Spring Meeting Scheduled for April 20–21, 2018, in Dublin, Ga.

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The spring meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 20–21, 2018, in Dublin, Ga. Our meeting will include an archive work session during the day on Friday, a presentation on Friday night, and a bus tour on Saturday that will include the Sandersville Railroad shops and facilities at Sandersville, and other CofGa-related sites in the Dublin area.

On Friday morning, we’ll have an archive work session in the meeting room at the Hampton Inn in Dublin, Ga., starting at 9:00 a.m. Current plans are to continue the process of cleaning, sorting, and organizing the Society’s equipment drawings. (Members are encouraged to stop by anytime during the day.)

We’ll have a presentation in the meeting room Friday night, with tentative plans to begin at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday morning, we’ll depart the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for a tour of the shops and facilities of the Sandersville Railroad in Sandersville, Ga., their interchange with the CofGa at Tennille, Ga., and several other CofGa-related sites in the Dublin area. The bus should return to the motel around 4:00 p.m.

There are no activities scheduled for Saturday night.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn, 103 Travel Center Blvd., Dublin, GA 31021. Reservations may be made by calling the motel at 478-246-6055 and mentioning “Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society” meeting. You can also reserve online at www.hamptoninn.com and use the group code “CGR” or by using this link. (Set arrival departure dates as needed.) The group rate is $119.00 per night and includes breakfast and free high-speed internet. The group rate is valid through April 16, 2018. Rooms are available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Registration for the weekend’s events is $35 per person or $60 per couple. To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names for name tags), along with a check or money order (payable to CGRHS) to secretary/treasurer Graham Dean (address is in the meeting announcement mailed to members on March 21). Registration can also be made here using PayPal. Early registration is highly recommended!

If you have questions, please contact Society president Allen Tuten (allen@cofga.org).

(We apologize for the late notice regarding the spring meeting. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our original plans to meet in a different city in May had to be changed. Other issues have delayed publication of the next issue of The Right Way. However, we hope to mail that issue in early April.)

Fall Meeting Scheduled for October 13–14, 2017, in Savannah, Ga.

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The fall membership meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Friday–Saturday, October 13–14, 2017, in Savannah, Ga. Our meeting will include a tour of the Georgia Ports Authority on Friday afternoon, a membership meeting (including board elections) Friday night, and activities all day Saturday.

At 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, we’ll depart the Holiday Inn Express (see address below) by bus for a tour of the Georgia Ports Authority. (Note: You must register in advance for this tour. A photo ID is required for entrance to the Ports). We should return to the motel around 5:30 p.m. (Note that due to the Ports tour, we will not have an archive work session.)

At 6:45 p.m. Friday night, we’ll have the annual meeting of the Society’s Board of Directors in the meeting room at the motel. Members are welcomed to attend, although the meeting is for discussion of various Society administrative business. At 7:30 p.m., we’ll have our annual business meeting, which will include elections for Board of Directors. Following the business meeting, CGRHS member Thomas Bordeaux will give a presentation on the history of the CofGa’s Tybee Branch. (Our bus tour on Saturday will include visits to some portions of the Tybee Branch.)

On Saturday, we’ll depart the Holiday Inn Express around 8:45 a.m. for a bus tour to various CofGa sites. At 10:00 a.m., we’ll depart via charter boat from the Bull River Marina for a unique trip to see the remaining trestle pilings from the CofGa’s Tybee Branch crossing of St. Augustine Creek. We’ll also follow the abandoned Tybee roadbed along the South Channel of the Savannah River, returning to the marina around noon. (Note: Due to the number of seats available on the boat, early registration is highly recommended.)

After lunch, we’ll visit the Georgia State Railroad Museum to see the restoration work being done on the Society’s 1925 CofGa flat car. Members will also have an opportunity to see the Museum’s other CofGa equipment. After leaving the Museum, we’ll visit several other CofGa sites in the Savannah area and should return to the motel around 4:00 p.m. (Note that the exact itinerary is subject to change.) There will not be any activities Saturday night. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express, 7210 Georgia Highway 21, Port Wentworth, GA 31407 (912-964-8900). The group rate is $99.00 per night. Please be sure to mention that you are with the “Central GA Railway Historical Society” when calling to make reservations. The cut-off date for that rate is September 28, 2017. (Rooms are available Thursday night through Saturday night.)

Registration for the weekend’s events is $35 per person (or $55 per couple). To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names for name tags) to Society Secretary/Treasurer Eddie Shaw (see address in the last issue of The Right Way). Payment can be made by check or money order payable to CGRHS. Registration can also be made here using PayPal. Early registration is highly recommended!

More specific details will be posted as available.

Spring Meeting Scheduled for April 21–22, 2017, in Statesboro, Ga.

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Update (3/16/2017): We’ve added several rooms to our block at the Holiday Inn for Thursday night.

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The spring meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 21–22, 2017, in Statesboro, Ga. Our meeting will include an archive work session on Friday, a presentation on Friday night, and a bus tour of various CofGa related sites in Statesboro, Sylvania, and Rocky Ford on Saturday.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning, we’ll have an archive work session in the Dogwood meeting room at the Holiday Inn Statesboro (See motel information below). Our current plans are to continue the process of sorting and organizing the Society’s equipment drawings that was begun at our October meeting. We still have a great deal of work to do to sort and organize our collection, and members are encouraged to stop by anytime during the day to help!

At 7:00 p.m. Friday evening, we’ll have a presentation in the hotel’s meeting room on the railroads in the Statesboro area. We’ll also have a brief overview of some of the sites we’ll see during our bus tour on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, we’ll depart the hotel at 9:00 a.m. for a bus tour of several Central of Georgia sites in the Statesboro area. We’ll then travel to Sylvania to see the remaining trackage of the Sylvania Central and the Savannah & Atlanta Railway in the industrial area near downtown, currently operated by a shortline railroad. (Editor’s note: See the article “The Sylvania Central’s Trackage at Sylvania, Ga.” in the January–March 2015 issue [Vol. 19, No. 1] of The Right Way.)

Next, we’ll follow the long-abandoned route of the Sylvania Central west from Sylvania to Rocky Ford, where it connected with the Central of Georgia’s Savannah–Macon mainline (now operated by Norfolk Southern). At Rocky Ford, we’ll visit the site of the CofGa depot, see the remaining brick warehouse and other historic buildings, and trace roadbed of both the Sylvania Central and Foy’s Tram (a private railroad that connected to the CofGa at Rocky Ford via a wye). The bus should return to the hotel by 4:00 p.m.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Statesboro, 455 Commerce Drive, Statesboro, GA 30461. The group rate is $119 per night. Reservations can be made by contacting the motel at (912) 489-4545 and asking for the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society block (code: CGR). Rooms may also be reserved online at www.holidayinn.com (code: CGR) or by using this link. The cut-off date for the block is March 21, 2017. Rooms are available for Friday and Saturday nights. (Update: We’ve added several rooms to our block at the Holiday Inn for Thursday night.)

Registration for the weekend’s events is $30 per person or $50 per couple. To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names for nametags), along with a check or money order (payable to CGRHS) to secretary/treasurer Eddie Shaw at the address in the last issue of The Right Way. Registrations can also be made here. Early registration is highly recommended!

Additional information will be posted as available on the Society’s web site at www.cofga.org.

Fall Meeting Scheduled for September 30–October 1, 2016, in Macon, Ga.

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The fall meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September 30–October 1, 2016, in Macon, Ga. Our meeting will include an archive work session on Friday, our annual business meeting (including elections for Board of Directors) on Friday night, and a tour of various (CofGa and other) railroad-related sites on Saturday. Part of the meeting will include activities noting the 100th anniversary of the opening of Macon Terminal Station in 1916.

On Friday morning, we’ll have an archive work session in the meeting room at the Wingate By Wyndham Hotel, starting at 9:00 a.m. Current plans are to begin the process of sorting and organizing the Society’s equipment drawings. (Members are encouraged to stop by anytime during the day.) Around 4:00, we’ll have a Society Board of Directors meeting, followed by a break for supper.

Our business meeting will begin at 7:00 on Friday evening. We will have elections for Board of Directors. Following the election and the discussion of any Society business, we will have a presentation by Lee Dunn, author of a recent book on John F. Hanson, Chairman of the Board and President of the Central of Georgia from 1900 to 1910. Copies of her book will be available at the meeting.

On Saturday morning, we’ll depart the hotel at 9:00 a.m. for a bus tour of several Macon area railroad sites, including a visit to see CofGa 2-8-0 No. 509 in Central City Park and a tour of Brosnan Yard. We will also tour Macon Terminal Station, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The bus should return to the motel around 4:00 p.m.

At 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, we’ll have a round-table discussion with several former CofGa employees in the hotel meeting room.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Wingate By Wyndham Hotel, 100 Northcrest Boulevard, Macon, GA 31210. Reservations may be made by calling the motel direct at 478-476-8100. The group rate is $89.00 per night. Please mention the “Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society” meeting when making reservations. The group rate is valid through September 25, 2016.

Registration for the weekend’s events is $30 per person or $50 per couple. To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names), along with a check or money order (payable to CGRHS) to secretary/treasurer Eddie Shaw (address in recent issues of The Right Way). Registration can also be made here using PayPal. Early registration is highly recommended!

Additional information will be posted as available.

Spring Meeting Scheduled

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The Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., will hold an archive work session in Bremen, Georgia, on Friday–Saturday, April 22–23, 2016, for our spring meeting. We will be cleaning and organizing maps and drawings from the Society’s collection.

The work sessions will be held at Millers Academy Christian Church, 1855 Millers Academy Road, Bremen, Georgia 30110. The church is located 2.2 miles off of Exit 11 on I-20. From I-20, travel south on Hwy 27 for 0.4 miles, making a left turn on Holly Springs Drive (BP Station). At the end of the road, make a right on Holly Springs Road, and then take the first left onto Lovvorn Farm Road (no sign but you’ll immediately cross the CofGa Railway).The church is located at the end of the road.

The sessions will start both days at 9:00 a.m. and finish Friday at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Additionally, we’ll have a CofGa presentation at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the church (subject tba). This is an informal session so registration is not required—you can work the whole time or just show up and work for a few hours. All members are encouraged to attend as possible. However, we do ask members to notify us by e-mail if they are planning to attend.

There are three hotels in Bremen: Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, and Quality Inn & Suites.

(Postcard announcements were mailed to current members in mid-March.)

Steam Excursions Planned Over Former CofGa Trackage

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As part of the Norfolk Southern 21st Century Steam Program, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum will be operating several excursions over former Central of Georgia trackage between Macon, Ga., and Tennille, Ga., on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 & 27.  The Nancy Hanks Special  will be pulled by Southern Railway 2-8-2 No. 4501 with diesel assistance over the Savannah District of Norfolk Southern’s Georgia Division main line (former Central of Georgia Railway) on a 112-mile round trip.  The train will turn on the wye track in Tennille prior to the return trip. Passengers will remain on the train until it returns to Macon. Departure location will be the Macon Terminal Station (now owned by the Macon Transit Authority.) The station is located at 600 5th Street in Macon (free parking is available in lots in the immediate area). Departure times from Macon are 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., returning around 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. respectively.  A commissary car will be included on the train selling snacks, soft drinks, and light food items.  A gift shop will also be featured on board for those wishing to purchase souvenir items.

For more information, or to buy tickets, visit: http://www.tvrail.com/events-exhibits/rides/21st-century-steam

Spring 2015 Meeting, May 1–2, 2015, in Columbus, Ga.

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The spring membership meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., was held Friday–Saturday, May 1–2, 2015, in Columbus, Ga.

A report fill follow later.

Flat Car Work Session Scheduled for Saturday, November 29, 2014

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The next work session on the Society’s 1925 Central of Georgia flat car is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., Saturday, November 29, 2014, at the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah, Ga. Current plans are to complete the removal of accumulated dirt and debris from the car.

By that time the trucks should be removed and the frame set on cribbing, allowing better access for cleaning and evaluation of necessary repairs.
Those planning to attend the work session are asked to contact Flat Car Project Manager Stephen Syfrett at ssyfrett@gmail.com.

We are still in need of substantial financial donations to complete the restoration of the car. Donations to date have only covered a portion of the cost of moving the car to Savannah.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Society (contact us here for more information).

Fall 2014 Meeting Held in Augusta, Ga.

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The fall meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., was held Friday and Saturday, October 10–11, 2014, in Augusta, Ga.

A report on the meeting will be posted soon!

 

 

 

 

Central of Georgia Railway Augusta, Ga., freight house (Photograph by Ben Roberts, Collection of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society)

Central of Georgia Railway Augusta, Ga., freight house (Photograph by Ben Roberts, Collection of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society)

 

 

Society Presents Program at Bloomingdale History Museum

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Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society President Allen Tuten presented a program at the Bloomingdale History Museum in Bloomingdale, Ga. (west of Savannah) on Sunday, October 12, 2014.

The program, entitled “The Central of Georgia Railway and Related Lines: Trackage, Facilities, and Industries in Savannah, Ga.,” covered the history of the CofGa and its impact on the Savannah area. A number of vintage photographs and maps from the Society’s collection were used, showing the various trackage, facilities, and industries on both the Central of Georgia and the Savannah & Atlanta Railway in Savannah.

Following the presentation, several attendees took an optional walking tour on the Bloomingdale Rail Trail to the site of the CofGa station. There were approximately 30 people in attendance.

The Central of Georgia's waterfront terminals at Savannah, Ga.

The Central of Georgia’s waterfront terminals at Savannah, Ga. (Collection of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society)