Georgia Midland Railroad

Georgia Midland Railroad

Georgia Midland Railroad route map[1]
Reporting mark	GMR[2]
Locale	Georgia (U.S. state)
Dates of operation	February 2004–December 2009
Track gauge	4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Headquarters	Americus, Georgia

Georgia Midland Railroad GP35 1320 rests at Midville, Georgia during the summer of 2004

The Georgia Midland Railroad (reporting mark GMR) was a shortline railroad that operated several lines in Georgia that it acquired in 2004 from the initial operations of Ogeechee Railway.^[3][4] In 2009 the Georgia Midland was purchased by Pioneer RailCorp from Atlantic Western Transportation Company, the holding company for the Heart of Georgia Railroad. Pioneer renamed the railroad as the Georgia Southern Railway.^[5] Hauling an average of 5000 carloads per year of aggregate sand, stone, farm products and wood, the Georgia Midland Railroad connected with the Norfolk Southern Railway.^[6]

Initially the Georgia Midland operated three branch lines, all within Georgia, connecting Roberta through Fort Valley to Perry, Dover through Statesboro to Metter, and Ardmore to Sylvania.^[7] Subsequently the Ardmore-Sylvania line was returned to Ogeechee Railway, which now operates it.

In 2006 the Georgia Midland was named Short Line Railroad of the Year by railroad industry trade journal Railway Age.^[8]

Gallery

• 

  Georgia Midland (GMR) tracks near Midville, Georgia. GMR tracks around Midville passed primarily through mixed hardwoods and southern pines.

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  Georgia Midland Railroad GP35 1320 rests between runs beneath the old magnolia trees at Midville, Georgia.

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  Long hood of Georgia Midland Railroad GP35 1320 at Midville, Georgia.

References

• Storey, Steve. "Georgia Midland Railroad". Georgia's Railroad History and Heritage. Retrieved 2006-08-14.

1. Georgia Department of Transportation (2006-01-05). "Georgia Rail System" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-08-14.
2. http://www.alk.com/support/downloads/pcmiler/manuals/PCR%2013%20User%20Guide.pdf PC*MILER Rail User's Guide; Appendix C: Railroad Names and Abbreviations Sorted by SCAC (Abbreviation)
3. United States Surface Transportation Board. "Notices" (PDF). Federal Register 69 (49): 11940–11941. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
4. Railroad Retirement Board (2004-09-10). "Employer Status Determination, Georgia Midland Railroad, Inc". Retrieved 2006-08-14.
5. "AWT Completes Sale of Georgia Midland Railroad". 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
6. Georgia Railroad Association. "Georgia Midland Railroad Company, Inc". Retrieved 2006-08-14.
7. "Georgia Midland Railroad".
8. Railway Age (2006). "Railway Age Announces Short Line and Regional Railroads of the Year". Retrieved 2006-08-14.