Back in the late 50s/early 60s, my family took the "Nancy" between Atlanta and Savannah. What were the towns she passed through? I'd like to travel the route as closely as possible on the road, without having to take the interstate.

-- Lane Turner (Ttrain53@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Starting in Savannah, you have a choice.

To follow the route prior to the S&A merger, take Georgia Hwy 26 west to Pooler and, if you really want to see everything, detour over to Meldrim. Otherwise, turn north on Georgia Hwy 17. You can follow the abandoned roadbed through Guyton and Egypt.

Your second choice is to follow the post-S&A-merger router, which NS runs freight trains over today. Drive north on Georgia 21 to Springfield and Shawnee, and then cut over to Oliver.

From Oliver follow Georgia 17 through Dover, Rocky Ford, Scarboro and Millen. Continue on GA 17 to Midville, and then pick up Georgia 78 to Bartow. From Bartow take either Georgia 242 directly to Tennille or go north on US 221 and pick up GA 24 west. It is roundabout, but does parallel the line in a few places.

From Tennille take 68 south and then take 57 west to Toomsboro. Follow 57 into Macon. You will have to detour north to see McIntyre and Gordon along the way.

From Macon take US 41 to Forsyth, and then take 41 to Barnesville. From there continue north on US 41 to Griffin. Stay on US 19/41 into Atlanta.

Reverse if you are starting in Atlanta. :)

See http://cofg.org/articles/131001d.php for a discussion of the abandoned section near Savannah.

Ron. Wright

-- Ron. Wright (rondywright@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

No, I was referring to the S&A... I meant to say that the tracks went "near" Rincon. I have relatives that own land in Rincon that adjoins the S&A (now NS) mainline, so that's why I made that reference. The SAL was to the east of the S&A and split to the northeast past Rincon and across the Savannah River into South Carolina. I certainly hope the "Nancy" never went that-a-way!

-- Tom Alderman (Topa12283@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

Tom,

You said "They began using the Savannah and Atlanta mainline from Central Junction which ran through Rincon, Springfield, and then ran west on a new piece of track that connected to the old mainline near Oliver."

The trackage through Rincon, Georgia is not former Savannah & Atlanta track and was not used by the Nancy Hanks II. That trackage is former Seaboard Air Line. The Nancy did go through Springfield, but not Rincon.

Allen Tuten

-- Allen Tuten (allen@cofg.org), May 07, 2002.

Lane, It would make somewhat of a difference if the trip were before or after September 1961. About that time, the Savannah leg of the trip changed drastically. Beginning in Atlanta, the "Nancy" followed the A&WP tracks to East Point where she "hung a left" and took to the Central's rails through Hapeville, Forest Park, Morrow, Jonesboro, Griffin, Barnesville, Forsyth, and then Macon. From Macon, the tracks went to Gordon, Tennille, Wadley, Millen, Rocky Ford, Dover, Egypt, Guyton, Meldrim, Pooler and then Savannah. Not all of these were regular stops for the Nancy. Around Sept. 1961, the Central abandoned their mainline from Central Junction near Savannah to a spot near Oliver. They began using the Savannah and Atlanta mainline from Central Junction which ran through Rincon, Springfield, and then ran west on a new piece of track that connected to the old mainline near Oliver. This new route by-passed Egypt, Guyton, Meldrim and Pooler. The old roadbed is still visible along Georgia Highway 17. The Central mainline is still heavily travelled between Macon and Savannah, but the line from Macon to Atlanta is in sad shape. Be sure to check out the visitor's center in Savannah at the old Central Passenger Station.

-- Tom Alderman (Topa12283@aol.com), May 07, 2002.