View source for Palatka station

{{Short description|Train station in Florida}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = Palatka, FL
| style              = Amtrak
| image              = Palatka Depot03.jpg
| image_caption      = Palatka station in 2007
| address            = 220 North 11 Street
| borough            = [[Palatka, Florida]]
| country            = United States
| coordinates        = {{coord|29|39|00|N|81|38|26|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
| owned              = City of Palatka
| operator           = 
| line               = [[List of CSX Transportation lines|CSX]] [[Sanford Subdivision]]<!-- the physical "line" is not the same as "services" which are detailed below -->
| platforms          = 1 [[side platform]]
| tracks             = 1
| train_operators    = 
| connections        = {{bus icon}} [[The Ride Solution]]
| structure          = 
| parking            = 15 long term and 5 short term parking spaces
| bicycle            = 
| accessible         = Yes
| architect          = 
| architectural_style = 
| status             = 
| code               = {{Amtrak code|PAK}}
| zone               = 
| website            = 
| opened             = May 1909
| opening            = 
| closed             = 
| rebuilt            = 
| mpassengers        = {{rail pass box|system=Amtrak|passengers=7,171<ref name="GreatAmericanStations">{{cite web|title=Palatka, FL (PAK)|url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/palatka-fl-pak/|publisher=GreatAmericanStations|accessdate=June 30, 2022}}</ref>|pass_year=FY2021}}
| pass_system        = 
| services           = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Amtrak
|line1=Floridian|left1=DeLand|right1=Jacksonville
|line2=Silver Meteor|left2=DeLand|right2=Jacksonville
|line3=Auto Train|nonstop3=yes
}}
| other_services_header = Former services
| other_services_collapsible = yes
| other_services     = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Amtrak
|line1=Sunset Limited|left1=Jacksonville|right1=DeLand|type1=East|note-mid1=1993–2005
|line2=Silver Star|left2=DeLand|right2=Jacksonville|note-mid2=until 2024
|system3=Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
|line3=main|left3=Satsuma|right3=Bostwick
|line4=Rochelle-Palatka|left4=Francis
|system5=Southern Railway|line5=Valdosta-Palatka
|left5=A.C.L. Junction
}}
| nrhp               = {{Infobox NRHP
| name            = Old A.C.L. Union Depot
| embed           = yes
| image           =
| caption         =
| location        = [[Palatka, Florida|Palatka]], [[Florida]]
| area            =
| built           = 1909
| architect       =
| architecture    =
| added           = 1988
| refnum          = 88000162<ref name="nrhp">[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Putnam/state.html Putnam County listings on the National Register of Historic Places]</ref>
| visitation_num  =
| visitation_year =
| mpsub           = 
}}
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|Amtrak}}
}}

'''Palatka station''' is an [[Amtrak]] train station in [[Palatka, Florida]]. It is served by the daily {{lnl|Amtrak|Floridian}} and {{lnl|Amtrak|Silver Meteor}} trains. The 1908-built station houses the '''Palatka Railroad Preservation Society''' and the '''David Browning Railroad Museum'''. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1988 as '''Old A.C.L. Union Depot'''.

== History ==
The station was built in 1908 for the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] (ACL) and was constructed in the [[Richardsonian Romanesque]] style. It served as a union depot for the ACL's [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]]-[[Tampa]]-[[Sarasota]] mainline as well as for the [[Florida Southern Railway]] and the [[Georgia Southern and Florida Railway]]. In addition to local service to Sarasota, the station served the ACL's ''[[West Coast Champion]]'' (New York City – Sarasota).<ref name=GAS>{{cite web |url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/palatka-fl-pak/ |title=Palatka, FL (PAK) |publisher=Amtrak |work=Great American Stations}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Table 8 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=86 |issue=7 |date=December 1953}}</ref> Until 1936, the station also served passenger trains operated by the [[Florida East Coast Railway]], whose trains crossed the St. Johns river over a railway bridge in Palatka.<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 3rd Quarter Report - HISTORY: Florida East Coast Railway|url=https://www.railsofpalatka.org/trackside/archives/08-2010 |website=Palatka Railroad Preservation Society |access-date=19 April 2025 |date=8 December 2010}}</ref> This railway bridge was removed in the 1950s. In 1914 the station began to serve the short-lived [[Ocklawaha Valley Railroad]]. In 1988, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nrhp" />

In 1971, most passenger service in the United States was transferred to Amtrak, however Palatka had its stop discontinued.<ref>Amtrak Timetable effective December 17, 1971, p. 59 http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=19711114&item=0060</ref> In 1976, Amtrak decided to reinstate the stop at Palatka, under a trial period. They would later add Palatka as a permanent stop in 1979.<ref name="railsofpalatka.org">{{cite web|title=Trackside: Did You Know?|url=https://www.railsofpalatka.org/trackside/march-01st-2018|publisher=Palatka Railroad Preservation Society|accessdate=July 27, 2022}}</ref>

In November 2021, the [[US Department of Transportation]] awarded $1.5 billion in RAISE discretionary grants for infrastructure projects around the nation.<ref name="transportation.gov">{{cite web|title=RAISE Discretionary Grants|url=https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants|publisher=US Department of Transportation|accessdate=July 27, 2022}}</ref> One such grant awarded $8.2 million to fund the development of the A. Philip Randolph Regional Multimodal Transportation Hub.<ref name="progressiverailroading.com">{{cite web|title=USDOT awards $1 billion in RAISE grants for FY2021|url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/USDOT-awards-1-billion-in-RAISE-grants-for-FY2021--65263|publisher=Progressive Railroading|accessdate=July 27, 2022}}</ref> Under this redevelopment, the station's platform will be lengthened to accommodate a baggage area and raised to meet accessible requirements, and allow bicycles to be loaded and unloaded at the station. Other improvements around the station include resurfacing the roadway, installing new accessible-compliant sidewalks and curb and gutter designating bike lanes, and adding other accessory safety improvements in the project area.<ref name="railpassengers.org/">{{cite web|title=RAISE GRANTS DIRECT $250 MILLION TO RAIL AND TRANSIT|url=https://www.railpassengers.org/happening-now/news/blog/raise-grants-direct-250-million-to-rail-and-transit/|publisher=Rail Passengers Association|accessdate=July 27, 2022}}</ref>

On November 10, 2024, the ''Silver Star'' was merged with the {{lnl|Amtrak|Capitol Limited}} as the ''Floridian''.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Amtrak Launching the Floridian, with Daily Service Between Chicago and Miami |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2024/09/amtrak-launching-the-floridian-with-daily-service-between-chicago-and-miami/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923190514/https://media.amtrak.com/2024/09/amtrak-launching-the-floridian-with-daily-service-between-chicago-and-miami/ |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>

The station is home to the David Browning Railroad Museum, operated by the Palatka Railroad Preservation Society. The museum features a model train layout, historic documents, photographs, maps, signs and railroad artifacts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railsofpalatka.org/|title=Home {{!}} Palatka Railroad Preservation Society|publisher=Palatka Railroad Preservation Society|accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Amtrak web|PAK|Palatka, FL}}

{{Amtrak Florida stations}}
{{PCFPEI}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Florida}}

[[Category:Palatka, Florida]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Palatka, Florida]]
[[Category:Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida]]
[[Category:Amtrak stations in Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Putnam County, Florida]]
[[Category:Railroad museums in Florida]]
[[Category:Former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad stations|Palatka Railroad Station]]
[[Category:Former Southern Railway (U.S.) stations|Palatka Railroad Station]]
[[Category:Museums in Putnam County, Florida]]
[[Category:Union stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1909]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Putnam County, Florida]]
[[Category:Model railway shows and exhibitions]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in Florida]]