Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad

Georgia Southern and Florida Railway

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Rail transport
Predecessor	Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad
Founded	1885
Fate	Acquired by Southern Railway; later absorbed by Norfolk Southern Railway
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Georgia, Florida
Products	Rail transport services
Parent	Norfolk Southern Railway

The Georgia Southern and Florida Railway, often referred to as the Suwanee River Route due to its crossing of the Suwanee River, was established in 1885 initially as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad. Service commenced between Macon, GA and Valdosta, GA in 1889, with an extension reaching Palatka, FL by 1890. Following a bankruptcy in 1891, the company reorganized in 1895 under the name Georgia Southern and Florida Railway and subsequently came under the ownership of the Southern Railway.

In 1902, the GS&F expanded by acquiring the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway, connecting Valdosta, GA to Jacksonville, FL. Additionally, it held ownership of the Macon and Birmingham Railway and the Hawkinsville and Florida Southern Railway, which were operated independently but eventually succumbed to bankruptcy. Later, GS&F was absorbed by the Norfolk Southern Railway and continues to function as a subsidiary. As of 2012, Norfolk Southern locomotives still display GSF reporting marks.

The segment south of Lake City, Florida was discontinued in the late 1980s; currently, part of this corridor is utilized by the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail. The remaining operational track is managed by Norfolk Southern and is identified as the Macon District (stretching from Macon to Valdosta) and the Navair District (running from Valdosta to Navair near Lake City).

Historic stations

111.9 G Eldorado, Georgia Eldorado 118.1 G Lenox, Georgia Lenox 123.0 G Laconte, Georgia Laconte 125.5 G Sparks, Georgia Sparks 127.7 G Adel, Georgia Adel 131.0 G Heartpine 134.2 G Cecil, Georgia Cecil 138.1 G Hahira, Georgia Hahira 144.3 G Mineola, Georgia Mineola 151.2 G Valdosta, Georgia Valdosta Interchange with:

• - (Savannah), Florida & Western Railroad (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)
• - Georgia and Florida Railroad (1926-1971) (Southern Railway)
• - (Atlantic Valdosta & Western Railway) (GSF/Southern Railway)
• - Valdosta Moultrie & Western Railroad

157.6 B  
(Dasher)(Georgia)  
 
Dasher  
 
  

163.4 B  
 
Lake Park  
 
Lake Park  
 
  

167.2 B  
 
Melrose  
 
  

170.7 B (Jennings)>

Jennings

State	Milepost	City/Location	Station	Connections and notes
GA	0.0 G	Macon	Terminal Station	Opened in 1916; served as junction with: East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway (SOU) Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad (SAL) Macon and Brunswick Railroad (ETV&G/SOU)
	0.9 G		Macon Junction	Connection point with Central of Georgia Railway
	1.3 G		Macon Yard
	4.4 G		Tamworth
	7.9 G		Sofkee	Interchange with Macon and Birmingham Railway (GSF)
	10.6 G	Avondale
	13.0 G	Elberta
	16.0 G	Warner Robins	Originally named Wellston
	21.3 G	Bonaire
	24.9 G	Kathleen
	29.0 G		Tivola
	30.9 G	Clinchfield
	34.9 G	Grovania
	38.4 G	Elko
	43.9 G	Unadilla
	48.8 G	Pinehurst
	51.7 G	Findlay
	56.2 G	Vienna
	59.5 G	Richwood
	64.5 G	Cordele, Georgia	Cordele	Interchange with: Waycross Air Line Railroad (Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad/Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway (Seaboard Air Line Railroad)
	69.2 G	Wenona, Georgia	Wenona
	74.4 G	Arabi, Georgia	Arabi
	77.5 G		Sibley
	79.2 G	Dakota, Georgia	Dakota
	81.5 G	Worth, Georgia	Worth	Interchange with Hawkinsville & Florida Southern Railway (GSF)
	84.8 G	Ashburn, Georgia	Ashburn
	87.4 G	Sycamore, Georgia	Sycamore
	91.6 G		Inaha
	95.3 G	Sunsweet, Georgia	Sunsweet
	98.1 G	Chula, Georgia	Chula
	105.2 G	Tifton, Georgia	Tifton	Junction with: - Tifton, Thomasville and Gulf Railway (Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad/Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) - Tifton and Northeastern Railroad (Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad/Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) - Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad (Atlantic Coast Line Railroad)
	- 176.1 B Avoca Avoca	- 182.2 B Jasper Jasper Junction with Savannah Florida & Western R.R., Florida Division (ACL)	- 192.8 B Genoa	- 196.3 B Facil	- 199.7 B White Springs White Springs	- 203.2 B Suwanee Valley	- 206 B Winfield	- 211 B Lake City Lake City station Interchange with Live Oak Tampa & Charlotte Harbor R.R., Lake City Branch (ACL); Florida Central & Peninsular R.R., Western Division (SAL)	- 212 B Watertown Junction Connection with Florida Central & Peninsular R.R., Western Division (SAL)	- 219 B Jefferson	- 222 B Lulu	- 227 B Guilford	- 229 B Cliftonville	- 232 B Lake Butler Lake Butler junction with Jacksonville & Southwestern R.R., ACL)	- 239 B New River	- 243 B Sampson City Interchange with Atlantic Suwannee River & Gulf R.R., SAL; Gainesville & Gulf R.R., SAL)	- 249 B Hampton Junction with Florida Central & Peninsular R.R., Southern Division (SAL)	- 253 B Theressa	- 257 B Brooklyn	- 258 B Keystone Heights	- 259 B Lake Geneva	- 264 B Putnam Hall	- 267 B Grandin	- 269 B Florahome	- 273 B Baywood	- 275 B Carraway	- 278 B Woodburn	- 280 B Springside	- 285 B Palatka station relocated to union depot in 1908; connection point for Florida Southern R.R., Jacksonville Tampa & Key West R.R., Florida East Coast R.R., Ocklawaha Valley R.R.

See also

• Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail

External links

• "Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad," Railga.com
• Description of the abandoned Florida section, provided by Abandoned Rails