The festivities include a classic car parade, food and craft vendors
The Panhandle community of Sopchoppy extends a cordial invitation to area residents, visitors and rail fans for the annual Depot Days event, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The fully restored Sopchoppy Depot is the last remaining train station in Florida of the old Georgia, Florida & Alabama Railroad. It will be open throughout the event, with an array of historic exhibits and memorabilia depicting the town’s railroad heritage. Also planned is a classic car parade down Rose Street at 10 a.m., and there will be food and craft vendors on hand, plus entertainment.
The Big Bend Model Railroad Association will have trains on display, including operating layouts located in the Towles House, the historic home next door to the depot. Across the street is Depot Park, with walking paths, gardens and a playground.
For more information, email inquiries and questions to discoversopchoppy@gmail.com and remember to visit the city’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SopchoppyFL.
Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific announce merger
Two of the nation’s biggest Class I railroads, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, have agreed to a merger they say will create the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S. and give their customers access to a coast-to-coast network of more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states.
The combined company, announced officially on July 29, will link roughly 100 ports and nearly every corner of North America. It will “transform the U.S. supply chain, unleash the industrial strength of American manufacturing and create new sources of economic growth and workforce opportunity that preserves union jobs,” the railroads said in making the announcement.
The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, which now must be voted on by shareholders.
The companies said they expect to file their merger application with the federal Surface Transportation Board within six months. In that filing they will describe how the combined rail network will result in safer, faster and more reliable service, as well as increased competition. UP and NS said they expect the transaction to close in early 2027.
