Tampa and Northern Railroad, Tampa and Gulf Coast Railway, and Seaboard Air Line Railway

The Tampa and Northern Railroad was incorporated in 1906 to build a railroad from Tampa to Georgia. By 1908, they had completed the line from Tampa to Brooksville.

The Tampa and Gulf Coast (T & GC) Railway was incorporated in 1909 to build a railroad from Lutz to Tarpon Springs. At Lutz, the railroad would connect to the Tampa and Northern Railroad mainline.

At first, the T & GC purchased an existing rail line from Lutz via Lake Fern to Gulf Pine. By 1910, they had completed the line via Lake Villa to Tarpon Springs. In 1912, the T & GC constructed a line from Lake Villa to Elfers, and by 1913 extended that line to Port Richey.

During 1913 and 1914, the T & GC constructed a new line from the Tampa Northern mainline at Sulfur Springs (Gulfcoast Junction) to Rocky Creek (Tarpon Springs Junction).

In early 1914, the T & GC extended the line from Tarpon Springs Junction to Lake Fern, replacing the old line between Lake Fern and Lutz.

In late 1914, the T & GC constructed a line from Rocky Creek through Clearwater to St. Petersburg.

In late 1915, a spur was extended from Indian Rock Junction to Indian Rock Beach. By 1915, the SAL held a controlling interest in the T & GC.

Eventually, both the T & GC (1927) and the Tampa Northern Railroad (1925) were absorbed by lease into the Seaboard Air Line Railway system.

[Information provided by Tom Pavluvcik]