Chattahoochee and Gulf Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Chattahoochee and Gulf Railroad was a short line railroad operating from 2003 to 2006 between Hilton, Georgia and Dothan, Alabama
, on former Central of Georgia
and Norfolk Southern
tracks. Initially the railroad was a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways
. In 2006, the railroad was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and combined with the adjacent H and S Railroad
out of Dothan to form the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad.
Commodities include chemicals, forest products, food products, and feed, which generates approximately 5,500 annual carloads.
to Lockhart, Alabama
. The railroad was leased and operated by the Central of Georgia until the line was abandoned from Lockhart to Hartford in 1940. The remaining line from Hilton, Georgia to Dothan, Alabama later changed hands into the Southern and Norfolk Southern in 1982.
On March 7, 2003 Norfolk Southern sold the line between Hilton and Dothan to the Chattahoochee and Gulf railroad, a Gulf & Ohio subsidiary. The railroad connected to another G&O subsidiary, the H and S Railroad
, at Dothan.
Another railroad group, Genesee and Wyoming Inc., expanded into the region in 2003 and 2005 with acquisitions of the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
and Bay Line Railroad
respectively. As the Chattahoochee & Gulf connected with both subsidiaries G&W sought to fill the gap and purchased the C&G as well as the H&S in 2006. Both railroads were subsequently merged into a single operation, renamed the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad. This gave Genesee & Wyoming a contiguous route from the paper mill at Cedar Springs, Georgia and the ports of Panama City, Florida
, allowing for more efficient operation under the unified carrier.
The Chattahoochee Bay railroad totals 28.2 miles (45.4 km) and interchanges with CSX Transportation
and the Bay Line Railroad at Dothan, as well as Norfolk Southern and the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad at Hilton.
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, on former Central of Georgia
Central of Georgia Railroad
The Central of Georgia Railway started as the Central Rail Road and Canal Company in 1833. As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to Central Rail Road and Banking Company of Georgia. This railroad was constructed to join the Macon and Western Railroad at...
and Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
tracks. Initially the railroad was a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf & Ohio Railways is a holding company for seven different short-line railroads in the Southern United States, as well as a tourist-oriented passenger train, and locomotive leasing and repair service through Knoxville Locomotive Works...
. In 2006, the railroad was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. and combined with the adjacent H and S Railroad
H and S Railroad
The H and S Railroad was a shortline railroad operating of track from Dothan to Taylor, Alabama. Upon its start in 1992 the railroad was a Gulf & Ohio subsidiary...
out of Dothan to form the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad.
Commodities include chemicals, forest products, food products, and feed, which generates approximately 5,500 annual carloads.
History
In 1900 the Chattahoochee and Gulf Railroad completed the constructed of a line from ColumbiaColumbia, Alabama
Columbia is a town in Houston County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 804.-Geography:Columbia is located at . According to the U.S...
to Lockhart, Alabama
Lockhart, Alabama
Lockhart is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 548.-Geography:Lockhart is located at . According to the U.S...
. The railroad was leased and operated by the Central of Georgia until the line was abandoned from Lockhart to Hartford in 1940. The remaining line from Hilton, Georgia to Dothan, Alabama later changed hands into the Southern and Norfolk Southern in 1982.
On March 7, 2003 Norfolk Southern sold the line between Hilton and Dothan to the Chattahoochee and Gulf railroad, a Gulf & Ohio subsidiary. The railroad connected to another G&O subsidiary, the H and S Railroad
H and S Railroad
The H and S Railroad was a shortline railroad operating of track from Dothan to Taylor, Alabama. Upon its start in 1992 the railroad was a Gulf & Ohio subsidiary...
, at Dothan.
Another railroad group, Genesee and Wyoming Inc., expanded into the region in 2003 and 2005 with acquisitions of the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad is a class III railroad located in southern Georgia.It connects Cedar Springs, Hilton and Saffold over a 15 mile route, interconnecting with CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern....
and Bay Line Railroad
Bay Line Railroad
The Bay Line Railroad is one of several short line railroad companies owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc. It operates between Panama City, Florida, and Dothan, Alabama, including a branch from Grimes to Abbeville, Alabama, reached via trackage rights on CSX's Dothan Subdivision between Dothan and Grimes...
respectively. As the Chattahoochee & Gulf connected with both subsidiaries G&W sought to fill the gap and purchased the C&G as well as the H&S in 2006. Both railroads were subsequently merged into a single operation, renamed the Chattahoochee Bay Railroad. This gave Genesee & Wyoming a contiguous route from the paper mill at Cedar Springs, Georgia and the ports of Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida
-Personal income:The median income for a household in the city was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,830...
, allowing for more efficient operation under the unified carrier.
The Chattahoochee Bay railroad totals 28.2 miles (45.4 km) and interchanges with CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
and the Bay Line Railroad at Dothan, as well as Norfolk Southern and the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad at Hilton.