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Apalachicola Northern Railroad
Known for decades among Gulf Coast railfans as the "Port St. Joe Route," the Apalachicola Northern Railroad Company operates 97 miles of shortline trackage in the central region of the Florida panhandle. First incorparted in 1903, from 1940 to 1996 the line was owned by the Port St. Joe Paper Company. After the paper mill closed -- the shortline's largest customer -- assets of the line were sold to Rail Management Corporation, who in 2005 again sold the line to the Genesee & Wyoming shortline system. In terms of diesel era motive power, the AN holds the distinction of being one of only two North American railroads to purchase EMD's rare GP15T -- a turbocharged light road switcher.
Steam Motive Power
Apalachicola Northern #150
Alco 4-6-0 / Port St Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #150
- builder:ALCO Schenectedy
- arrangement:4-6-0 Ten Wheeler
- built:_________
- fuel:oil/water
- notes:
- _________
Port St Joe, Fl / Aug 1951 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #200
Alco 4-6-0 (1922) / Port St Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #200
- builder:ALCO Cooke
- arrangement:4-6-0 Ten Wheeler
- built:1922
- fuel:coal/water
- notes:
- _________
Builder's photo / collection
Apalachicola Northern #300
Alco 4-6-2 (1912) / Port St Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #300
- builder:ALCO Cooke
- arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
- built:1912
- fuel:oil/water
- notes:
- ex Florida East Coast
Port St Joe, Fl / Aug 1951 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #301
Alco 4-6-2 (1912) / Port St Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #301
- builder:ALCO Schenectedy
- arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
- built:1912
- fuel:oil/water
- notes:
- ex Florida East Coast
Port St Joe, Fl / Aug 1951 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #510
Alco 4-6-2 (1920) / Port St Joe, Fl / Apr 1948 / collection
Apalachicola Northern #510
- builder:ALCO Richmond
- arrangement:4-6-2 Pacific
- built:1920
- fuel:oil/water
- notes:
- ex Florida East Coast #150
Diesel Motive Power
Apalachicola Northern #709
EMD SW9 (1952) / Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / JCH
Apalachicola Northern #709
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW9
- type:B-B switcher
- built:Dec 1952, EMD #16952
- series:786 produced 1951-53
- engine:EMD 567B (12 cyls. 1200 hp)
- notes:
- _________
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Apalachicola Northern #710
EMD SW9 (1953) / Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Apalachicola Northern #710
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW9
- type:B-B switcher
- built:Nov 1953, EMD #18869
- series:786 produced 1951-53
- engine:EMD 567B (12 cyls. 1200 hp)
- notes:
- _________
Apalachicola Northern #712
EMD SW1500 (1969) / Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Apalachicola Northern #712
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:SW1500
- type:B-B switcher
- built:May 1969, EMD #34972
- series:807 produced 1966-74
- engine:EMD 645 (12 cyl. 1500 hp)
- notes:
- Flexicoil trucks
Apalachicola Northern #720
EMD GP15T (1983) / Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Apalachicola Northern #720
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP15T
- type:B-B light road switcher
- built:Apr 1983, EMD #827039-1
- series:28 produced 1982-83
- engine:EMD 645E (8 cyls. turbo 1500 hp)
- notes:
- The only other GP15T units built were 25 for the Chesapeake & Ohio.
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Apalachicola Northern #721
EMD GP15T (1983) / Port St Joe, Fl / unknown / collection
Apalachicola Northern #721
- builder:Electro Motive Division
- model:GP15T
- type:B-B light road switcher
- built:Apr 1983, EMD #827039-2
- series:28 produced 1982-83
- engine:EMD 645E (8 cyls. turbo 1500 hp)
- notes:
- see note above under #720
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Lagniappe
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
Port St Joe, Fl / 1990 / RWH
I was fortunate enough to visit the Apalachicola Northern back when traffic was still heavy and customers plentiful. In terms of B-B shortline motive power, a visit to Port St. Joe was quite a treat for this small diesel fan. My father always remarked that the blue-and-white striped SW9 paint schemes on the AN switchers were "classic switcher paint schemes" from the 1950's. All I know is that their small fleet of SW9s and 1500s were some of the nicest looking switchers I have seen. The GP15T units on the property were a rare find as well - the AN being the only southern shortline I know of ever to purchase or use that rare turbocharged model. As for great lashups, I will never forget standing track-side and watching a GP15T and five switchers enter the yard with the daily northbound turn up from the coast. Six units! Now that's shortline action. And I always figured those rooftop air conditioners were a good idea in the Florida panhandle humidity. I'm sure the crews loved that rare shortline feature. The AN was a great shortline in its day.
Links / Sources
- Genessee & Wyoming corporate site - current owners of the AN Railway
- James House' Apalachicola Northern page
- Don's Rail Photos - Apalachicola Northern roster shots
- Wikipedia article for Apalachicola Northern
- Charles W. McDonald, Diesel Locomotive Rosters - Third Edition (Kalmbach, 1992) 18
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 25