Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway
| Company type | Railway company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Defunct | July 1, 1902 |
| Fate | Purchased by Georgia Southern and Florida Railway and Southern Railway |
| Headquarters | Valdosta , United States |
Area served | Georgia, Florida |
| Parent | Southern Railway (after 1902) |
Chartered in 1897, the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway operated a route connecting Valdosta, Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida, commonly referred to as the Jacksonville Short Line. The railway commenced service in July 1899, marked by an inaugural banquet held in Valdosta. By May 1902, the line was purchased by the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway along with its parent firm, Southern Railway, and was swiftly integrated into Southern's passenger network. Travel between Valdosta and Jacksonville was promoted as taking approximately three and a half hours. Control officially transferred to Southern on July 1, 1902.
In 1899, the company pursued entry to the Jacksonville Terminal Complex for its passenger trains. Although initially denied access by the terminal's proprietors, the Florida railroad commission ruled in favor of AV&W, awarding them terminal rights at a fee lower than that charged to other railroads. The Terminal Company challenged this decision legally; however, AV&W gained significant leverage by acquiring a 25% ownership stake in the Terminal Company. Consequently, the state supreme court dismissed the lawsuit in December 1900 due to AV&W’s stockholding, securing their full access to the terminal.
Before being sold, AV&W initiated an extension of its track from Valdosta toward Albany, Georgia, targeting further expansion to Moultrie, Georgia. This segment remains operational today as part of the Valdosta District under the Norfolk Southern Railway.
This overview underscores AV&W's key strategic initiatives including acquisition transactions, infrastructure development, and integration into the southeastern United States rail market.
Historic stations
| State | Milepost | City/Location | Station | Connections and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 151.2 G | Valdosta | Valdosta | junction with:
|
| 161.2 G | Blanton | Blanton | ||
| 165.0 G | Howell | Howell | ||
| 167.6 G | Mayday | |||
| 173.4 G | Haylow | junction with Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad Florida Division (ACL) | ||
| 176.9 G | Fruitland | Fruitland | ||
| 178.7 G | Thelma | |||
| 184.0 G | Craig Junction | |||
| 194.0 G | Calhoun | Calhoun | ||
| 185.6 G | Headlight | |||
| 190.0 G | Finlayson | |||
| 192.3 G | Colon | |||
| 194.0 G | Vickers Junction | |||
| 198.4 G | Fargo | Fargo | ||
| 199.0 G | Edith | Edith | ||
| 200.0 G | Duncan | |||
| 204.4 G | Council | Council | ||
| FL | 207.0 G | Morehead |