Georgia Southern Railway (fka Georgia Midland)

I'm pretty sure I was at Statesboro Grain, as there was what appeared to be a grain truck there this morning; there were also 3 or 4 hoppers of gravel were spotted on the Southern States peanut siding this morning. Those cars usually go to Reeves Construction further down 301; I did however notice some work going on at Southern States that they might use gravel for.

I wish they would put that rock down on the track between 301 and 80. It's been in bad shape, although they replaced some crossties there as well as through town recently. That section looks like it doesn't get proper drainage during those heavy south Georgia rainfalls!

I kind of sort of chased today; I heard her downtown around 2pm. I thought she might have been heading back. After my last appointment, about 3pm, I headed up to Dover but she wasn't there yet, so I worked backwards but never found her. I did set up some more 4SQ locations: Old River Road, Clito Rd, Maria Sorrell, and also Coley Boyd below the bypass.

I need to get back to chasin' that train more often.........

Jeff Smith wrote:Clito Rd

By the mill?

Right, north of the mill. Maria Sorrell is south. The siding is still connected at Maria Sorrell; how long has the mill been closed?

Jeff Smith wrote:Right, north of the mill. Maria Sorrell is south. The siding is still connected at Maria Sorrell; how long has the mill been closed?

The mill (Grinnell) has been closed for a good bit of years now. Back in 1997 while a senior at GSU I did a senior project at the mill when it was operational. Lot of people were employed there.....it was a busy place. The Ogeechee RR worked the mill everyday spotting loads of scrap metal and industrial sand. Sad when something like that shuts down......

Doesn't look like 1325 is going anywhere.

Won't be long before it gets completely covered up with weeds! I haven't had a chance to talk with the crew. They would know what's going on with it.

Four (yes four) tankers were left on this siding Thursday and picked up Friday:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=statesbo ... orgia&z=18

Otherwise I haven't seen anything interesting on the line recently except the flatcar that they use to move ties has appeared again on the siding at Gateway.

That flat they're using to haul crossties was at one time an old Southern "woodrack" used to haul pulpwood back in the day. Matter of fact, there was a small woodyard in Metter years ago that loaded these cars. By the early 2000's they were all retired by NS.

I heard the horn blowing through town a few minutes ago........all the way from just outside of Brooklet!

Some shots from Statesboro, Monday, Feb. 18 are attached. The hopper is on the Tillman, Brannen, Minick, siding and the locomotive is outside Howard Lumber.

In related GASR news:

The state has approved for the old G&F mainline south of Kirby (Swainsboro) to Vidalia to be restored. Work will commence in the next few weeks by clearing trees / brush along the right-of-way then replacing the light rail, crossties, and ballast. The bridges (I believe there are two) will be repaired as well. All of this will be done by Utilco Railway Services of Tifton, GA.

The GASR's lease with the HOG on the Midville to Kirby section will expire in about 2 years. The plan is to have all of this done by then so that the HOG can take back over operations. This will give the HOG one complete line from Americus / Cordele to Midville. Word is that a big woodyard wants to locate on the line somewhere north of Vidalia. Also, word is that once this is done, NS will bring the pig trains from Savannah to Midville, handing them off to the HOG for the trip to Cordele. This of course will take that traffic away from the Georgia Central.

I took some pics along the overgrown line a week ago, with plans to get pics at those same locations after the work is completed or near completion. Hopefully I can get pics of the first train at these same locations as well!

The G&F will rise again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's great. Very exciting. I was doubtful it was ever going to be restored but I'm glad it have work done to it soon.

Any chance you could post your pictures?

Here are some of the pics I took of the old G&F between Kirby and Vidalia. Sorry for the quality, it started raining just as soon as I got to Swainsboro and never stopped!