South Georgia Railway Company

Product Details

$50 to $75

Historical Context

The South Georgia Railway was incorporated on March 6, 1896 by the brothers James and Zenas Oglesby of Heartpine, Georgia in connection with their sawmill operations into Southwest Georgia. They built a railroad from Heartpine (later renamed Adel) on the Georgia Southern & Florida to Quitman, on the Savanah Florida & Western (later Atlantic Coast Line) a total of 27.5 miles. The charter was later amended on August 21, 1900 to build south from Quitman into Florida and on toward Tampa but construction was completed only to Greenville, Florida at milepost 50.9 where a connection was made with the Florida Central & Peninsular Railway (later the Seaboard Air Line).

By December 12, 1900 the owners were in high hopes of capturing a very nice Florida land grant so they incorporated in Florida as the West Coast Railway which would extend their line south of Greenville to Perry and beyond, again dreaming of Tampa. The West Coast Railway however was bogged down in raising the necessary money and it wasn't until September1, 1904 were they able to enter Perry, Florida (at mile post 76.0) well after the Suwanee & San Pedro became the first railway into town from Live Oak. Both railroads tried to grab the land grants promised to the Tallahassee & Southeastern but as neither road had applied to the state legislature neither could claim the grants.

The South Georgia operated the West Coast under lease and both roads were operated jointly under the "South Georgia & West Coast" name though this name was never formally incorporated even though locomotives and rolling stock was lettered as such.

The South Georgia & West Coast increased their mileage by 5 miles on March 1, 1915 by buying the logging railroad of the Interstate Lumber Company - which connected Perry with Hampton Springs - for $26,343. Prior to this they they ran over the Live Oak Perry & Gulf to bring passenger trains into the springs. Hampton Springs was a popular resort with a mineral spring which was said to have curative powers. The springs were bought by the Oglesbys and a large hotel was built complete with a pool, spa, bottling works, golf course and recreation hall. At one time it was served by 6 trains a day on the South Georgia and 4 trains a day on the Live Oak Perry & Gulf. The branch was discontinued on February 20, 1929 with the tracks coming up in 1931.

On November 21, 1923 the South Georgia finally merged the West Coast Railway into their system ending the South Georgia & West Coast moniker. By this time the dream of building further south was smashed by the building of the Atlantic Coast Line's Perry cut-off.

Many lumber companies were located online and many had trackage rights over the South Georgia. This included the Weaver-Loughridge Lbr. Company, G.W. Barrington, Shore Lumber Company and the Interstate Lumber Company - which enjoyed the longest trackage rights from Perry to Quitman.

In 1946 the Brooks-Scanlon Corporation purchased the South Georgia, operating along with the Live Oak Perry & Gulf. Both roads were sold to the Southern Railway on September 16, 1954.

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