Just out side of Athens, GA located at the diamond for the Hartwell Railroad (former CofG) and CSX is a brick wall turntable pit, it's location is far from any other structures. It is 50ft ish in dia., I am fairly certain it was constructed prior to 1900 judging by the type of brick used. Anyone have information about this artifact? I have been unable to find information on it via the internet.

Not being familiar with Athens, I can only speculate . . .Athens was not a terminal on the Seaboard, so while it is possible they may have had a turntable there, it would seem unlikely. The town was a terminus for the Central of Georgia, so it would make sense that they would have a turntable, however Prince makes no mention of any facilities at Athens in his book (which does list turntables for a number of other locations). According to Prince, the CofG line to Athens was built in 1888 by the Covington & Macon Railroad.Robert Hanson's History of the Georgia Railroad states that the Georgia built a two stall enginehouse at Athens in 1884, but there is no specific mention of a turntable nor photos of same, although again it would seem likely that they had one there.I don't have any information handy about the Southern Railway line to Athens.Alan Maples

The pit is tight in the corner of the diamond, about 15ft from the CofG line and 20ft from the CSX. There is then an interchange track between the two closing the table into a little triangle. It is a bit over a mile from the point at which the Southern came into the Central, and at the point of that junction there was a wye. It does not make sense for it to have been there........hence the mystery.

Athens, GA would make a fine magazine article. At one time (within memory of the living) 5 railroads served it-CofG, SAL, Gainesville Midland, Georgia RR, and Southern. When I first went to school there in 1984 (Navy, not UGA), it was only 6 months or so after the mixed trains were discontinued. Even so, the trackage and trestles in and around the town were amazing. At that time, there were 5 depots still standing: the SAL/GM freight depot (since razed), the Georgia RR depot (probably razed), a newish Southern depot/crew office, the CofG depot (now a restaurant?), and the SAL passenger station (still in use by CSX). There was also an REA building by the SAL passenger station, and a one-stall enginehouse across the tracks from the Georgia RR depot (the enginehouse was torn down, allegedly by a CSX employee who used the materials for projects around his house).I know where that turntable pit is-seems like the turntable "shack" was still in the pit, last time I was there. Jason, please contact me offline at jcpdekeATadelphiaDOTnet. A friend of mine in Athens has quite a bit of knowledge on the area, and I can put you in touch with him if you're interested.John