Palatka station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palatka, FL
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Palatka station in 2007
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| Location | 220 North 11 Street Palatka, Florida United States |
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| Coordinates | 29°39′00″N 81°38′26″W / 29.65000°N 81.64056°W | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | City of Palatka | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | CSX Sanford Subdivision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Connections |  The Ride Solution |
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| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | 15 long term and 5 short term parking spaces | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | Amtrak: PAK | ||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 1909 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (FY2021) | 7,171 (Amtrak) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Old A.C.L. Union Depot
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| Location | Palatka, Florida | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1909 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 88000162 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Palatka station is a train station in Palatka, Florida. It is a stop for Amtrak trains. The station building was built in 1908. It is a historic place and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Today, the station is home to the Palatka Railroad Preservation Society and the David Browning Railroad Museum.
Station History
The Palatka station was built in 1908. It was made for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL). The building has a special design called Richardsonian Romanesque style. It was a busy place where different train lines met.
For many years, the station served trains going to places like Jacksonville, Tampa, and Sarasota. Until 1936, trains from the Florida East Coast Railway also used this station. Their trains crossed the St. Johns River on a special bridge. This bridge was later taken down in the 1950s.
Amtrak Service
In 1971, most passenger train services in the United States changed. They became part of Amtrak. Palatka station, however, stopped having train service for a few years.
But good news came in 1976! Amtrak decided to try stopping in Palatka again. This trial period went well. In 1979, Palatka became a permanent stop for Amtrak trains.
As of August 2025, the station is served by two daily Amtrak trains: the Floridian and the Silver Meteor. The Silver Star train was combined with another train, the Capitol Limited, to form the Floridian on November 10, 2024.
Station Improvements
In November 2021, the US Department of Transportation gave a special grant. This grant was for $8.2 million to improve the station. The project is called the A. Philip Randolph Regional Multimodal Transportation Hub.
These improvements make the station better for everyone. The train platform was made longer. This helps with baggage and makes it easier for people with disabilities to get on and off trains. It also makes it easier to load and unload bicycles.
Other changes around the station include:
- New, smooth roads for cars.
- New sidewalks that are easy for everyone to use.
- Special lanes for bicycles.
- Other safety upgrades in the area.
David Browning Railroad Museum
The Palatka station is also home to the David Browning Railroad Museum. The Palatka Railroad Preservation Society runs this museum. It's a great place to learn about trains and their history.
At the museum, you can see:
- A cool model train layout.
- Old documents and photographs about railroads.
- Maps and signs from old train lines.
- Many other items related to trains and their past.
