Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad

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Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad
Reporting mark ACRC
Locale Southeast Alabama
Dates of operation 1983–1987
Predecessor Southern
Successor Alabama and Florida
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length 8.7 miles (14.0 km)
Headquarters Gantt, Alabama

The Andalusia and Conecuh Railroad( reporting mark ACRC) was a shortline railroad formerly operating between Gantt and Andalusia, Alabama, United States 8.7 miles (14.0 km). It was largely abandoned in 1987, with the remainder leased to the Alabama and Florida Railway. [1] A portion of the railroad survives today as part of the Three Notch Railroad. [2]

Reporting mark alphabetic code ID used on the North American railroad network

A reporting mark is an alphabetic code of one to four letters used to identify owners or lessees of rolling stock and other equipment used on certain railroad networks.

A shortline railroad is a small or mid-sized railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance relative to larger, national railroad networks. The term is used primarily in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., railroads are categorized by operating revenue, and most shortline railroads fall into the Class III or Class II categorization defined by the Surface Transportation Board. Shortlines generally exist for one of three reasons: to link two industries requiring rail freight together ; to interchange revenue traffic with other, usually larger, railroads; or to operate a tourist passenger train service. Often, short lines exist for all three of these reasons.

Gantt, Alabama Town in Alabama, United States

Gantt is a town in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 222.

History

Originally constructed by the Mobile and Girard Railroad (later Central of Georgia) from Columbus to Searight by 1891, the line was eventually realigned near Gantt to connect with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at Andalusia, Alabama. The Central of Georgia became part of the Southern Railway in 1963, and the Southern Railway became part of the Norfolk Southern Railway in 1990. [1]

Mobile and Girard Railroad

The Mobile & Girard Railroad was an Alabama railroad which was constructed in the mid-19th century; a portion of the line continues in operation under different ownership. The 26-mile (42 km) line was constructed with a track gauge of 5 ft.

Louisville and Nashville Railroad defunct American Class I railway

The Louisville and Nashville Railroad, commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.

Andalusia, Alabama City in Alabama, United States

Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 9,015.

Much of the former Mobile and Girard route was abandoned or sold throughout the 1980s, with the segment between Goshen and Gantt being abandoned on September 13, 1982. [3] The Andalusia & Conecuh railroad began operations in June 1983 and was owned by the Alabama Electric Cooperative. Traffic consisted of inbound coal for the power plant at Gantt as well as plastics and chemicals for a carpet mill near Andalusia. Interchange was made with the Seaboard System (later CSX) at Andalusia. The railroad rostered a single GE 80t locomotive. [4]

Goshen, Alabama Town in Alabama, United States

Goshen is a town in Pike County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 266, down from 300 in 2000. It incorporated in 1907.

Seaboard System Railroad defunct American Class I railway

The Seaboard System Railroad, Inc. was a short-lived former US Class I railroad that was created on December 29, 1982 after the consolidation of the Seaboard Coast Line and its sister railroads into a single entity. It was one of two operating companies of CSX Corporation, the other being Chessie System.

CSX Transportation railway system in the United States of America

CSX Transportation is a Class I railroad operating in the eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles (34,000 km) of track. The company operates as a subsidiary of CSX Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

The railroad was mostly abandoned on December 4, 1987, with approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) still in place near Andalusia operated by the Alabama & Florida railway. [5] In 2001 the Three Notch Railroad took control of the lease on the A&C railroad and began operating the line. [2]

Three Notch Railroad

The Three Notch Railroad runs from a connection with CSX Transportation at Georgiana to Andalusia, Alabama, 36 miles (58 km). This short line railroad was created in 2001 and is currently a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming.

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References

  1. 1 2 Lewis, Edward A. (1991). American Shortline Railway Guide (4 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. pp. 243, 300. ISBN   0-89024-109-0.
  2. 1 2 "STB Finance Docket No. 33981". 29 June 2001. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  3. ↑ "Alabama Rail Plan 2008" (PDF). December 2008. pp. Table 4–1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Lewis, Edward A. (1986). American Shortline Railway Guide (3 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 15. ISBN   0-89024-073-6.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide (5 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 354. ISBN   0-89024-290-9.
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