Haunting On Atlanta To Macon Line Between Mcdonough And Griffin

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I'm currently reading a book called, "Ghost Train, American Railroad Ghost Legends," by Tony Reevy and in the book is a story about a derailment that happened somewhere between Mcdonough and Griffin in 1919 that killed everyone on board. It is said that if you stand by the tracks and wait, you can hear the steam locomotive approaching and blowing it's whistle on approach to the McDonough Depot, but the train never arrives. My question that this book doesn't answer, is this the line that runs through Luella that is abandoned past the MP9 trestle where the NS Training Center is located, or is this the CofG Atlanta-Macon Line that runs through McDonough from Jonesboro to Griffin, and is there anyone here on this board that knows any more about this particular Ghost Legend. This has sparked my interest.

-- Jonathan Vanover (jvanover30263@yahoo.com), March 23, 2003

Answers

...As far as I know, they are supposed to be ripping out 6,000 ft. of track from the north side of the MP9 trestle, north. (We bought a quanity of the better crossties from the crew there.)

...In addition, if anyone is interested in assisting us in the restoration efforts of the remaining line south, to Griffin, please contact me here by email, or contact Mr. John Gilbert at 770-337-1240.

-- Elton Rosser (Repoman801@aol.com), March 28, 2003.


Elton,

How much ROW is NS ripping out? Just as far as 155 or all the way to the training center?

Andrew Durden

-- Andrew Durden (gapower97@yahoo.com), March 26, 2003.


I heard this story of the Ghost train when I was Trainmaster on the Southern's Atlanta-Macon line (as well as McDonough-Columbus, and Atlanta-Griffin-Macon on the C of Ga) in the early 70's. I never heard the Steam loco blowing (although I would have liked to). Camp Creek is just north of the old depot at McDonough on the Southern.

The C of Ga never ran to or through McDonough.

If the book's reference to a derailment location between McDonough and Griffin is correct, that again would be "Southern" (and not C of Ga) on the McDonough-Columbus line. I never heard any stories like this on that line, nor on the C of Ga's Atlanta-Griffin-Macon line.

..Gordon gotrains@yahoo.com

-- Gordon Tuenge (gotrains@yahoo.com), March 26, 2003.


I also posted this in the Southern RR message board, I'll include it here, too. The Southern McDonough- Colombus line from the other side of the trestle back north to 155 is currently being torn out by the RR. I work on occasion with a couple of guys trying to rebuild the line from the trestle (included) -south to the mill in Griffin (Approx. 6 or 7 miles) for future private use. It is owned by an individual from spalding county. This line is actually in good shape for about 3 miles (deep in the woods) then there are places that rail has been stolen, and is very overgrown. The large trestle is in good shape, and there are 2 other trestles on the line in good shape, also. We spend a couple of days a week cutting trees from the ROW, trying to keep the briars and weeds back, etc. and it is a lot of work.

...But, even in the condition it is in now, it sure is nice to take a few mins. off of work and glide down a couple of miles of the track on the track cart. There is some beautiful, long- untouched scenery back there.

As far as a major accident on this line, I believe the one you're talking about was in McDonough on the atl. line, not this one. However, this trestle in spalding co. sure has it's share of tales.

-- Elton Rosser (Repoman801@aol.com), March 26, 2003.


I have heard of that story too. It was often told of being on the old trestle on the old Georgia Midland route south of Luella.But I have not been able to find any accounts of such an accident.The only true accident of that magnitude I believe occured on the Southern line over the washed out Camp Creek bridge just north of McDonough on June 23 1900.

-- R.Gulley (jgadj@aol.com), March 24, 2003.


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