Cordele in Crisp County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Atlantic & Birmingham Railway

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2021

1. Atlantic & Birmingham Railway Marker

Inscription. The A&B was originally chartered on October 24, 1887 as the Waycross Air Line Railroad. Its first section of track, a 25-mile stretch from Waycross to Sessoms, opened in 1890. The line was extended to Nicholls in 1897, to Douglas in 1900, and to Fitzgerald in 1901. In November of 1901, the railroad's charter was amended to authorize an extension to Birmingham and to change the name to Atlantic & Birmingham Railroad. The first section of line under the enlarged charter powers was completed between Fitzgerald and Cordele on May 25, 1902. Cordele to Montezuma, 31 miles, was put into operation in March, 1903, and surveys were being pushed from Montezuma to Birmingham in that same year (Poors 1903 and 1905 Manuals). In 1903 the A&B purchased the Tifton & Northeastern Railroad and the Tifton, Thomasville & Gulf Railway. These were merged into the parent company, which was renamed the Atlantic & Birmingham Railway. In March, 1904, the A&B bought the Brunswick & Birmingham Railroad, which operated lines from Brunswick to Nicholls and from Bushnell to the Alapaha River at Crystal Lake. This purchase gave the railroad an important

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connection to the port at Brunswick. In 1905 the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad was organized to buy the A&B and extend it west to Birmingham and north to Atlanta. At the time, the A&B was a 340-mile system with tracks from Brunswick to Montezuma, Waycross to Nicholls, Fitzgerald to Thomasville, and Bushnell to Crystal Lake.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is October 24, 1887.

Location. 31° 58.203′ N, 83° 47.013′ W. Marker is in Cordele, Georgia, in Crisp County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Marker detail: Steam Locomotive image. Click for full size.

Wm. J. Lenoir / J.R. Herron collection

2. Marker detail: Steam Locomotive

it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Depot (here, next to this marker); Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Railway (here, next to this marker); Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Georgia & Albany Railway (a few steps from this marker); Americus, Preston and Lumpkin Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Georgia Southern & Florida Railway (a few steps from this marker); Joseph Emerson Brown (a few steps from this marker); Capitol of Georgia Site • 1865 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cordele.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Cordele Railway Park

Also see . . . Atlantic and Birmingham Railway (Wikipedia). In 1906, the A&B was purchased and merged into the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad. (Submitted on June 1, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 8, 2021

3. Atlantic & Birmingham Railway Marker

(freight train heading west in the background)

Cordele Railway Park image. Click for full size.

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 846 times since then and 104 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.