Georgia Short Line Railroad Album By Albert M Langley Jr. Soft Cover

$50.00

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Georgia Short Line Railroad Album By Albert M Langley Jr.

Soft cover. Stapled

60 pages.

CONTENTS

Introduction 2

North Georgia Short Lines 3

South Georgia Short Lines 19

Central Georgia Short Lines 28

East Georgia Short Lines 39

West Georgia Short Lines 55

Acknowledgements - Bibliography 60

Map Inside Rear Cover

INTRODUCTION

"Short Line", the words seem to have mystical powers that bring forth visions of mixed trains, powered by diminutive steam locomotives trailing three or four "vent-boxes" (watermelon cars as they say down in Georgia), riding on arch bar trucks, with a vintage Jim Crow combine bringing up the markers. The kind of railroading Lucius Beebe once described in flowery language in his classic book, Mixed Train Daily. Add to the picture rusty, crooked rail laid on cypress crossties and unballasted roadbed. Then throw in a little red Georgia clay, water being slaked from a muddy creek, coal being loaded by hand from a dump cart, hand fired ten-wheeled engines and wooden, truss-rodded rolling stock topped by high vertical staff brake wheels. There you have it, a Georgia short line railroad.

The definition of a short line railroad in itself is a complex issue. Of course, all railroads generally began as "short lines". As time passed, many of these short lines united to form, for the lack of better wording, long railroads and then complete systems of railroads. On the surface, this seems rather simple to understand as a natural progression. However, the true short line many times proved to be a different animal. Many of the smaller roads were financially supported as "feeder lines" by the larger trunk lines but continued to operate independently. Some found their particular niche in the natural resources that abounded in their area of service. Others, for various reasons, just continued to operate independently, perhaps with the hope that one of the larger roads would one day take them under their wing. Nearly all of the short lines found daily existence a continual struggle.

Being a son of what Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest Generation", the author remembers his parents putting everything into a World War II perspective. Everything could be described as occurring either "before the war", "during the war" or "after the war". The story of the demise of Georgia's short line railroads generally fits well into this time line. Most were formed around the turn of the century. With the coming of the Great Depression, many faltered just prior to World War II. While relatively few short lines were abandoned during the war, inroads by trucks and the general availability of automobiles, gasoline and rubber tires following war time restrictions brought competition. At about the same time, on line natural resources, principally timber, were being depleted. Population changes in rural areas, wherein the short line generally thrived, were significant following the cessation of hostilities. As the GI's came home, many former farm boy moved to the city in search of easier work in the bustling factories. Needless to say, agriculture, long a staple for the short line railroad, suffered. By the early 1950's many of Georgia's former short lines were hard pressed financially and with only a few exceptions they simply passed into oblivion.

This writer spent considerable time contemplating how best to present the Georgia short line railroad story. First, how do you define a short line? One could make the case that any railroad less than one hundred miles in length could be referred to as a "short line". This, however, is not an all encompassing definition. For example, the famous Pidcock short line empire in south Georgia or the Savannah & Atlanta Railway both exceeded this general mileage definition. Additionally, today the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Association of American Railroads have set general financial criteria to determine the "class" of a railroad. Also to be weighed into the definition is how a railroad operated. Was it a private operation such as a logging railroad? Did the road operate using what would reasonably be considered as standard railroad practices or did it just survive from day to day in regard to maintenance and operation? Did it pay standard wages? Was the road a common carrier? The definition of a "short line" is thus quite broad and in some cases perhaps a bit of literary license was taken by presenting the Savannah & Atlanta for instance in this volume but skipping the Georgia & Florida.

The writer also pondered long as how best to lay out this monolith. Should the short lines be presented in simple alphabetical order or should they somehow be grouped for easier reading? In the end, a regional approach was taken wherein the Peach State was divided into north, south, central, east and west albums. Thus, for example, the Gainesville Midland and the fabled Tallulah Falls will be found in the north Georgia section, the Pidcock Lines and other area roads are in the south section, the Macon, Dublin & Savannah and the short lines allied with the Georgia Railroad are in the central section, the so called Central of Georgia Short Lines, which Mr. Beebe and others found to be of such great interest, are in the east Georgia section and the short lines in far western Georgia are obviously presented in the western section. Preceding each album, a brief history of the roads therein is offered.

Finally, the author at the onset readily admits that while a conscientious effort was made to tell the Georgia short line railroad story, this work should not be considered as all inclusive. There were many short line railroad companies chartered in Georgia that may or may not have initiated actual construction, let alone become operational. Additionally, there were many logging railroads within the state, some of which may best be described as "clandestine operations". In short, the author would venture to say that should he have attempted to chronicle each and every operation which was conceived or built in this brief album of Peach State short line railroads, many lines would still have been missed. Thus, this book is but a sampler of Georgia short lines. I beg your indulgence for any omissions or inconsistencies in this work and sincerely solicit any additions or corrections for future editions.

So get aboard. How about a nostalgic trip out of Cornelia into the mountains of north Georgia on the Tallulah Falls or a ride on the Midland's motor car out of Gainesville? Settle back on a dusty seat in a Sylvania Central wooden combine as it rocks along through the Georgia country side. Let's get an ice cold Coca Cola from the country store across the track at Ashburn before we head out on Mr. Pidcock's road to Camilla. All Aboard !

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