ACL ran 2 lines west out of Waycross. Waycross/Valdosta and Waycross/Albany (now only to Pearson, Ga.) Almost directly between these 2 lines was a third line called the Waycross & Western. Info I have shows the W&W running west 30-40 miles to Lakeland, Ga., NE of Valdosta. At Lakeland, a connection was made to the ACL to the south (at a place called Naylor) via the 'Lakeland Railway', which was once called the 'Milltown Airline Railway'. Can anyone shed any light on these old ghosts...when they quit, etc.?

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), September 12, 2001

Answers

The Milltown Air Line was an unincorporated railroad that was opened in March, 1904. It was owned primarily by the Milltown Lumber Company. Although it was used primarily by the lumber company for its purposes, the line was definitely a common carrier in that it reported to and filed tariffs with the Georgia Railroad Commission and exchanged passes with other common carriers.

It was purchased by the City of Lakeland (later name for Milltown) in 1927. When Mayor Ed Rivers (later govonor of Georgia) found out that the city would be responsible for taxes on the right of way, the city annexed the entire railroad all the way down to Naylor, giving the city map a somewhat unusual outline.

The railroad operated an assortment of unusual equipment, including a gas-mechanical locomotive named "Colonel Fred", and was abandoned in 1955.

Hope this helps.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), September 15, 2001.

My AB&C book has a couple of photos (p. 73) from 1928 and a bit of info on the W&W after it ceased being a common carrier - it was being used then as essentially a private line to haul pine stumps and naval stores for the Hercules Powder plant in Brunswick.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), September 14, 2001.

The Waycross & Western RR was incorporated February 12, 1912. and projected to run from Waycross west to Adel, Ga., 71.0 miles. The initial mileage was probably opened that same year. The company was reorganised on July 1, 1919, using the same name. By 1923 it had reached Cogdell, Ga., 21.0 miles. In 1923 they had one loco, one passenger car and two "freight" cars. All officers and headquarters were in Waycross. The line was abandoned in 1929.

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attgobal.net), September 12, 2001.