Sardis Depot The former Savannah & Atlanta Railway depot at Sardis is now the town's city hall and police station. Next to the depot is this impressive coaling tower which was used to load coal into the tenders of steam locomotives. For examples of other such towers in Georgia, see the coaling towers page. Sardis is a town of 1,200 in Burke County, about 40 miles southeast of Augusta.   Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home