Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Tampa Union Station

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 2007

1. Tampa Union Station Marker

Inscription. By 1902, the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) was formed and the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) had taken over the rail system of Henry B. Plant. Tampa Union Station (TUS) built in 1912, was designed by architect J.F. Leitner in Italian Renaissance style, and served both railroads. The companies contributed $250,000 to build the station, which was managed by Tampa Union Station Company. During the Depression, America's passenger railroad earnings fell by half. Higher revenues during WWII were offset by costs of overworking their stock to meet war needs. To increase profits, they reinvested in sleeker, more modern rolling stock, resulting in the "Streamliner Era." Notable trains that served TUS then included ACL's West Coast Champion, South Wind, the Southland and the SAL's Silver Meteor, Silver Star and Sunland. In 1971 Amtrak began operating the nation's passenger rail services and today runs trains out of Tampa Union Station. In 1991 the non-profit Tampa Union Station Preservation & Redevelopment, Inc., puchased the 1.97-acre terminal and baggage building, renovating it in 1998. Ownership was transferred

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to the city of Tampa in 1999. The station is on the National Register Of Historic Places.

Erected 2001 by Tampa Union Station Preservation and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-451.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.

Location. 27° 57.145′ N, 82° 27.057′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is on 601 Nebraska Ave (State Road 45) near E. Zack Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Jackson House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John T. Lesley Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Orange Grove Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away); The Scrub (approx. 0.3 miles away); Emiliano Jose (E.J.) Salcines (approx. 0.3 miles away); John Fitzgerald Kennedy (approx.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 31, 2012

2. Tampa Union Station Marker

0.3 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Central Avenue (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Regarding Tampa Union Station. National Register of Historic Places:
Union Railroad Station (added 1974 - - #74000640)
601 N. Nebraska St. , Tampa
♦ Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: W.C. Hobbs Co., Leitner,J. F.
♦ Architectural Style: Other
♦ Area of Significance: Transportation, Architecture
♦ Period of Significance: 1900-1924
♦ Owner: Private , Local
♦ Historic Function: Transportation
♦ Historic Sub-function: Rail-Related
♦ Current Function: Transportation
♦ Current Sub-function: Rail-Related

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Tampa Union Station. (Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Union Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 2007

3. Union Station

"Union Station" was named from its function as a location where two or more common carriers (railroads) arrive and depart, allowing a transfer of passengers and express. When Tampa Union Station was built in 1912, it was served by three railroads (Atlantic Coast Line RR, Seaboard Air Line RR, and Tampa & Gulf Coast RR), thereby creating a "union" of the three lines.

2. History of Seaboard Air Line Railway. (Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
3. History of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. (Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
4. History of Pasco County Florida Railroads. (Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Tampa and Gulf Coast
Seaboard acquired another Tampa firm in 1913: the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railroad. The latter traded its existence to the Gulf Pine Lumber Company, which had constructed a logging line from Lutz (on the Tampa Northern Railroad 15 miles north of Tampa), west to Lake Fern and Gulf Pine—where the firm's sawmill was located. After buying the firm, the Tampa & Gulf Coast extended rails beyond Gulf Pine to the sponge capital of Tarpon Springs.

In 1912, the Tampa & Gulf Coast Railroad absorbed the line of J. M. Weeks, which ran from Tarpon Springs to Port Richey. All

Inside at the Ticket Window image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 2007

4. Inside at the Ticket Window

these endeavors, however, strained the company's treasury. A year later, a reorganized railroad emerged with the Seaboard firmly in control.

— Submitted January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

2. Tampa Northern Railroad Co.
The Tampa Northern Railroad Co. was long on big plans. On May 14, 1906, it was incorporated to build a 500 mile line from Tampa, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. On January 1, 1908 it began service over 46.56 miles from Tampa to Brooksville, Florida. On December 1, 1930, when it was leased to the Seaboard Air Line, with whom it connected, it was still the same length. Over the years, while extending its mainline no further, it did manage to build 20.52 miles of short branches, sidings, yards and other miscellaneous trackage.

The Tampa Northern's wealth lay in the fact that it owned significant real estate along the waterfront and in Tampa, originally planned for terminal and industrial facilities.

In December of 1946, The Seaboard Air Line acquired the Tampa Northern and merged

Pullman Car "Florida Sunrise" No. 2700 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 1, 2007

5. Pullman Car "Florida Sunrise" No. 2700

it into its own operations.

— Submitted January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

Tampa Union Station trackside of the old platform image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

6. Tampa Union Station trackside of the old platform

Tampa Union Station, Florida Sunrise 2700 rests at old platform image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

7. Tampa Union Station, Florida Sunrise 2700 rests at old platform

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 2007

8. Story Clock

Detail Story Clock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Stroud, November 2007

9. Detail Story Clock

The Orange Blossom Special was a passenger train of the Seaboard Air Line railroad between New York City and Miami.
Mr. Harry Love, first station master
The Champion was a passenger train of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad between New York City and Saint Petersburg.

Tampa Union Station Story Clock image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

10. Tampa Union Station Story Clock

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

11. Tampa Union Station Story Clock

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 31, 2012

12. Tampa Union Station Story Clock

Noting Railway Express Agency and The Plant System Railway and Steamship Lines and Silver Meteor

Tampa Union Station Story Clock details image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 31, 2012

13. Tampa Union Station Story Clock details

Includes H.B. Plant and Seaboard Railroad

Photographed By Mike Stroud, March 31, 2012

14. Tampa Union Station Story Clock details

Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Atlantic Coast Line, and Emergency Relief Council Forest Camps

Tampa Union Station track array image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

15. Tampa Union Station track array

Amtrak 138 pulls out of Tampa's Union Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, November 24, 2007

16. Amtrak 138 pulls out of Tampa's Union Station

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,362 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on May 7, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7. submitted on July 26, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 8, 9. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 10, 11. submitted on July 26, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 12, 13, 14. submitted on July 8, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 15, 16. submitted on July 26, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.