The Macon & Western Railroad was originally chartered as the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company in December, 1833. It was not until 1838 that it opened for business with a line from Macon, Georgia

Macon, Georgia

Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...

 to Forsyth

Forsyth, Georgia

Forsyth is a city in Monroe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,776 at the 2000 census. This number was corrected to read 4,300. The city is the county seat of Monroe County.Forsyth is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area...

. It was extended to Griffin

Griffin, Georgia

Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....

 in 1842. An economic depression halted building, but when the railroad started building again, it managed only another 11.25 miles towards Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

 for a total of 81 miles before falling into bankruptcy.

It was bought in foreclosure and the name was changed to the Macon and Western Railroad in 1845. This new railroad completed the line into Atlanta in 1846 by adding 21 more miles for a grand total of 102 miles. This railroad was purchased by the Central Railroad and Banking Company of Georgia in 1872.

The stops available to riders in 1867 were:

Distances of Depots from Atlanta

#	Name	Miles	Notes
1	East Point, Georgia East Point, Georgia The city of East Point is southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,712...	7
2	Rough & Ready, Georgia	13
3	Forest Park, Georgia Forest Park, Georgia Forest Park is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. It is located approximately nine miles south of Atlanta and is part of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area...	15
4	Morrow's Station, Georgia Morrow, Georgia Morrow is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Clayton State University.-Geography:Morrow is located at ....	19	Old Name Morrow, Georgia Morrow, Georgia Morrow is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Clayton State University.-Geography:Morrow is located at ....
5	Jonesborough, Georgia	23	Shortened to Jonesboro Jonesboro, Georgia Jonesboro is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,724 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clayton County....
6	Lovejoy Station, Georgia	29	Old Name. Now just Lovejoy, Georgia Lovejoy, Georgia Lovejoy is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,495. During the American Civil War, it was named Lovejoy's Station, and was the site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864.During the 2000s,...
7	Bear Creek, Georgia Hampton, Georgia Hampton is a city in southwestern Henry County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,987. Census Estimates for 2005 show a population of 4,743. Hampton mailing addresses also dip into eastern Clayton County and northern Spalding County.The Atlanta Motor...	34	Now called Hampton, Georgia Hampton, Georgia Hampton is a city in southwestern Henry County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,987. Census Estimates for 2005 show a population of 4,743. Hampton mailing addresses also dip into eastern Clayton County and northern Spalding County.The Atlanta Motor...
8	Fayette, Georgia Sunny Side, Georgia Sunny Side is a city in Spalding County, Georgia, United States. The population was 142 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sunny Side is located at ....	38	Now called Sunny Side
9	Griffin, Georgia Griffin, Georgia Griffin is a city in and the county seat of Spalding County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 23,643.-Geography:Griffin is located at ....	44
10	Thornton, Georgia Orchard Hill, Georgia Orchard Hill is a town in Spalding County, Georgia, United States. The population was 230 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Orchard Hill is located at ....	50	Now called Orchard Hill
11	Milner, Georgia Milner, Georgia Milner is a city in Lamar County, Georgia, United States. The population was 522 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milner is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....	56
12	Barnesville, Georgia Barnesville, Georgia Barnesville is a city in Lamar County, Georgia, United States. The city is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,755. The city is the county seat of Lamar County....	62
13	Goggins, Georgia	67
14	Collins, Georgia Collins, Georgia Collins is a city in Tattnall County, Georgia, United States. The population was 528 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Collins is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....	72
15	Forsyth, Georgia Forsyth, Georgia Forsyth is a city in Monroe County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,776 at the 2000 census. This number was corrected to read 4,300. The city is the county seat of Monroe County.Forsyth is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area...	78
16	Smarr, Georgia Smarr, Georgia Smarr is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Georgia, United States. Residents are known as "Smartians." It is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area....	83
17	Crawford, Georgia Crawford, Georgia Crawford is a city in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, United States of America. The population was 807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crawford is located at ....	89
18	Howard, Georgia	96
19	Macon, Georgia Macon, Georgia Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...	103

Trains departed from Atlanta at 7:15AM and 8:15PM and arrived there at 2:00PM and 4:35PM.