Imagining arrivals, departures and trains held out for future arrivals and departures it is imperative that we insist on space for at least 2 tracks each.
Down the road, between Palatka and DeLand Amtrak has been given ownership rights. Sunrail currently running Poinciana- DeLand is but a hairs breath from reaching Lakeland. Can Tampa, Palatka or Jacksonville be that far behind?
Add the dream of restoring Jacksonville- Miami via the FEC RY (Brightline), has anyone considered that BL cars and Amtrak cars are compatible? Another huge what if requiring space to switch things out.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is the history of the site. Throughout the 1800’s until 1919 the platforms flooded continuously. The 1919 fix was to build a pedestrian subway at ground level then backfill the entire yards with 14’ of compacted earth. It worked! Then come the convention center, passenger trains were gone and the city wanted a showplace at the end of Water Street. The Park Street/Lee Street viaduct was lowered and shortened. The FEC RY freight tracks lowered back to 1890’s level, and everybody has forgotten that flood delayed freight doesn’t complain as much as flood delayed passengers. The viaduct or flood zone simply must be fixed.
OCKLAWAHA
