HawkinsRails - Georgia State Railroad Museum

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Site History

The Central of Georgia Rail Road and Canal Company was chartered by the State of Georgia in December 1833 to build a railroad or canal to Macon, 190 miles inland from Savannah. The primary purpose was to transport cotton to Savannah for export. In 1836, the charter was amended so the company could change its name to Central Railroad & Banking Company. The first President of the Central was William Washington Gordon, who had previously served as the Mayor of Savannah and was the grandfather of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. Construction of the Savannah Repair Shops began in 1851 and was completed by 1855.

By the beginning of the Civil War, the Central had the second largest holding of rolling stock in the South, but lost much of its greatness during the war. William Wadley became President of the Central in January 1866 and oversaw the railroad's recovery. In 1872, the Central purchased the 273 acre Vale Royal Plantation, fronting the Savannah River, and built docks and warehouse facilities which they used until they sold the property to the State of Georgia in 1958. It is now part of the Georgia Ports Authority. Also in 1872, the Central purchased the Savannah Steamship Line, forming the Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah. In 1893, the Central operated an innovative high speed passenger service between Savannah and Atlanta known as the "Nancy Hanks."

The Central reached its peak from 1920 to 1950 and was the largest employer in Savannah. In the late 1940s, the Savannah Repair Shops began servicing the newer diesel locomotives, but the facility was not conducive to diesel maintenance. Soon the majority of the diesel locomotives were sent to the newer Macon shops. In 1963, the Southern Railway purchased the Central and the Savannah Repair Shops were closed.

After years of neglect, Southern Railway began demolishing several structures on the site of the Savannah Repair Shops. A group of concerned citizens halted the destruction and Southern Railway transferred the property to the City of Savannah. In 1978, the Central's Savannah Railroad facilities were recognized as a National Historic Landmark District. The Repair Shops remained abandoned and decaying until 1989 when the nonprofit Coastal Heritage Society accepted management of the site.

With support from the City of Savannah, many of these structures have been restored. The buildings serve as interpretive and exhibit spaces for Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children's Museum. The former Central Repair Shops are now the largest and most complete antebellum railroad facility of its kind in the world.

Georgia State Railroad Museum