Over the Second Basketique

The old Orange Park Station then... and the new Whistle Stop Connection now.

The Whistle Stop Connection

Orange Park Station was built in the early 1900's by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad to serve the community of Orange Park, FL. Located 14 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Orange Park was a stop for the many passenger trains that plied the rails from New York to Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL.

The station was originally a two story wood structure with the main line adjacent and the house track branching off behind the station to a small freight house. Sometime in the 1920's a new main line bypass was laid, leaving the original main a through spur for the locals.

The station remained active until the sixties and passenger service went from a regular stop to a flag stop. The old main line through was cut with the widening of Kingsley Avenue and eventually sold. The station was modernized and used as offices, shops and even a restaurant. It now houses Needlepoint Gallery and Over the Second Basketique. The two remaining tracks were used as storage and maintenance of way equipment and unloading rock and limestone for construction.

Orange Park Station had grown up in weeds and trees and was almost unrecognizable as a railroad station. Late in 1992 an offer was placed and accepted for the purchase of the property by Jack Heard of Fernandina Beach, FL. Heard is the owner of the PV "Georgia 300". Following the purchase, Heard intended to upgrade the old main line spur and simply fence around the area to use as a storage for the "Georgia 300". Finding the old rail was 85 lbs. with the cross ties rotten and the tie plates missing, it was decided that it might be necessary to remove the old main line and rebuild. The same was true for the old freight house lead.

With so much involved to rebuild, Heard decided to start from scratch and rebuild a car park. Jeff Davis of First Rail Construction began work in January 1993 and completed construction in May. In addition, to the new 100 lb. rail, ties and ballast, 240 volt power, water and compressed air were added. A concrete pad surrounds the three tracks with button blocks and a chain link fence surrounds most of the property across the front. Old brick columns were built and a wrought iron fence and gates were constructed to reassemble the old railroad depots of the past.

The new Orange Park Station opened September 1, 1993. The station has enough track for 12 cars, 10 on power, water and air. Gil McArthur, President of G&LM services is now leasing and managing Orange Park Station, located in downtown Orange Park.