Alabama Central Railway

Standard Gauge 60-lb rail Headquarters: Montgomery, AL Years of Operation: 1903-1939 Predecessor Roads: none Successor Roads: none Miles Operated: Booth, AL to Autaugaville 8.265 miles Locomotives Owned:	Equipment 6/30/1916: Locomotives: 1. Cars: 2 passenger, 1 freight.	Click Map for Larger Version
HISTORY by Gil Hoffman: The Alabama Central Railway was incorporated in Alabama on December 12, 1903, with authorized capital stock of $100.000. At the time of incorporation only $25,000 in stock was issued. The line was initially operated at a loss for several years. J. W. Dimmick purchased a part interest in the road and finally became sole owner. He spent about $60,000 of his own money to equip and operate the road. Dimmick died in 1911.  The line extended from Booth, AL southerly and westerly to Autaugaville, AL, 8.265 miles. It connected with the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Booth. The railroad was constructed in 1904. Business was supplied from numerous lumber mills at Autaugaville.  On December 18, 1935, the Alabama Central Railway applied to the ICC for permission to abandon the portion of its line from Autaugaville easterly toward Forrester, 2.3 miles. This line had not been in operation for more than a year. The mills at Autaugavile had all cut out and had been dismantled leaving this section of line with no traffic. Permission was granted on February 28, 1936. On December 14, 1938, the AC Ry., applied to the ICC for permission to abandon its remaining line from Booth in a southerly direction to Forrester, AL, approximately 5.34 miles. At the time no regular train service was maintained, and operations were conducted for freight only, passenger service having been discontinued on January 1, 1931. The main source of traffic was a sawmill at Forrester which had been dismantled and removed not long before the application for abandonment. Permission was granted on February 6, 1939. REFERENCES  1.  ”Alabama Central Railway,” Valuation Docket No. 10, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 106, p. 211-17. 2.  “Alabama Central Railway Abandonment,” Finance Docket No. 11050, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 212, p. 325. 3.  “Alabama Central Railway Abandonment,” Finance Docket No. 12266, Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Vol. 230, p. 623.
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:     Road No.   Type   Builder   C.N.   Date   Cyls.   Dri. Dia.   Engine Wt.   Previous Ownership   Disposition   1st 1   4-4-0   Rogers           16x24   56   70000   Mobile & Ohio # Alabama Central Ry. #1, in 1904.   Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #174 Sherman Brothers Lumber Co. #21, Fountain, FL, on 9/3/1912.   2nd 1   2-6-0   Baldwin   7420   9/1884   18x24   50   90000   Brierfield Coal Co. #1, Brierfield, AL Louisville Southern #25 Southern Ry. #765, in 1896 Danville & Western Ry. #12, in 10/1901 New ALCO boiler in 9/1905. Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #151 Alabama Central Ry. #1, on 4/15/1911. Baldwin class 8-30 D 187   In service 1/22/1917.   12   4-6-0   Pittsburgh   1103   1/1890   18x24   50   116000   Louisville, St. Louis & Texas Ry. #12 Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Ry. #12, in 5/1896. Georgia Car & Locomotive Co. #554 Alabama Central Ry. #12, in 3/1926.       10   2-6-0   Baldwin   30198   2/1907   16x24   50   94000   Kentwood & Eastern Ry. #10, Kentwood, LA Philip A. Ryan Lumber Co. #3, Lufkin, TX, by 12/1922. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1712 Alabama Central Ry. #10, on 9/28/1936. Baldwin class 8-26 D 171   Twin Seams Mining Co. #1, Kellerman, AL

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