Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Railroads
Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 2008
1. Railroads (in Augusta )Marker
Inscription.
Railroads. . Business interests in Charleston, South Carolina financed the construction of America's first commercial railroad in 1833 in an effort to capture a greater share of the upland cotton, was formerly transported by raft or steamboat to Savannah, Charleston's rival port. The South Carolina Railroad track was laid from Charleston to Hamburg, a town opposite Augusta on the Carolina side of the river. At that time the line was the longest in the world. The first locomotive to make the run was proudly named "The Best Friend Of Charleston.", During the same year, the Georgia Railroad was chartered in response to the agitation of interior Georgia towns anxious to get rail connections with the river at Augusta. Although Charleston and the middle Georgia towns had wanted the South Carolina and Georgia railroads connected, Augusta leaders stood firmly against any junction of the two lines within its city boundary, fearful that Augusta would lose its strategic position as a commercial center and sink to the status of a way station., Only after Charleston threatened to negotiate a river crossing elsewhere, and bypass Augusta altogether, was the bridge permitted to cross into Georgia., Railroad expansion in the latter nineteenth century brought numerous new lines to the city.
Business interests in Charleston, South Carolina financed the construction of America's first commercial railroad in 1833 in an effort to capture a greater share of the upland cotton, was formerly transported by raft or steamboat to Savannah, Charleston's rival port. The South Carolina Railroad track was laid from Charleston to Hamburg, a town opposite Augusta on the Carolina side of the river. At that time the line was the longest in the world. The first locomotive to make the run was proudly named "The Best Friend Of Charleston."
During the same year, the Georgia Railroad was chartered in response to the agitation of interior Georgia towns anxious to get rail connections with the river at Augusta. Although Charleston and the middle Georgia towns had wanted the South Carolina and Georgia railroads connected, Augusta leaders stood firmly against any junction of the two lines within its city boundary, fearful that Augusta would lose its strategic position as a commercial center and sink to the status of a way station.
Only after Charleston threatened to negotiate a river crossing elsewhere, and bypass Augusta altogether, was the bridge permitted to cross into Georgia.
Railroad expansion in the latter nineteenth century brought numerous new lines to the city.
Location. 33° 28.589′ N, 81° 57.646′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. Marker can be reached from River Walk near between 6th & 7th Sts. Along Savannah River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Augusta GA 30901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . The Georgia Railroad Company. (Submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Railroads Marker, July 26, 2008
2. a 4-6-0 engine of the Augusta Southern Railroad, as seen on marker
"... an engine of the Augusta Southern Railroad photographed in 1907."
Photographed By Railroads Marker, July 26, 2008
3. Above, a schedule of the South Carolina Railroad, shown on marker
"...a schedule of the South Carolina Railroad from the 1842 Augusta City Directory."
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
4. Todays Railroad bridge across the Savannah River at Augusta, Georgia
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008
5. Bridge across the Savannah
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 12, 2007
6. former Georgia Railroad Depot in Atlanta
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,651 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 13, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.