[1] Chartered on March 11, 1899,[2] by November 1899 it was complete to Lake Butler, where connection was made with the Georgia Southern & Florida Railway (GS&F), and the terminus of Newberry was reached a month later.

Excursions were run for Jacksonville's Gala Week in November, regular daily service began a month later.

[5] The J&SW had many connections: In addition to the AV&W and the GS&F, it connected with the Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad at Jacksonville, Baldwin and Deep Creek Junction; the Plant System's Savannah, Florida & Western Railway at Grand Crossing; and the Atlantic, Suwannee River & Gulf Railway at Hainesworth.

[6] Within a month Chase announced that construction was to begin on a large phosphate port at Milldale.

By 1949, the West Coast Champion and a local passenger train were running the line daily between Jacksonville and Burnett's Lake, where they turned south to St. Petersburg.

At the same time, mixed train service (consisting of both passengers and freight) ran six days a week from Burnett's Lake to Newberry and Wilcox.

Track from just west of Jacksonville near Duval Yard east to Panama Park is still in service.

This track from Grand Crossing to Panama Park is now part of CSX's Kingsland Subdivision.