It ran from Astor on the St. Johns River south to Fort Mason and along Lake Eustis to Tavares and Lane Park.

The line was built 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge and its rails passed through Altoona, Umatilla, and Fort Mason before reaching Eustis, 27 miles, in 1880.

Construction continued southward through Tavares, reaching Lane Park on Big Lake Harris, 7.5 miles, in 1882–83.

The line originally served as a land bridge for the river and lake steamboats that provided transportation into the interior of Florida.

Passengers and freight could come down the St. Johns River on steamboats from Jacksonville and transfer to the railroad at Astor for ports on Lakes Eustis, Dora and Harris.