Summer 2001 Feature - Railfanning the Georgia Northeastern Railroad

Railfanning the Georgia Northeastern Railroad

The Georgia Northeastern Railroad operates an ex-Louisville & Nashville line from a connection with CSX at Elizabeth (Marietta), GA to Elijay, 66 miles. The GNRR also operates Georgia Marble Company's railroad at Tate and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad, a tourist line running between Blue Ridge and McCaysville. The line offers numerous photo locations in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains and the metro-Atlanta area, restored depots, and vintage diesels.

A Little History

The Elijay Railroad was chartered in 1854 to build a railroad from a connection with the Western and Atlantic at Marietta, GA north through Elijay to the copper mining region in southeast Tennessee. A lack of capital and the Civil War delayed construction until 1874. Operating as the Marietta and North Georgia, the narrow gauge line reached Canton in 1879, Elijay in 1884, and Murphy, NC in 1888. The road was converted to standard gauge in 1887. The M&NG connected with the Knoxville Southern, controlled by M&NG investors, just south of Apalachia, GA, in 1890. The Knoxville Southern was merged into the M&NG and operations were consolidated. In 1896 the M&NG was reorganized as the Atlanta, Knoxville, and Northern.

The Louisville & Nashville acquired the AK&N in 1902 to reach Atlanta, GA through a connection with the Western and Atlantic. The W&A was leased to the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, which in turn was controlled by the L&N. The difficulties associated with operating mainline trains over a former narrow gauge mountain railroad caused the L&N to build a new line into north Georgia, connecting with the Western and Atlantic at Cartersville, GA. After the completion of the line in 1906, the AK&N line was downgraded to a secondary route.

By the late 1970's the line was effectively operated as two branch lines. Sulphuric acid and related products were shipped north from Copperhill, TN, and marble and agricultural products were shipped south from Tate, Elijay and Canton. Very little traffic moved between Elijay and Blue Ridge. The Murphy branch was removed in 1982.

CSX sold the Elijay to Marietta portion of the road to the Georgia Northeastern in 1987. In 1990 the road was acquired by local interests. In 1998 the GNRR acquired and assumed operations of Georgia Marble's railroad, which services Imery/Georgia Marble plants at Tate and Marble Hill.

In 1998 the GNRR began operation of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad, a tourist line that runs between Blue Ridge and McCaysville.

Railfanning

The far south end of the GNRR operates through residential and industrial areas with heavy automobile traffic, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Photo locations are limited.

The Georgia Northeastern operates five days per week between Tate, GA and the CSX interchange at Elizabeth (Marietta). A local switch job services Marietta industries. GNRR also operates the Georgia Marble rail lines at Tate and Marble Hill, and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad at Blue Ridge, GA.

Elizabeth Yard/CSX Interchange. GNRR's Elizabeth Yard is located at the intersection of Marr Avenue and Loudermilk Drive, east of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The yard is not open to the public, but photo locations are available along Marr Avenue and the Loudermilk Drive/Marble Mill Road CSX/GNRR grade crossing. Offices are located in a former passenger car. GNRR services a pair of industries which border Elizabeth yard, Blue Circle Williams Brothers Concrete and Vinings Industries.

Marietta-Woodstock. The GNRR follows Canton Highway north to Woodstock, servicing a variety of industries, including Coca-Cola, Dow Chemicals, a second Vinings Industries facility, Plymart, and Leed's Lumber. The GNRR assigns a M-F job to service these industries and the Cobb-Marietta Industrial Park which boders I-75. Public photo locations are available in the area. Continue north on Canton Highway/Main Street into downtown Woodstock. You will pass the restored 1912 L&N Woodstock depot and ex-Southern Railway caboose on your right. The depot is used as a community meeting place and by Northwest Georgia N-Trak.

Woodstock-Canton. After passing ERB Plastics and an industrial park on the on the north side of Woodstock, the line leaves the highway to cross the Little River. The line reappears as it crosses under Canton Highway/Holly Springs Parkway in Lebanon, then runs along Palm Street into downtown Holly Springs, site of a beautifully restored depot. Continue north on Holly Springs Parkway/Canton Road past I-575 and turn right on Univeter Road until you reach the GNRR grade crossing. This is the site of a large ConAgra poultry processing plant. ConAgra uses a trackmobile to move freight cars. The railroad passes Venture Commodities as it enters Canton, then follows the Etowah River to the west and north of downtown Canton.

Canton-Tate. The railroad runs along the Etowah River east of GA Business Route 5, reappearing north of Keithsburg at Pryor Lumber. Continuing north, the line rounds a broad curve as it approaches the site of a Tyson feed mill which no longer receives rail service. The curve is one of the best photo locations on the line, offering an unobstructed view of northbound trains. The road continues north through picturesque Ball Ground, passing a team track north of downtown Ball Ground and J.M. Huber Aggregates along Business Route 5. At Nelson, the GNRR runs through a Georgia Marble facility that is no longer served by rail.

Tate-Marble Hill. Continuing into Tate, turn east on Georgia Highway 53. The GNRR facilities are located at Railroad Avenue. The yard is not open to the public, but the ex-L&N depot and enginehouse can be photographed from public roads along the south and east sides of the yard. A pair of ex-Georgia Marble switchers lay over at Tate, including one still in Georgia Marble paint. The ex-Georgia Marble Railroad's line leaves the mainline at Tate, providing service for three Imery/Georgia Marble facilities. Continue east on Georgia Highway 53 to Marble Hill. The Georgia Marble facilities are not open to the public, but photo locations are available along Highway 53.

Tate-Blue Ridge. The majority of GNRR's traffic moves between Tate and Marietta. An Imery/Georgia Marble facility at Jasper, log loading operation at Blue Ridge, and movement of motive power to the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad make up the bulk of traffic north of Tate. This portion of the GNRR is perhaps the most scenic portion of the line and will be included in a future edition of Features.

Other Georgia Northeastern Resources

Georgia Northeastern Railfan Club. Home to dedicated fans of the Georgia Northeastern. The club organizes excursions and exhanges photos, information, and modeling tips about the GNRR. Most comprehensive GNRR site on the Internet.

Berky's Georgia Railroading Website. Celebrating today's Georgia railroad scene - Georgia Northeastern photo gallery.

GNRR Corporate website

PeachStateRails's GNRR Photo Gallery

Matthew's Railfanning Picture Site. Shortline tourist/historic and Class I railroads in the Chattanooga, TN area and Southeast. Nice Georgia Northeastern gallery.