Lloyd Day at the Depot is Oct. 24

The Gulf Wind Chapter and its community partners are hosting the free Lloyd Day at the Depot to celebrate Lloyd, its residents and local history. The train station, which was built in 1858, is the anchor facility of the Lloyd Historic District. Photo by Dave Hodges

Come celebrate railroad history at Florida's oldest train station

Lloyd Day at the Depot is coming up Saturday, Oct. 24, a fall festival presented by various local agencies and nonprofits in conjunction with the Gulf Wind Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

The free event takes place on the grounds of the historic Lloyd Depot, Florida’s oldest remaining train station. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. that Saturday and conclude at 2 p.m. During that time, there will be tours of the Lloyd Volunteer Fire Department station next door to the depot, as well as exhibits by local food and crafts vendors, Jefferson County government offices, and various nonprofits.

Lunch is pulled pork sandwiches, chips and a drink for a suggested donation of $10, with the proceeds supporting the depot's ongoing restoration.

“We have traditionally had a fall open house at the depot, but this year’s event is expanded to include many of our agency partners and other local organizations,’’ said Dan McDaniel, president of the Gulf Wind Chapter. “In addition, the event is a celebration of Lloyd, its residents, and the community’s history.”

The Lloyd Depot was in service until the 1960s. When the building was closed by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in 1966 and faced demolition, the railroad agreed to transfer the building to the Jefferson County Historical Association for preservation. The Gulf Wind Chapter assumed ownership of the building in 1975 and has carried out several phases of restoration work since that time.

The Lloyd Depot is located at 8781 Old Lloyd Road in Lloyd, right on the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad’s main line through the county. To get there from Interstate 10, use the State Road 59 exit and proceed south toward the flashing caution light at Old Lloyd Road, then turn left.

Vendors and exhibitors on hand for Lloyd Day at the Depot include the following:

• American Cancer Society

• Community Emergency Response Team and Jefferson County Emergency Management

• First Baptist Church of Lloyd

• Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad

• Grove and Garden

• Gulf Wind Chapter, National Railway Historical Society

• Jefferson County Animal Services

• Jefferson County Health Department

• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

• Lloyd Volunteer Fire Department

• Mae Mae's Sweet Crumbs

• Red Cross

• Steve Isbell

• UF/IFAS County Extension Service

• Waukeenah Honey

A centerpiece of the Lloyd Historic District and Florida’s oldest remaining train station, the Lloyd Depot is one of only two surviving antebellum railroad depots in the state. Photo by Dave Hodges
Lloyd Day at the Depot is an opportunity for the Gulf Wind Chapter to display various items and artifacts in the station's freight room, which doubles as an exhibit space. Below, the station's schedule board was used by the station manager to post arrival and departure times for Seaboard passenger trains.
A favorite item for many depot guests is the chapter's fully restored 1938 Fairmont S-2 motorcar. Small powered vehicles like this were used by railroads to transport crews and equipment for track inspections, repairs and maintenance.