The Eglin Air Force Base railroad was first constructed from an interchange with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad at Mossy Head, Florida down to the main base complex, with spurs to Auxiliary Fields 1 and 2, the ammunition dump, and other parts of the military reservation, with a total of 45 miles (72 km) of track. The tracks were re-constructed from the Clairborne and Polk Railroad at Camp Polk, Louisiana, which was abandoned in 1945. The line, nicknamed the "B & F" (for back and forth), began operation on 1 February 1952 as part of the transportation division, Air Proving Ground Command, and utilized two ALCO RSD-1 military diesel-electric locomotives for road work and one 80-ton General Electric center cab for switching the yard.
Initial construction of a railroad line into the region had been discussed as early as 1927 as part of the Choctawhatchee and Northern Railroad, though military-use proposals didn't come forward until 1941. German POWs were used in clearing and grading the alignment during World War II. There was one commercial customer served by the line, a lumber pulp yard at Niceville which is now community athletic fields. The line was later abandoned in the late 1970s and the southern end, west of State Road 285, pulled up by the mid-1980s. Much of the tracks remain in place from the former L&N (now CSX) interchange to just south of Bob Sikes Road, about 11 miles (18 km) long, albeit overgrown.
**** Note **** Note **** This cache is located on the Eglin AFB reservation. Hunters and or wild life may be in this area as well as military personnel conducting maneuvers. It is possible unexploded ordinance could be in the area so be aware of your surroundings. ****Also note due to training and missions other areas may be closed at certain days of the week or times. Please check this site for closures in the area before going after the caches on Eglin Reservation. Before entering the Eglin AFB reservation, you must check the current day's Jackson Guard PDF map at (visit link). A permit granting you legal access to the Eglin AFB Reservation is required to seek and find ANY cache on Eglin AFB Reservation!!! You must have this permit and it must be in your possession. The Jackson Guard will check. For $20 (2018) you get an outstanding map and a year-long Recreational Permit. You can get your permit from the "Jackson Guard" either in person or online at (visit link).
Address: Eglin AFB Natural Resources Office 107 Hwy 85 North Niceville, FL 32578
Phone: (850) 882-4164
Coords: N 30° 31.49' W 86° 29.57'
Hrs: Mon-Thu 0700-1630, Fri 0700-1800, Sat 0730-1230, Closed Sunday.