Georgia Great Southern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Great Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad
formerly operating between Dawson and Albany, Georgia
, 24.2 miles (38.9 km). The railroad was partially abandoned in 1994. RailTex
consolidated its holdings in the area into the Georgia Southwestern
in 1995, and the Georgia Great Southern ceased to exist as a separate railroad.
and was known as the Columbus Southern Railway
when it opened its line to Albany, Georgia
in 1890. The railroad was absorbed by the Georgia & Alabama Railway in 1896 and later merged into the Seaboard Air Line
in 1902. The Seaboard Air Line merged into the Seaboard Coast Line
in 1967, the SCL was merged into the Seaboard System
in 1983 and became CSX Transportation
in 1986.
CSX put the route from Albany to Dawson out of service due to a lack of traffic over the line. RailTex made an offer on the line and on December 14, 1990 the Georgia Great Southern was created as a division of the South Carolina Central Railroad
to operate the new acquisition. However, day to day operation of the railroad was actually incorporated with a fellow South Carolina Central division, the Georgia & Alabama
. The GGS rostered a single locomotive, a rebuilt GP7u numbered 2130.
The Georgia Great Southern served as a vital link between the RailTex subsidiaries in the area and Gulf & Ohio
subsidiary Atlantic & Gulf
at Albany. As such, most carloads were simply bridge traffic between Norfolk Southern and the Atlantic & Gulf at Albany to the Georgia & Alabama at Dawson. Traffic patterns changed again in 1994 as the railroad ceased operations over the entire line. The Georgia Great Southern division became redundant following acquisition of trackage rights over Norfolk Southern
into Albany in 1995.
Although out of service the railroad was merged into the Georgia Southwestern Railroad
in 1995.
Shortline railroad
A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the USA and Canada...
formerly operating between Dawson and Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
, 24.2 miles (38.9 km). The railroad was partially abandoned in 1994. RailTex
RailTex
RailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
consolidated its holdings in the area into the Georgia Southwestern
Georgia Southwestern Railroad
The Georgia Southwestern Railroad is a Class III short line railroad company that operates over of track in southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama...
in 1995, and the Georgia Great Southern ceased to exist as a separate railroad.
History
The Chattahoochee Brick Company built a line out of Columbus, GeorgiaColumbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and was known as the Columbus Southern Railway
Columbus Southern Railway
The Columbus Southern Railway is a historic railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Georgia.It was originally chartered in 1885 as the Columbus and Florida Railway. The Columbus Southern Railway was created in 1886 after the C&F's charter was amended...
when it opened its line to Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
in 1890. The railroad was absorbed by the Georgia & Alabama Railway in 1896 and later merged into the Seaboard Air Line
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
in 1902. The Seaboard Air Line merged into the Seaboard Coast Line
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a former Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971...
in 1967, the SCL was merged into the Seaboard System
Seaboard System Railroad
The Seaboard System Railroad was a former Class I railroad created by merging the railroads of the Family Lines System. Although sharing common ownership, the railroads of the Family Lines System used different names when conducting business...
in 1983 and became 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...
in 1986.
CSX put the route from Albany to Dawson out of service due to a lack of traffic over the line. RailTex made an offer on the line and on December 14, 1990 the Georgia Great Southern was created as a division of the South Carolina Central Railroad
South Carolina Central Railroad
The South Carolina Central Railroad is a class III railroad that operates over on two separate track segments in South Carolina. Originally a RailTex subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000.Primary commodities include...
to operate the new acquisition. However, day to day operation of the railroad was actually incorporated with a fellow South Carolina Central division, the Georgia & Alabama
Georgia and Alabama Railroad
The Georgia and Alabama Railway was formed in 1895 from the failed Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway. The G&A expanded rapidly, acquiring the Abbeville and Waycross Railroad and building it further South to Ocilla, GA, obtaining a lease from the Central of Georgia Railroad for trackage...
. The GGS rostered a single locomotive, a rebuilt GP7u numbered 2130.
The Georgia Great Southern served as a vital link between the RailTex subsidiaries in the area and Gulf & Ohio
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...
subsidiary Atlantic & Gulf
Atlantic and Gulf Railroad (1991–1999)
The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad was a shortline railroad that previously operated of track between Thomasville and Sylvester, Georgia via Albany. The Atlantic & Gulf was created in 1991 from former CSX tracks and currently exists as part of the Georgia & Florida Railway, a subsidiary of...
at Albany. As such, most carloads were simply bridge traffic between Norfolk Southern and the Atlantic & Gulf at Albany to the Georgia & Alabama at Dawson. Traffic patterns changed again in 1994 as the railroad ceased operations over the entire line. The Georgia Great Southern division became redundant following acquisition of trackage rights over 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...
into Albany in 1995.
Although out of service the railroad was merged into the Georgia Southwestern Railroad
Georgia Southwestern Railroad
The Georgia Southwestern Railroad is a Class III short line railroad company that operates over of track in southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama...
in 1995.