FCRP members George Bollinger, Tim Mack, and Jerry Sullivan are among those leading an important effort to preserve a piece of Florida's railroad history.

Since 1960, Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive 1504 has been displayed in Jacksonville for the enjoyment of the public. The engine, a 4-6-2 Pacific type constructed by the American Locomotive Company in 1919, has been displayed at the Jacksonville Terminal Station (now the Prime Osborn Convention Center and also the site of the future Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center) since the 1980s.

More history on this locomotive can be found here.

Now owned by the City of Jacksonville, 1504 was recently designated a local Landmark under Jacksonville's historic preservation ordinance. The effort to landmark the engine, chronicled here in a Florida Times-Union story, was supported by the Florida Coalition of Rail Passengers; indeed, FCRP wrote a letter to City officials advocating for the designation.

Last week, the Coalition (at Tim Mack's suggestion) wrote a letter to Scott Stroh, Director of the Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, in support of a grant which has been requested to further restore and preserve 1504.

Thank you, George, Jerry, and Tim for your work. FCRP is glad to be assisting your fine efforts to save this piece of railroading's past for the future!

--Jackson McQuigg