There are 3 customers indeed on that part of the old G&F that get service: Swainsboro Recycling (scrap), Royster Clark (fertilizer/potash), and ITT Rayonier at Kirby(lumber). Just a few weeks ago we (I work for NS) were giving the GMR loads of rock for Reeves Construction to be unloaded at a spur near Kirby. Evidently, there's some road construction of sorts, possibly on U.S. 1 near Swainsboro, so we've been giving them almost "unit train" sized cuts about 2-3 times a week. They come from our customer Martin Marietta, a quarry near East Warrenton on the old S&A line, where they also regularly send loads to Dover to the GMR. I handle most of this traffic (among other traffic) from our office in Atlanta.
The rock business has slacked off as a result of the holidays, but I was told Martin Marietta will resume loading after the first of the year. As a result, we've been shoving empty rock hoppers in every available siding between Waynesboro and Bastonville!! We even had to assign one of our Dash 9's to Wrens to help the usual SD40-2 duo move this stuff along with the kaolin and chips/lumber to the yard in Millen!
But back to the GMR. I remember Swainsboro Concrete getting a few loads of rock back in the Ogeechee days, but they haven't received any more since before the GMR took over. I don't know if it's because the customer is located on very bad trackage of the former Wadley Southern and the OGEE didn't think it was worth it to repair, or if the customer went out of business or just quit receiving rail service.
Regardless, the GMR is doing quite nicely on this stretch of former G&F main, seeing as how back in the late '90s I was sending our local (G23) out of Tennille, where I was a yard clerk, over to Swainsboro about once a month.
The Millen switcher, G32, works the interchange at Midville 2-3 times a week.
It's really nice to see a seldom used line get a little life back, moreso if it's a G&F line!!!!!!!!
Nice forum, keep talking about those Georgia railroads!!!!!!