36" Gauge, converted to standard gauge
Headquarters: Birmingham, AL
Years of Operation: 1881-1894
Predecessor road: Greenville Columbus
& Birmingham
Successor road: Southern Railway in Mississippi
Miles Operated: 458 mile main line + 24 mile Percy Branch
Locomotives Owned:
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Equipment:
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Click Map for Larger Version |
History
by Tony Howe:
The
Georgia Pacific Railway was formed in 1881 to build a railroad from Atlanta,
GA through Birmingham and Columbus, MS to Greenville, MS and eventually on
to Texarkana. From the beginning it was under the control of Southern
Railway predecessors East Tennessee Virginia & Georgia and Richmond
& Danville. Georgia Pacific bought the 36" gauge railroad of the
Greenville Columbus & Birmingham RR in October 1881 and converted it to
standard gauge a few years later and completed the line between Columbus and
Greenville on June 18, 1889, completing the railroad from Atlanta to
Greenville. As the Richmond & Danville was being reorganized in 1894,
they formed a new company called Southern Railway in Mississippi to take
over the former Georgia Pacific trackage in Mississippi on August 30, 1894.
For additional info see:
"Delta
Route" by Louis Saillard published by Columbus & Greenville RR 1981
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