Hi, I was wondering if the Central of Georgia had any intermodal traffic? Thanks, Jason.

-- Jason Casting (Multivortexf5@hotmail.com), February 10, 2002

Answers

According to Official List No. 54, September 1, 1961, the Central of Georgia was at that time operating both permanent and portable TOFC ramps.

The locations of the permanent TOFC ramps were: Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Montgomery (by contract) and Savannah. There was no elaboration on the meaning of "by contract" in the ase of the Montgomery ramp as to who the owner was -- WR of A perhaps?

The portable ramps were at "other points" which were not listed in detail.

Ron. Wright

-- Ron Wright (rondywright@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

This information brings backmany fond memories. My dad worked for Central of Georgia Motor Transport and they had the task of unloading the school bus chassis there at Ft.Valley. In 1967 when I turned 16 and got a drivers lic. I began my railroad career unloading the chassis there by the depot. It rapidlly became a booming bussiness and also dangerous operation because of the method of unloading them using long metal runners between the tires of the chassis to back them down andmoving the runners while walking on the lip of the car next to the busy street between the depot and the peach packing shed. They later moved us to a lot behind the pland and installed an A- frame crane to set the chassis down onto the flat-car where we would then back them down and deliver them to the plant. This proved to be a great summer job for about eight teenagers for about six years.

-- Joey Holland (Havilah4@aol.com), January 15, 2003.

LaFayette, Ga The spur was on the west side of the mainline, north of the depot, and was essentially worked from the city street. I believe it would hold only one car (but would like to know). It was most likely installed to serve Barwicks, producer of carpets for automobiles (referred to as mats when shown on switch lists as boxcar contents). Can't help but smile when I think of the possibility of the Roanoke Rocket hauling piggyback flats if it had been at LaFayette, Alabama.

-- David Payne (DavidCofGa@aol.com), February 12, 2002.

A future issue of THE RIGHT WAY will feature an article on the Central's portable TOFC ramp cars. These cars featured a "retractable" ramp, which allowed them to be used at virtually any location which had 110 volt power. The article was written by one of the mechanical engineers who designed the retractable ramps (he's now a member of the CGRHS).

Allen Tuten

-- Allen Tuten (allen@cofg.org), February 12, 2002.

Bob, was that Lafayette GA or AL?

-- Richard Cole (raracole@prodigy.net), February 12, 2002.

I have a May 1961 edition of the CofG railway magazine, The Right Way, which has a very informative article on the arrival of intermodal on the CofG. It states that the first intermodal load that terminated on the CofG was unloaded at Ft. Valley GA on April 24, 1961. It was a TTX flat car carrying 6 bus chassis destined for Blue Bird Bus company in Ft. Valley. While not what we commonly refer to as intermodal today, it was considered at that time intermodal. It was unloaded on the house track using a portable ramp utilizing a CofG flatcar. It was well attended by many top officers of both Blue Bird and the CofG.

I worked with Southern/NS as a agent/operator during the 80's and during that time worked quite a bit in Ft. Valley. Up until the time I left NS there was still quite a few cars of chassis unloaded in Ft. Valley. They no longer unloaded them on the house track but instead on a track between the depot and Carman (the north end of double track at Ft. Valley)

A side article in the magazine relates that for the period ending May 11, the CofG originated or terminated 32 intermodals. 6 were military vehicles from Ft. Benning to Birmingham, 7 were mechandise from Birmingham to Columbus, 1 was merchandise from Atlanta to Macon, 2 were bus chassis from Savannah to Ft. Valley, and 16 were Automobiles from Atlanta to Macon. Average revenue per car was $120.00 as compared to an average of $80 for other type traffic. It also states that permanent ramps were on the drawing board for Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah. Augusta was being considered for a permanent ramp. I would assume at that time portable ramps were the norm.

Quite an interesting article.

Bryan Smith

-- Bryan Smith (bsmith3608@aol.com), February 10, 2002.

Yes, the Central of Georgia did handle intermodal or "piggyback" (as it was known in those days)traffic. The Central was a member of Trailer Train and had facilities for handling "pigs" at Albany, Americus, Watkinsville (serving Athens), Augusta, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Columbus, East Point, LaFayette, Lylerly, Macon, Montgomery, Rome, and Savannah. It also provided drayage service through Central of Georgia Motor Transport.

Hope this helps.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), February 10, 2002.