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Central of Georgia Railway Steam Locomotives and Trains by Goolsby Jr & Langley
Central of Georgia Railway Steam Locomotives and Trains by James H Goolsby Jr and Albert M Langley Jr. Featuring photography of Hugh M Comer.
Soft Cover Stapled
Copyright 2006
68 pages 150 photographs, history, steam roster, and the story of the Central of Georgia.
CONTENTS
Foreword 2
A Brief History 3
Savannah Division 8
Macon Division 16
Columbus Division 31
Steam Locomotives 39
Passenger Service 60
Acknowledgements - Bibliography68
Map Inside Rear Cover
Prior to 1830, Savannah, Georgia was perhaps the most viable seaport along the southeast Atlantic coast. Ocean going vessels deposited their cargoes on the wharves near the mouth of the Savannah River where they were transferred to river boats to be taken up river to the bustling cotton town of Augusta. Nestled on the Georgia - South Carolina border, Augusta, Georgia was near the end of navigation on the Savannah River and at one time was touted as the second largest inland cotton market in the world. On their return trip down river, the boats were heavily laden with bales of cotton from the interior. At Savannah, the cotton was then loaded on sea going vessels for European markets.
In 1830, Savannah began to lose market share. In that year, the South Carolina Rail Road was opened between Charleston, Savannah's rival port city, and Hamburg, South Carolina. Hamburg was located directly across the Savannah River from Augusta. This new overland route soon began to divert much of the flow of goods to the interior from the port of Savannah to the wharves of Charleston.
To counter this trade loss, in December 1833, a progressive group of Savannah citizens chartered the Central Rail Road and Canal Company of Georgia. Their plan was to build a canal or railroad from Savannah to Macon in the interior of Georgia. Macon, located on the Ocmulgee River, lay some 190 railroad miles northwest of the port city.
Construction of the new railroad began in Savannah during December 1835. After some discontent as to the exact route to be employed, construction pushed slowly westward. Although Savannahians subscribed to approximately one-half of the authorized 15,000 shares of stock, Macon failed to show much interest in the proposal. This greatly hampered the ability of the company to proceed and the promoters found it necessary to have their charter amended. The Georgia Legislature gave its blessing to this request by doubling the authorized capital stock as well as granting banking powers. At this time, the company name was amended to read "Central Rail Road and Banking Company of Georgia". The Central Rail Road Bank soon began receiving deposits in Savannah. Evidently the new name gave a sense of security to investors as the sale of railroad stock improved.
Construction progress was hampered by weather and labor difficulties as well as a general economic depression which began in 1837. By November 1841, construction had stalled near Sandersville, Georgia and the road's stock had tumbled from $100 to $20 per share with contractors being paid with the company's own bonds. Through struggle and perseverance the road was eventually able to reach the east bank of the Ocmulgee River, opposite the city of Macon, in October of 1843.
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