Georgia Southwestern Railroad Georgia Southwestern, which began operations in 1989, is a short line common carrier railroad with main offices in Dawson. It currently operates (1) former Central of Georgia tracks between Columbus and Greenville, Columbus and Americus, and Smithville and White Oak, Alabama; and (2) former Seaboard Air Line Railway tracks between Cuthbert and Bainbridge, and Dawson and Sasser. Previously owned by RailAmerica of Boca Raton, Florida, Georgia Southwestern was sold to local investors in March 2002. (RailAmerica had acquired the line when it purchased RailTex, Inc. in February of 2000.) As part of the sale, the Georgia Department of Transportation bought 102 miles of track and associated real estate, while the local investors purchased the capital stock and eight locomotives. Under RailAmerica ownership, Smithville-based Georgia Southwestern operated 288 miles of rail line including Columbus to Albany and Cuthbert to Bainbridge. Under RailTex, Georgia Southwestern operated 345 miles of track from White Oak, Alabama (northwest of Eufaula) to Smithville, Georgia; from Columbus to Bainbridge; from Rochelle to Mahrt, Alabama; and from Dawson to Albany. Its offices were at the time were in Americus. RailTex had two other Georgia subsidiaries, the Georgia and Alabama Railroad and the Georgia Great Southern Railroad. In 1995, it consolidated these into the Georgia Southwestern. In 1998, Georgia Southwestern leased from the Georgia Department of Transportation 67 miles of rail line between Vidalia and Rochelle. Part of this trackage had been previously owned and operated by the Georgia Central Railway. It is now operated by the Heart of Georgia Railroad. Note: A more detailed history of the Georgia Southwestern is available online at the railroad's website. Reporting marks: GSWR. Georgia Southwestern Railroad website.   Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey. Railroad History | The Depot List | Locomotives On Display | Odds & Ends | Sources & References | Home