Alabama and Florida Railway
Encyclopedia
The Alabama and Florida Railway is a class III railroad
as reported by the AAR
. The AF is headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama
and is owned and operated by Pioneer Railcorp
of Peoria, Illinois
. The railroad operates approximately 43 miles (69.2 km) of track from Andalusia, Alabama
to Geneva, Alabama
.
Primary commodities include fertilizer and railcar storage.
On August 9, 2011, the AF filed an exemption notice with the Surface Transportation Board
to abandon its entire line.
to Graceville, Florida
. It was operated by the Louisville & Nashville
between 1901–1982 and Seaboard System
from 1983-1986. The section between Geneva, Alabama
and Graceville, Florida
was abandoned January 16, 1984.
as the Alabama & Florida Railroad beginning July 28, 1986. The purchase included 7.8 miles (12.6 km) of the Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad
from Andalusia, Alabama
to Gantt, Alabama
, as well as a branch from Crestview, Florida
to Florala, Alabama
operated as the Yellow River Railroad. Operations on the Yellow River Railroad ended in December 1987.
, on November 23, 1992. Both the reporting marks and name of the railroad were modified with the change in ownership; reporting marks changed from AFLR to AF and the name changed to Alabama and Florida Railway. 36 miles (57.9 km) of trackage from Georgiana, Alabama
to Andalusia, Alabama
was sold back to the Gulf & Ohio
and named Three Notch Railroad
on June 11, 2001. The AF connects with Three Notch Railroad
at Andalusia, Alabama
.
Class III railroad
A Class III railroad, as defined by the Surface Transportation Board, is a railroad with an annual operating revenue of less than $20 million . The term only applies to United States railroads, but is sometimes applied to other countries...
as reported by the AAR
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
. The AF is headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
and is owned and operated by Pioneer Railcorp
Pioneer Railcorp
Pioneer Railcorp is a holding company for a number of American short-line railroads. Other subsidiaries offer locomotive and freight car leasing to its own railroads and to third parties, and also freight car cleaning. Pioneer also has interests in real estate and newsletter publishing.The...
of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. The railroad operates approximately 43 miles (69.2 km) of track from Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
to Geneva, Alabama
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
.
Primary commodities include fertilizer and railcar storage.
On August 9, 2011, the AF filed an exemption notice with the Surface Transportation Board
Surface Transportation Board
The Surface Transportation Board of the United States is a bipartisan, decisionally-independent adjudicatory body organizationally housed within the U.S. Department of Transportation. The STB was established in 1996 to assume some of the regulatory functions that had been administered by the...
to abandon its entire line.
History
The route was built in 1901 as the original Alabama and Florida Railroad consisting of 109 miles (175.4 km) from Georgiana, AlabamaGeorgiana, Alabama
Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town was 1,737.-Geography:Georgiana is located at 31°38'24.313" North, 86°44'21.991" West .According to the U.S...
to Graceville, Florida
Graceville, Florida
Graceville is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,402 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
. It was operated by the Louisville & Nashville
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
between 1901–1982 and Seaboard System
Seaboard System Railroad
The Seaboard System Railroad was a former Class I railroad created by merging the railroads of the Family Lines System. Although sharing common ownership, the railroads of the Family Lines System used different names when conducting business...
from 1983-1986. The section between Geneva, Alabama
Geneva, Alabama
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Geneva County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Dothan, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also the largest city of Geneva County, and has a population of 4,388 according to the 2000 census....
and Graceville, Florida
Graceville, Florida
Graceville is a city in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,402 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
was abandoned January 16, 1984.
Gulf & Ohio
Initially the line between Georgiana and Geneva was purchased and operated by Gulf & Ohio RailwaysGulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf & Ohio Railways is a holding company for seven different short-line railroads in the Southern United States, as well as a tourist-oriented passenger train, and locomotive leasing and repair service through Knoxville Locomotive Works...
as the Alabama & Florida Railroad beginning July 28, 1986. The purchase included 7.8 miles (12.6 km) of the Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad
Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad
The Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad was a shortline railroad formerly operating between Gantt and Andalusia, Alabama, . It was largely abandoned in 1987, with the remainder leased to the Alabama and Florida Railway...
from Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
to Gantt, Alabama
Gantt, Alabama
Gantt is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 241.-Geography:Gantt is located at . According to the U.S...
, as well as a branch from Crestview, Florida
Crestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
to Florala, Alabama
Florala, Alabama
Florala is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,964.-Geography:Florala is located at . According to the U.S...
operated as the Yellow River Railroad. Operations on the Yellow River Railroad ended in December 1987.
Pioneer Railcorp
The railroad to include 86 miles (138.4 km) of trackage was purchased by its current owner, Pioneer RailcorpPioneer Railcorp
Pioneer Railcorp is a holding company for a number of American short-line railroads. Other subsidiaries offer locomotive and freight car leasing to its own railroads and to third parties, and also freight car cleaning. Pioneer also has interests in real estate and newsletter publishing.The...
, on November 23, 1992. Both the reporting marks and name of the railroad were modified with the change in ownership; reporting marks changed from AFLR to AF and the name changed to Alabama and Florida Railway. 36 miles (57.9 km) of trackage from Georgiana, Alabama
Georgiana, Alabama
Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town was 1,737.-Geography:Georgiana is located at 31°38'24.313" North, 86°44'21.991" West .According to the U.S...
to Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
was sold back to the Gulf & Ohio
Gulf and Ohio Railways
Gulf & Ohio Railways is a holding company for seven different short-line railroads in the Southern United States, as well as a tourist-oriented passenger train, and locomotive leasing and repair service through Knoxville Locomotive Works...
and named Three Notch Railroad
Three Notch Railroad
The Three Notch Railroad runs from a connection with CSX Transportation at Georgiana to Andalusia, Alabama, . This short line railroad was created in 2001 and is currently a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways....
on June 11, 2001. The AF connects with Three Notch Railroad
Three Notch Railroad
The Three Notch Railroad runs from a connection with CSX Transportation at Georgiana to Andalusia, Alabama, . This short line railroad was created in 2001 and is currently a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways....
at Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
.
Current locomotive roster
| Model | Railroad | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMD GP20 EMD GP20 An EMD GP20 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between November 1959 and April 1962. Power was provided by an EMD 567D2 16-cylinder turbocharged engine which generated 2000 horsepower... |
PREX Pioneer Railcorp Pioneer Railcorp is a holding company for a number of American short-line railroads. Other subsidiaries offer locomotive and freight car leasing to its own railroads and to third parties, and also freight car cleaning. Pioneer also has interests in real estate and newsletter publishing.The... |
1 | 3069 | |
Historical locomotive roster
| Model | Railroad | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMD SW7 EMD SW7 The EMD SW7 was a diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between October 1949 and January 1951. It was powered by a V12 567A engine developing . 489 SW7 locomotives were produced. The majority of the SW7s were built by EMD Plant #3 in Cleveland, Ohio... |
AF | 1 | 1214 | |
| EMD GP16 | AF | 3 | 1611, 1612, 1614 | |
| EMD GP9 EMD GP9 An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including... |
AF | 5 | 2391, 6011, 6076, 6084, 6096 | |
| EMD GP7 EMD GP7 The EMD GP7 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors Diesel between October, 1949 and May, 1954. Power was provided by an EMD 567B 16-cylinder engine which generated . The GP7 was offered both with and without control cabs, and... |
GA Georgia Railroad and Banking Company The Georgia Railroad and Banking Company is a historic railroad and banking company that operated in the U.S. state of Georgia.- History :It was originally chartered in 1833 in Augusta, Georgia. In 1835, the charter was amended to include banking... |
1 | 1026 | |
| EMD GP9 EMD GP9 An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including... |
WCGR Wiregrass Central Railroad The Wiregrass Central Railroad is a shortline railroad operating of track from a CSX Transportation connection at Newton to Enterprise, Alabama via the south side of Fort Rucker. The company, a subsidiary of Gulf and Ohio Railways, began operations in 1987 on a former CSX Transportation... |
2 | 2876, 3872 | |