I'm looking for any historical information on the railline out of Pearson, GA that heads SW through Waycross and then to Brunswick.

When was it established? What was the purpose of the line? About how long is it? Was it apart of the line that ran from Sylvester (now abandoned)? Is it still in use? Any information would be appreciated.

-- Michelle Kullen (mkullen@edwards-pitman.com), March 21, 2001

Answers

FYI, Fernindina was also served by trains out of Baldwin(FL)yard. These I photographed in the early 80's.

Bob

-- Bob Arnold (arnoldrj@forscom.army.mil), March 16, 2002.

When I started working out of Waycross in 1974-1977, the line ran from WAycross to Albany and the other side ran to Brunswick , the old Brunswick and Western, B&W, whatever they called it. There was two through trains a day on the Albany line 345-346 that ran at night arriving at the opposite end in the early morning hours. The Brunswick branch has just one local, 624-625 that also ran at night and turned at Brunswick, returning to Waycross in the wee hours - I worked that one several times. That branch also saw the Fernadina Rocket - 601-602, a local that ran to the mill at Fernadina and laid over until returning the next evening, THAT one was a grinder...

The yard also had an afternoon job that ran to the industrial park just north of the jct at Bolen where the ex-ACL/AB&C Atlanta line joined. The industrial park was home to Ga-Pac, a plywood mill, a chip mill, and most notably GATX had a facility for repairing it's leased car fleet, painting, etc. That was a pretty good job.

Alas, now the line has been abandoned back to Pearson and a local is the only road job on that line. Albany is reached from the north by trackage rights, I thing from Richland, and a short line carrier now owns the Pelham branch from Thomasville.

Sorry, I have started to ramble, hope the info is of some use.

-- walt rogers (wjriii@gte.net), June 11, 2001.

When I started working out of Waycross in 1974-1977, the line ran from WAycross to Albany and the other side ran to Brunswick , the old Brunswick and Western, B&W, whatever they called it. There was two through trains a day on the Albany line 345-346 that ran at night arriving at the opposite end in the early morning hours. The Brunswick branch has just one local, 624-625 that also ran at night and turned at Brunswick, returning to Waycross in the wee hours - I worked that one several times. That branch also saw the Fernadina Rocket - 601-602, a local that ran to the mill at Fernadina and laid over until returning the next evening, THAT one was a grinder...

The ya

-- walt rogers (wjriii@gte.net), June 11, 2001.

More info. According to the Central of Ga web site, the Dixie Flyer was rerouted to the ACL Atlanta-Waycross line in 1952:

Dixie Flyer and Dixie Limited Dixie Flyer -- Chicago C&EI Evansville L&N Nashville NC&StL Atlanta CG Albany ACL Jacksonville

12 Jan 1908 - First run as through train Sep 1952 - Routed off CG to ACL Atlanta-Jacksonville Summer 1965 - C&EI section discontinued 21 Jan 1966 - L&N section discontinued 8 Jan 1969 - SCL (former ACL) section discontinued Dixie Limited -- Chicago C&EI Evansville L&N Nashville NC&StL Atlanta CG Albany ACL Jacksonville

3 Jan 1913 - First run 30 Sep 1951 - Last run

-- Tom Randall (tkrandall@mindspring.com), March 22, 2001.

Yes, this line was former ACL (nee Brunswick & Albany). The ex-AB&C line out of Brunswick (nee Brunswick & Birmingham) ran through Thalmann, Hortense, and Offerman, and connected with the present-day Waycross-Atlanta line at Sessoms, northwest of Waycross.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), March 22, 2001.

I think this line may have been original ACL, not AB&C, but am not 100% sure on that. In any case, it did run from Albany to Tifton to Waycross to Brunswick. AB&C's line to Brunswick (abandoned) went through Alma and Thalmann. The AB&C line into Waycross being a "branch" starting between Nicolls and Alma.

The Albany-Waycross ACL line carried famous passenger trains like the the Dixie Flyer up until sometime in the 1940s. From what I have read, the CofGa took them from Atlanta to Albany, and then handed them off to the ACL. The Dixie Flyer was later switched to a routing from ATL direct to Waycross using the ACL (AB&C) line. I bet that Dixie FLyer was a sight to see running fast on that tangent track between Albany and Waycross.

I am 38 and from the Atlanta area. As a child in the early 70s I specifically remember summer trips to Fernandina Beach FL, which took us via Tifton and Waycross, and I remember staring out at the rr line which paralleled highway 82. What I most remember is the old crossing diamond at Willacoochee, right next to the road. I had never see one of those before, and remember thinking wow! Now I have kids of my own and have made the same trip in recent years. I can't help but have a hollow feeling seeing the abandoned right of ways now.

-- Tom Randall (tkrandall@mindspring.com), March 22, 2001.

Larry Goolsby's book on the ABC should have that information.

-- J Oates (jlosal@mindspring.com), March 21, 2001.