Savannah & Atlanta Railway

S&A diesel locomotive No. 2715

The 142-mile Savannah and Atlanta ran from S&A Junction (between Camak and Warrrenton) to Savannah. It was incorporated by the Imbrie Company on December 8, 1915 to build a rail connection between the Georgia Railroad and the Savannah and Northwestern Railway.

Poors’ 1923 Manual took note of the importance of this link: “Its completion makes a direct and by 28 miles the shortest route between Atlanta and Savannah. Over this line the Georgia RR obtains its only entrance to Savannah. Road was completed in August, 1916, and was originally operated by the Savannah and Northwestern Ry. under a traffic agreement. In July, 1917, however, the Savannah and Atlanta Ry... absorbed theS&A logo Savannah and Northwestern Ry.”

The line entered receivership in 1921 and was sold in 1929 to Robert M. Nelson. The Central of Georgia bought it from Nelson in 1951 for $3,500,000.

In 1962, the Central abandoned the middle section of the line between Waynesboro and Sylvania. The Warrenton-Waynesboro and Shawnee-Savannah sections are currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway and the Sylvania-Shawnee section is operated by the Ogeechee Railway.

1951 map (76K)

1968 map (64K)

S&A steam locomotive No. 750

Savannah & Atlanta no. 750 is on display at the Southeastern Railroad Museum in Duluth.

 Old Savannah & Atlanta Railway bridge near Sylvania

Old Savannah & Atlanta Railway bridge near Sylvania.

(Top photo: S&A diesel locomotive No. 2715 on display at Savannah's Roundhouse Railroad Museum, June 2006.)


Georgia's Railroad History & Heritage. Copyright, Steve Storey.

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