Georgia Southwestern Railroad
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Southwestern Railroad is a Class III
short line railroad company that operates over 234 miles (376.6 km) of track in southwestern Georgia
and southeastern Alabama
. Beginning in 1989 as a division of the South Carolina Central Railroad
on a pair of former CSX Transportation
lines, the railroad has since undergone a number of transformations through abandonments and acquisitions before arriving at its current form. The railroad was formerly a RailAmerica
property before going independent, and in 2008 it was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
Traffic includes chemicals, clay, grain, peanuts, plastics, stone, and wood, generating around 13,000 annual carloads.
the Georgia Southwestern railroad operated over two lines making junction at Richland
. The first ran 130.7 miles (210.3 km) from Rhine
west through Richland and Omaha, Georgia
before crossing over the Chattahoochee River
and terminating at Mahrt, Alabama. A second line originated at Columbus
and traveled south through Cusseta
and Richland before ending at Bainbridge, Georgia
, 127.9 miles (205.8 km). Both routes were sold by CSX on July 5, 1989.
, and in 1888 the railroad became the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery. The railroad continued to grow in 1890, reaching Lyons
in the east, as well as the Chattahoochee River
and eventually Montgomery
to the west. In 1895, the SA&M was reorganized under the Georgia & Alabama and in 1900 the railroad once again changed hands into the Seaboard Air Line
.
Through a number of mergers the line eventually came under the ownership of the Seaboard System
in 1983, which abandoned the line between Montgomery and Mahrt on April 20, 1986. The remaining line from Mahrt to Rhine, Georgia
was sold to the Georgia Southwestern by CSX Transportation
in 1989. After operations on the line from Preston to Mahrt ended in 1999 the state of Georgia acquired the segment and sought a new operator for the line. On May 22, 2000 the state purchased the remaining portion of the line not already under their ownership between Omaha and the end of the line across the river in Mahrt as well as an additional 71.13 miles (114.5 km) between Rochelle and Preston retained by the Georgia Southwestern.
The Heart of Georgia
took over operations of the line from the Georgia Southwestern in 2000 and still operates from Rhine to Preston, with the segment between Preston and Mahrt out of service.
when it opened its line to Albany, Georgia
in 1890. The railroad was absorbed by the Georgia & Alabama Railway in 1896 and later merged into the Seaboard Air Line in 1902. The second portion of the line was built by the Georgia Pine Railway (Georgia, Florida & Alabama after 1901) - and made junction with the Seaboard Air Line at Richland in 1910. In January of 1928 the SAL leased the GF&A, creating a shortcut for trains destined for Florida.
The Seaboard Air Line was later merged into the Seaboard Coast Line
in 1967, and the SCL became the Seaboard System in 1983. CSX sold the line from Columbus to Lynn to the Georgia Southwestern in 1989 concurrently with the sale of the Rhine - Mahrt route. Initially the GSWR exercised trackage rights over CSX to reach Bainbridge, including additional rights to Saffold, Georgia to interchange with the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
.
1995 brought numerous changes to the Georgia Southwestern network and the portion of the route from Cusseta and Cuthbert became redundant and was subsequently abandoned in that year, with the rails being removed in September 1997. Rails remained in place from Columbus to Cusseta in order to serve a large pulpwood yard near the latter.
In 2002 the Georgia DOT
acquired the remaining disconnected segments of the Columbus - Bainbridge line between Columbus and Cusseta as well as Cuthbert to Bainbridge. The Georgia Southwestern remained as the operator of the line.
tracks between Columbus and Americus as well as trackage rights over NS to Albany. Additionally two sister South Carolina Central Railroad divisions operating nearby were merged into the Georgia Southwestern during the same period.
and Vidalia
to Georgia Central Railway
. This left an unused section between Vidalia and the east end of the Georgia Southwestern at Rochelle. In 1994, the GSWR abandoned the segment between Rochelle and Rhine. In 1995, the Georgia DOT purchased the 51 miles (82.1 km) route from Vidalia to Rhine for $1.73 million and in 1996, the previously abandoned Rochelle - Rhine route was acquired for $702,500. Georgia Southwestern approached the GDOT about reviving the route. The first stage of repair work was carried out in 1998, and the inaugural train ran on January 9, 1999.
had been operating its route from Smithville, Georgia
through Eufaula, Alabama
to White Oak, Alabama since June 1, 1989 under the Thoroughbred Shortline Program
. This South Carolina Central division crossed the Georgia Southwestern at Cuthbert. In 1995 the Georgia & Alabama was merged into the Georgia Southwestern.
In 2006 the Georgia Southwestern purchased from Norfolk Southern the entire 79 miles (127.1 km) of track from Smithville to White Oak that had been leased up until that point. The following year the GSWR abandoned the 4.54 miles (7.3 km) from Eufaula to White Oak.
, operated from Dawson, Georgia to Albany, 22 miles (35.4 km). CSX sold the line to the SCC on December 14, 1990. The GGS ceased operations in 1994. In 1995 trackage rights over Norfolk Southern into Albany made this line excess, as a result part of it was abandoned between Albany and Sasser
and the remainder was merged into the Georgia Southwestern.
The 2002 purchase of the remaining line from Dawson to Sasser by the Georgia DOT was included with the sale of the Cuthbert - Bainbridge as well as the Columbus - Cusseta routes.
. The fledgling railroad was reorganized as the Columbus and Rome Railroad in 1874 after laying only 20 miles (32.2 km) of track. Further expansion brought the railroad to Greenville
in 1885. A few years later the railroad was absorbed by the Savannah and Western Railroad
, a subsidiary of the Central of Georgia Railroad and formerly merged into the CofG network in 1895.
In 2005 the Georgia Southwestern sought to purchase 43 miles (69.2 km) of track from Norfolk Southern between a point north of Columbus to Allie (known as the "R" line), along with an additional 12.2 miles (19.6 km) of trackage rights to the GSWR yard in Columbus.
The line was abandoned in 2007.
was sold to RailAmerica
effective February 4, 2000. Additional ownership change came in 2002 as RailAmerica passed the railroad to local interests concurrent with the sale of several lines to the Georgia DOT, with the now independent Georgia Southwestern remaining as operator. Traffic on the GSWR grew from 8,600 carloads in 2002 to 13,000 in 2007.
In 2008, the Georgia Southwestern network consisted of the Ochille - Americus line, the Smithville - Eufaula route, and operation on behalf of the Georgia DOT between Dawson - Sasser, Columbus - Cusseta, and Cuthbert - Bainbridge. Additionally trackage rights remained over Norfolk Southern between BV&E Junction near Americus south to Albany and over CSX between Bainbridge and Saffold.
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...
short line railroad company that operates over 234 miles (376.6 km) of track in southwestern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and southeastern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Beginning in 1989 as a division of the South Carolina Central Railroad
South Carolina Central Railroad
The South Carolina Central Railroad is a class III railroad that operates over on two separate track segments in South Carolina. Originally a RailTex subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000.Primary commodities include...
on a pair of former CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
lines, the railroad has since undergone a number of transformations through abandonments and acquisitions before arriving at its current form. The railroad was formerly a RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
property before going independent, and in 2008 it was acquired by Genesee & Wyoming Inc.
Traffic includes chemicals, clay, grain, peanuts, plastics, stone, and wood, generating around 13,000 annual carloads.
History
Upon its creation in 1989 as a division of the South Carolina Central RailroadSouth Carolina Central Railroad
The South Carolina Central Railroad is a class III railroad that operates over on two separate track segments in South Carolina. Originally a RailTex subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000.Primary commodities include...
the Georgia Southwestern railroad operated over two lines making junction at Richland
Richland, Georgia
Richland is a city in Stewart County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,794 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richland is located at ....
. The first ran 130.7 miles (210.3 km) from Rhine
Rhine, Georgia
Rhine is a town in Dodge County, Georgia, United States. The population was 422 at the 2000 census.- History :The town of Rhine is situated near the Ocmulgee River, about fifteen miles south of Eastman. It was about the year 1886 that the Seaboard Airline Railroad was built through that section of...
west through Richland and Omaha, Georgia
Omaha, Georgia
Omaha is an unincorporated community in Stewart County, Georgia, United States.-Geography:Omaha is located in the northwest corner of Stewart County near the juncture of the Chattahoochee River and Hannahatchee Creek....
before crossing over the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
and terminating at Mahrt, Alabama. A second line originated at Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
and traveled south through Cusseta
Cusseta, Georgia
Cusseta-Chattahoochee County is unified city-county in Georgia, United States. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,196 at the 2000 Census..-History:...
and Richland before ending at Bainbridge, Georgia
Bainbridge, Georgia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,722 people, 4,444 households, and 3,013 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6/km² . There were 5,051 housing units at an average density of 285.2 per square mile...
, 127.9 miles (205.8 km). Both routes were sold by CSX on July 5, 1989.
Original System
The original network consisted of only two lines (described below) containing 258.6 miles (416.2 km) of track. Commodities included forest products, aggregates, chemicals, fertilizer, peanuts, and paper, generating about 9,000 annual carloads. The railroad maintained its headquarters at Americus.Rhine - Mahrt
The east-west route from Rhine to Mahrt was built in different segments over a period of several years. The Americus, Preston & Lumpkin was started in 1884 and connected its namesake cities by 1887. Also in 1887 further extension brought the terminus of the railroad further east to AbbevilleAbbeville, Georgia
Abbeville is a city in Wilcox County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,908 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wilcox County.- History :...
, and in 1888 the railroad became the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery. The railroad continued to grow in 1890, reaching Lyons
Lyons, Georgia
Lyons is a city in Toombs County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,169 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Toombs County.Lyons is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
in the east, as well as the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
and eventually Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
to the west. In 1895, the SA&M was reorganized under the Georgia & Alabama and in 1900 the railroad once again changed hands into the Seaboard Air Line
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
.
Through a number of mergers the line eventually came under the ownership of the 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...
in 1983, which abandoned the line between Montgomery and Mahrt on April 20, 1986. The remaining line from Mahrt to Rhine, Georgia
Rhine, Georgia
Rhine is a town in Dodge County, Georgia, United States. The population was 422 at the 2000 census.- History :The town of Rhine is situated near the Ocmulgee River, about fifteen miles south of Eastman. It was about the year 1886 that the Seaboard Airline Railroad was built through that section of...
was sold to the Georgia Southwestern by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
in 1989. After operations on the line from Preston to Mahrt ended in 1999 the state of Georgia acquired the segment and sought a new operator for the line. On May 22, 2000 the state purchased the remaining portion of the line not already under their ownership between Omaha and the end of the line across the river in Mahrt as well as an additional 71.13 miles (114.5 km) between Rochelle and Preston retained by the Georgia Southwestern.
The Heart of Georgia
Heart of Georgia Railroad
The Heart of Georgia Railroad is a shortline railroad created in 1999 to lease and operate of track owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation between Mahrt, Alabama and Vidalia, Georgia. The railroad has since expanded to include more than of track, reaching as far as Midville, Georgia...
took over operations of the line from the Georgia Southwestern in 2000 and still operates from Rhine to Preston, with the segment between Preston and Mahrt out of service.
Columbus - Bainbridge
A second line out of Columbus to Bainbridge was originally built by two separate railroads. The first began out of Columbus and was constructed by the Chattahoochee Brick Company and known as the Columbus Southern RailwayColumbus Southern Railway
The Columbus Southern Railway is a historic railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Georgia.It was originally chartered in 1885 as the Columbus and Florida Railway. The Columbus Southern Railway was created in 1886 after the C&F's charter was amended...
when it opened its line to Albany, Georgia
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...
in 1890. The railroad was absorbed by the Georgia & Alabama Railway in 1896 and later merged into the Seaboard Air Line in 1902. The second portion of the line was built by the Georgia Pine Railway (Georgia, Florida & Alabama after 1901) - and made junction with the Seaboard Air Line at Richland in 1910. In January of 1928 the SAL leased the GF&A, creating a shortcut for trains destined for Florida.
The Seaboard Air Line was later merged into the Seaboard Coast Line
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad
The Seaboard Coast Line Railroad was a former Class I railroad company operating in the Southeastern United States beginning in 1967. Its passenger operations were taken over by Amtrak in 1971...
in 1967, and the SCL became the Seaboard System in 1983. CSX sold the line from Columbus to Lynn to the Georgia Southwestern in 1989 concurrently with the sale of the Rhine - Mahrt route. Initially the GSWR exercised trackage rights over CSX to reach Bainbridge, including additional rights to Saffold, Georgia to interchange with the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad is a class III railroad located in southern Georgia.It connects Cedar Springs, Hilton and Saffold over a 15 mile route, interconnecting with CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern....
.
1995 brought numerous changes to the Georgia Southwestern network and the portion of the route from Cusseta and Cuthbert became redundant and was subsequently abandoned in that year, with the rails being removed in September 1997. Rails remained in place from Columbus to Cusseta in order to serve a large pulpwood yard near the latter.
In 2002 the Georgia DOT
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
acquired the remaining disconnected segments of the Columbus - Bainbridge line between Columbus and Cusseta as well as Cuthbert to Bainbridge. The Georgia Southwestern remained as the operator of the line.
Expansion and Mergers
In the mid-90s the Georgia Southwestern experienced a number of changes. Among them was the acquisition of Norfolk SouthernNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
tracks between Columbus and Americus as well as trackage rights over NS to Albany. Additionally two sister South Carolina Central Railroad divisions operating nearby were merged into the Georgia Southwestern during the same period.
Rochelle - Vidalia
In 1990, CSX sold the remaining section of its original Savannah - Montgomery route between SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
and Vidalia
Vidalia, Georgia
Vidalia, is a city in Toombs and very slightly into Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,491. It is the largest city in Toombs, but is not the county seat...
to Georgia Central Railway
Georgia Central Railway
The Georgia Central Railway operates about of track from Macon, Georgia through Dublin, Georgia and Vidalia, Georgia to Savannah, Georgia. It also operates about of trackage between Savannah and Riceboro, Georgia, switching Interstate Paper LLC. It connects with CSX Transportation and the...
. This left an unused section between Vidalia and the east end of the Georgia Southwestern at Rochelle. In 1994, the GSWR abandoned the segment between Rochelle and Rhine. In 1995, the Georgia DOT purchased the 51 miles (82.1 km) route from Vidalia to Rhine for $1.73 million and in 1996, the previously abandoned Rochelle - Rhine route was acquired for $702,500. Georgia Southwestern approached the GDOT about reviving the route. The first stage of repair work was carried out in 1998, and the inaugural train ran on January 9, 1999.
Georgia & Alabama Division
The Georgia & AlabamaGeorgia and Alabama Railroad
The Georgia and Alabama Railway was formed in 1895 from the failed Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway. The G&A expanded rapidly, acquiring the Abbeville and Waycross Railroad and building it further South to Ocilla, GA, obtaining a lease from the Central of Georgia Railroad for trackage...
had been operating its route from Smithville, Georgia
Smithville, Georgia
Smithville is a city in Lee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 774 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Smithville is located at ....
through Eufaula, Alabama
Eufaula, Alabama
Eufaula is a city in Barbour County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 13,908.-Geography:Eufaula is located at 31°53'21.732" North, 85°9'13.586" West ....
to White Oak, Alabama since June 1, 1989 under the Thoroughbred Shortline Program
Thoroughbred Shortline Program
The Thoroughbred Shortline Program was a system of shortline creation devised by Norfolk Southern in the late 1980s. It involved an alternative to the typical practice of a Class I railroad selling rail lines outright to shortlines in the post-Staggers Act era...
. This South Carolina Central division crossed the Georgia Southwestern at Cuthbert. In 1995 the Georgia & Alabama was merged into the Georgia Southwestern.
In 2006 the Georgia Southwestern purchased from Norfolk Southern the entire 79 miles (127.1 km) of track from Smithville to White Oak that had been leased up until that point. The following year the GSWR abandoned the 4.54 miles (7.3 km) from Eufaula to White Oak.
Georgia Great Southern Division
Another South Carolina Central division, the Georgia Great Southern RailroadGeorgia Great Southern Railroad
The Georgia Great Southern Railroad was a shortline railroad formerly operating between Dawson and Albany, Georgia, . The railroad was partially abandoned in 1994...
, operated from Dawson, Georgia to Albany, 22 miles (35.4 km). CSX sold the line to the SCC on December 14, 1990. The GGS ceased operations in 1994. In 1995 trackage rights over Norfolk Southern into Albany made this line excess, as a result part of it was abandoned between Albany and Sasser
Sasser, Georgia
Sasser is a town in Terrell County, Georgia, United States. The population was 393 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Albany, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sasser is located at ....
and the remainder was merged into the Georgia Southwestern.
The 2002 purchase of the remaining line from Dawson to Sasser by the Georgia DOT was included with the sale of the Cuthbert - Bainbridge as well as the Columbus - Cusseta routes.
Ochille - Americus
Norfolk Southern suffered from a pair of large tropic storms in the mid-90s, losing services over the Ochille - Americus "O" line. After restoring the railroad to operating conditions NS chose to mothball the line, as the two through freight trains that regularly operated over the line had been re-routed. In August of 1995, the Georgia Southwestern purchased the former Central of Georgia line and acquired trackage rights from BV&E Junction (Americus) to Albany in order to access the rest of the GSWR network in Smithville.Further Expansion
Only one additional acquisition was made by the Georgia Southwestern, which was the line from a quarry north of Columbus to Allie purchased from Norfolk Southern in 2005. The GSWR built a new locomotive shop at Dawson, and moved its offices from Smithville to Sasser during the same period.Columbus - Greenville
Originally started in 1871 by the North and South Railroad of Georgia, the line was constructed out of Columbus towards RomeRome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
. The fledgling railroad was reorganized as the Columbus and Rome Railroad in 1874 after laying only 20 miles (32.2 km) of track. Further expansion brought the railroad to Greenville
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Meriwether County. southwest of Atlanta...
in 1885. A few years later the railroad was absorbed by the Savannah and Western Railroad
Savannah and Western Railroad
The Savannah and Western Railroad is a historic railroad that was located in Georgia.The S&W was incorporated in 1885, and acquired property in 1888 through a consolidation of seven different railroads owned by the Central Railroad and Banking Company of Georgia...
, a subsidiary of the Central of Georgia Railroad and formerly merged into the CofG network in 1895.
In 2005 the Georgia Southwestern sought to purchase 43 miles (69.2 km) of track from Norfolk Southern between a point north of Columbus to Allie (known as the "R" line), along with an additional 12.2 miles (19.6 km) of trackage rights to the GSWR yard in Columbus.
The line was abandoned in 2007.
Georgia Southwestern Goes Independent
GSWR parent company RailTexRailTex
RailTex was a transportation holding company that specialized in owning and operating short line railroads across North America.Based in San Antonio, Texas, the public company was a leader in making unprofitable lines shed by Class I railroads into viable transportation routes.The company was sold...
was sold to RailAmerica
RailAmerica
RailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
effective February 4, 2000. Additional ownership change came in 2002 as RailAmerica passed the railroad to local interests concurrent with the sale of several lines to the Georgia DOT, with the now independent Georgia Southwestern remaining as operator. Traffic on the GSWR grew from 8,600 carloads in 2002 to 13,000 in 2007.
In 2008, the Georgia Southwestern network consisted of the Ochille - Americus line, the Smithville - Eufaula route, and operation on behalf of the Georgia DOT between Dawson - Sasser, Columbus - Cusseta, and Cuthbert - Bainbridge. Additionally trackage rights remained over Norfolk Southern between BV&E Junction near Americus south to Albany and over CSX between Bainbridge and Saffold.