Cordele in Crisp County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2021
1. Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad Marker
Inscription.
Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad. . Chartered in 1885, the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad built a rail line from Macon, Georgia, to Palatka, Florida, over a distance of 285 miles. It was opened between Macon and Valdosta in February 1889 and was completed to Palatka in March of the following year. The company quickly encountered financial trouble, entering receivership in 1891; President W.B. Sparks of Macon was appointed receiver. In 1895 it was reorganized as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway under the control of the Southern Railway. In the 1894 edition of The Official Railway List, the GS&F reported operating 382 miles with 34 locomotives, 25 passenger cars, and 1,445 freight and miscellaneous cars.
Chartered in 1885, the Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad built a rail line from Macon, Georgia, to Palatka, Florida, over a distance of 285 miles. It was opened between Macon and Valdosta in February 1889 and was completed to Palatka in March of the following year. The company quickly encountered financial trouble, entering receivership in 1891; President W.B. Sparks of Macon was appointed receiver. In 1895 it was reorganized as the Georgia Southern & Florida Railway under the control of the Southern Railway. In the 1894 edition of The Official Railway List, the GS&F reported operating 382 miles with 34 locomotives, 25 passenger cars, and 1,445 freight and miscellaneous cars.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 31° 58.201′ N, 83° 47.02′ W. Marker is in Cordele, Georgia, in Crisp County. Marker can be reached from Wall Street West west of 7th Street North (U.S. 41), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in Cordele Railway Park, overlooking multiple active railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 106 Wall Street West, Cordele GA 31015, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Cordele Railway Park
Also see . . . Georgia Southern and Florida Railway (Wikipedia). The Georgia Southern and Florida Railway (reporting mark GSF), also known as the Suwanee River Route from its crossing of the Suwanee River, was founded in 1885 as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad. In 1902, the GS&F purchased the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway that ran from Valdosta, GA to Jacksonville, FL. The GS&F also owned the Macon and Birmingham Railway and the Hawkinsville and Florida Southern Railway,
State Archives of Florida
2. Marker detail: GS &F № 117 at Valdosta in 1911
Built by Baldwin in 1900.
both of which were operated as separate companies; both ended up going bankrupt and being mostly abandoned. The GS&F was eventually acquired by the Norfolk Southern Railway and still operates as a subsidiary. As of November 2012, at least one operating Norfolk Southern locomotive retains GSF reporting marks. (Submitted on May 31, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2021
3. Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad Marker
(active railroad track in background)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2021
4. Cordele Railway Park
(looking north from Wall Street West • marker and passing freight train visible in background)
Cordele Railway Park has an observation platform, parking area, and a large green space. Historic markers detailing the railroad history of Cordele overlook the tracks. Cordele has a rare type of switch called an interlocking or “Diamond” switch where CSX, Norfolk Southern and Heart of Georgia mainlines all cross one another at one location. This is an excellent place for railroad fans to watch trains.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 31, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 4. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
