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| Georgia's new tourist train? https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3548 |
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| Author: | Bob Yarger [ Sun Jul 21, 2002 4:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Georgia's new tourist train? |
Read somewhere that the State of Georgia plans a new tourist train to several historic sites. Anyone have more details? ryarger@rypn.org |
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| Author: | Stephen S. Syfrett [ Mon Jul 22, 2002 3:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Georgia's new tourist train? |
> Read somewhere that the State of Georgia > plans a new tourist train to several > historic sites. Anyone have more details? Bob, the train you reference is the SAM Shortline. (SAM is the abbreviation for Savannah, Americus & Montgomery Ry, a former name of the ex-SAL line on which the train will operate.) Current plans are for the train to make once-a-day round trips four days a week (Friday - Monday) from Cordele, GA on I-75 over to Plains and Archery, GA, where the boyhood home of former President Jimmy Carter is located. Stops along the way include Veterans Memorial State Park at Lake Blackshear (Flint River), Leslie, GA, Americus, GA and Plains/Archery. The round-trip distance is approximately 80 miles and is a nice ride. Startup is currently scheduled for Saturday October 5, 2002, but several test runs have already been made to check out equipment and to resolve operational problems before the formal opening run. The line on which the train operates is owned by Georgia DOT and operated (freight) by Heart of Georgia Railroad (HOG), which will provide the diesel locomotive and operating crew for the excursion train. The coaches, owned by the Southwest Georgia Railroad Excursion Authority, are fully air conditioned converted Budd sleepers purchased from MARC. They are of PRR and N&W heritage. The cars cleaned up nicely and the MARC paint has been removed, replaced with an attractive blue along the window band and the SAM Shortline logo. The tail car is a round end observatiion car. It was the former "STEVE POLK" (former late Director of the Georgia Building Authority) on the New Georgia Railroad in the late 80s and early 90s and was acquired from Stone Mountain Park for the SAM Shortline. The car was built by Budd in 1939 as tavern observation lounge "BAY BISCAYNE" for FEC and was originally used in FEC's Champion consist. It was sold to SAL in November 1965 to become their 6607, later to SCL 5651. It has been renamed "SAMUEL H. HAWKINS" in honor of a founder of the Americus, Preston & Lumpkin RR, a predecessor of the SAM RY. This is scheduled to be a "premium fare" car and can be reserved for groups. For more info see the link. The scenery is nice, typical of rural farm country in the southern part of Georgia and not especially different from the Lancaster County PA home of Strasburg Rail Road. Ya'll come on down and ride in the fall!! Southwest Georgia Excursion Train syfrettinc@bellsouth.net |
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