Mobile and Girard Railroad: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Railroad in Alabama, USA}} |
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[[File:Mobile and Girard Rail Road Comp 1866.jpg|thumb|Bond of the Mobile and Girard Rail Road Company from the 1st July 1866]] |
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| ⚫ | The '''Mobile & Girard Railroad''' was an [[Alabama]] [[railroad]] which was constructed in the mid-19th century; a portion of the line continues in operation under different ownership. The {{convert|26|mi|adj=on}} line was constructed with a [[track gauge]] of {{Track gauge|5ft|lk=on}}.<ref>[http://www.csa-railroads.com/Mobile_and_Girard.htm Confederate Railroads - Mobile & Girard]</ref> |
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==Construction== |
==Construction== |
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In 1852, Alabama was granted a [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right of way]] across US government lands from [[Girard, Alabama]] (across the [[Chattahoochee River]] from [[Columbus, Georgia]]) to [[Mobile Bay]]. Construction of the railroad began in 1854, and by October 1 of that year, cars were running on the first nine miles of track, to [[Fort Mitchell, Alabama|Fort Mitchell]], and to Guerryton by mid-1855. But construction of the 13 miles from Guerryton to [[Union Springs, Alabama|Union Springs]]. was delayed, and was not complete until November, 1859. The line was completed to [[Troy, Alabama|Troy]] in 1870 and later as far as [[Andalusia, Alabama|Andalusia]].<ref name="STBMay1">Docket No. AB 601 Pine Belt Southern Railroad Company, Inc.; Abandonment; Between Nuckols and Hurtsboro in Russell, Bullock, and Macon Counties, Alabama; Notice of Exemption; Dated May 1, 2002</ref> |
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The plan for Mobile to be the end point was in doubt as early as 1857 when it was determined that it would cost four times as much to complete to Mobile as it would to Pensacola. Also, Mobile had never made payment on its subscription to the railroad. <ref name="MGR1">Mobile and Girard Railroad Date: Tuesday, January 6, 1857 Paper: Columbus Tri-Weekly Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia) Volume:III Issue:18 Page:2</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 1879, the [[Central of Georgia Railroad]] expanded into Alabama with the purchase of the [[Montgomery & Eufaula Railroad]]. Several Alabama [[shortline railroad|shortlines]] were thereafter acquired, including the M&G. The Central of Georgia became part of the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] in 1963; Southern and [[Norfolk & Western Railway]] merged |
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| ⚫ | In 1879, the [[Central of Georgia Railroad]] expanded into Alabama with the purchase of the [[Montgomery & Eufaula Railroad]]. Several Alabama [[shortline railroad|shortlines]] were thereafter acquired, including the M&G. The Central of Georgia became part of the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] in 1963; Southern and [[Norfolk & Western Railway]] merged to form [[Norfolk Southern]] in 1982. NS gradually abandoned the former M&G line. First from Andalusia to [[Goshen, Alabama|Goshen]] in 1986, and then from Troy to Hurtsboro in 1988.<ref name="STBMay1"/> |
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==Pine Belt Southern shortline operation== |
==Pine Belt Southern shortline operation== |
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[[Pine Belt Southern Railroad]] purchased the remaining line from the NS interchange at Nuckols (Milepost S-304.00) to Hurtsboro (Milepost S-329.00) on July 27, |
[[Pine Belt Southern Railroad]] purchased the remaining line from the NS interchange at Nuckols (Milepost S-304.00) to Hurtsboro (Milepost S-329.00) on July 27, 1995. Traffic on the line was 95% sand (US Silica Company west of downtown Hurtsboro), 4% logs, and 1% inbound finished lumber.<ref name="STBMay1"/> |
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==Pine Belt Southern abandonment== |
==Pine Belt Southern abandonment== |
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==Conecuh Valley Railroad operation== |
==Conecuh Valley Railroad operation== |
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The Conecuh Valley Railroad continues to operate the last remaining 12 |
The Conecuh Valley Railroad continues to operate the last remaining {{convert|12|mi}} of the M&G between Goshen and Troy, interchanging with [[CSX]] at Troy. From 1988 to 2001 this line segment was operated by the Southern Alabama Railroad Company.<ref>[http://www.railserve.com/jump/jump.cgi?ID=23921] Railserve; Conecuh Valley Railroad</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{portal|Railways}} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mobile And Girard Railroad}} |
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[[Category:5 ft gauge railways in the United States]] |
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[[Category:1854 establishments in Alabama]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:46, 29 March 2024
The Mobile & Girard Railroad was an Alabama railroad which was constructed in the mid-19th century; a portion of the line continues in operation under different ownership. The 26-mile (42 km) line was constructed with a track gauge of 5 ft (1,524 mm).[1]
Construction
[edit]In 1852, Alabama was granted a right of way across US government lands from Girard, Alabama (across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia) to Mobile Bay. Construction of the railroad began in 1854, and by October 1 of that year, cars were running on the first nine miles of track, to Fort Mitchell, and to Guerryton by mid-1855. But construction of the 13 miles from Guerryton to Union Springs. was delayed, and was not complete until November, 1859. The line was completed to Troy in 1870 and later as far as Andalusia.[2]
The plan for Mobile to be the end point was in doubt as early as 1857 when it was determined that it would cost four times as much to complete to Mobile as it would to Pensacola. Also, Mobile had never made payment on its subscription to the railroad. [3]
In 1879, the Central of Georgia Railroad expanded into Alabama with the purchase of the Montgomery & Eufaula Railroad. Several Alabama shortlines were thereafter acquired, including the M&G. The Central of Georgia became part of the Southern Railway in 1963; Southern and Norfolk & Western Railway merged to form Norfolk Southern in 1982. NS gradually abandoned the former M&G line. First from Andalusia to Goshen in 1986, and then from Troy to Hurtsboro in 1988.[2]
Pine Belt Southern shortline operation
[edit]Pine Belt Southern Railroad purchased the remaining line from the NS interchange at Nuckols (Milepost S-304.00) to Hurtsboro (Milepost S-329.00) on July 27, 1995. Traffic on the line was 95% sand (US Silica Company west of downtown Hurtsboro), 4% logs, and 1% inbound finished lumber.[2]
Pine Belt Southern abandonment
[edit]After the sand distributor that accounted for the overwhelming majority of traffic on the line lost its key rail supplied customer, the line was found to no longer be economically viable. The last train operated over the line in 2000. On May 1, 2002, PBRR filed a Notice of Exemption with the Surface Transportation Board for abandonment of the line.[2] Though the Macon County Commission was granted a public use condition by the STB to explore acquisition of the right of way for public use, the line officially abandoned on June 1, 2003. The ties and rails were removed though the roadbed remains.[4]
Conecuh Valley Railroad operation
[edit]The Conecuh Valley Railroad continues to operate the last remaining 12 miles (19 km) of the M&G between Goshen and Troy, interchanging with CSX at Troy. From 1988 to 2001 this line segment was operated by the Southern Alabama Railroad Company.[5]
References
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- ^ Confederate Railroads - Mobile & Girard
- ^ a b c d Docket No. AB 601 Pine Belt Southern Railroad Company, Inc.; Abandonment; Between Nuckols and Hurtsboro in Russell, Bullock, and Macon Counties, Alabama; Notice of Exemption; Dated May 1, 2002
- ^ Mobile and Girard Railroad Date: Tuesday, January 6, 1857 Paper: Columbus Tri-Weekly Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia) Volume:III Issue:18 Page:2
- ^ Docket No. AB 601X Pine Belt Southern Railroad Company, Inc.; Abandonment; Between Nuckols and Hurtsboro in Russell, Bullock, and Macon Counties, Alabama; Notice of Consummation
- ^ [1] Railserve; Conecuh Valley Railroad