abbeville sub

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I live on Bogart Hill MP 511 "south" of Athens,GA. I grew up in Comer,GA (12-17-1950) watching freights and passenger trains on the SAL. It was always a thrill to see the Silver Comet come through town at it seemed like 90MPH in the middle of the night. We once picked up floor tile at the depot in Comer ordered from the SEARS catalog. I never got to ride the trains but I saw locals picking up the mail and passengers. When did the last regular steam run on the line? What is the general history of the line from Abbeville(Greenwood) to Atlanta? "PULLING FOR YOU". Jerry Coile

-- gerald coile (gerald.coile@gte.net), December 13, 1998

Answers

Briefly: The Georgia, Carolina & Northern (SAL) construction reached Abbeville in 1890. In 1891 track was laid from Savannah R. through Athens to Jackson's Creek, 95 miles. Track laid to within 2 miles of Atlanta by Feb. 1892. line opened to Atlanta on April 24, 1892 with 1st train. GC&N track stopped at Inman Park due to difficulties with GAR. Passengers had toridestreet car to town. A belt line from Inman Park to W&A at Wander was built between July & end of year. Sources: Abbeville Press & Banner newspaper & Railway Ages & the History of RRs in Greenwood County by Jim Wade. Any other info?

-- Conrad Cheatham (ccheatham@ureach.com), November 30, 1999.

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