I am looking for information concerning the Southern Line running through Columbus, Fortson, and Hamilton, Georgia. I know that it is now a Norfolk Southern line. What did it originate as, when was it started, and where did it originate?

I appreciate any help.

Thanks J. Lally

-- J. Lally (lallyjo@hotmail.com), May 25, 2000

Answers

The Southern Railway line out of Columbus, Ga., through Fortson, Hamilton, and Greenville to Newnan, Ga., was originally a branch of the Central of Georgia Railway. At Newnan, the branch connected with a CofGa line from Chattanooga to Macon. The branch was opened sometime between 1901 and 1905. The CofGa joined the Southern Railway System in June 1963.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunderwood@attglobal.net), May 25, 2000.

The Columbus/Fortson/Hamilton line was originally a narrow-gauge line that was converted to standard gauge around the time the Central of Georgia took control of the predecessor line(I can't remember the name). The Central's streamliner Man o' War operated over this line from 1947 to 1971 (it ran over the West Point from Newnan to Atlanta).

-- Bud Leggett (leggettd@dartnet.peachnet.edu), August 08, 2001.