Tampa and Jacksonville Railway

The Tampa and Jacksonville Railway was a railroad in North Central Florida in the first half of the 20th century, with a length of 56 miles (90 km) at its greatest extent.

Although the company started with a capital stock of $300,000, progress was slow, and in 1894 L. L Hill purchased the charter and changed the name to Gainesville and Gulf Railway (sometimes called the "Grits and Gravy").

In 1899 the track had been extended south of Micanopy to Fairfield, in Marion County, and in 1902 it was extended north of Gainesville to Sampson City, in Bradford County, where it connected with the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway and the Atlantic, Suwannee River and Gulf Railway.

The Kathryn had been designed by an engineer employed by the company, John A. Whiting, and built in the railroad's shop.

[5] Citrus and farm produce from growers along the railroad's route were an important part of the line's business, and, in a time when communications were slow in rural areas, the Tampa and Jacksonville would warn growers of an impending freeze by repeatedly blowing four short blasts on the locomotive whistle as a train passed through growing areas.