The Palatka Railroad Preservation
Society began in 1993 as an informal organization of people interested
in railroading. The City of Palatka promoted the establishment of an
organization and provided the use of the Palatka Railroad Depot.
The Society is dedicated to the
preservation and perpetuation of the rail heritage of Palatka, Florida
and surrounding communities, from the first railway in the 1800's to
the present. The Society's purpose is to encourage and engage in the
collection, cataloging, restoration, maintenance and display of
materials, artifacts and documents relating to this heritage; to
promote knowledge and understanding among Society members and the
community; and to promote a mutually beneficial relationship among it's
members.
A portion of the historic depot
has already been established as the Browning Railroad Museum and
contains documents, photographs, maps, signs and other items donated or
loaned by the public.
One 25'X30' room has been set
aside for the construction of a model train layout depicting Palatka
and surrounding areas during the heyday of rail traffic.
The South portion of the depot
houses "Railrodeo", created by Irvin P. Saylor. It was billed as the
"World's largest mobile HO scale model railroad" when it began touring
the East Coast in 1975.
Railroad lines that preceded CSX
are: Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West; St. Augustine & Palatka;
Oklawaha Valley (Ocala Northern); Florida Southern; Georgia, Southern
& Florida; Atlantic Coast Line; Florida East Coast; Seaboard Coast
Line and Family Lines. Amtrak also leases trackage from CSX and has
scheduled stops at the Palatka Depot.