Hartwell Railroad

The current Hartwell Railroad operates shortline freight service on three different lines in northeast Georgia:

1 - Hartwell to Bowersville, 10 miles -- Originally a 3-foot gauge line, the roller coast grade was relaid to standard gauge in 1905 after coming under the control of the Southern Railway. In the 1950's, the road leased a 4-4-0 steamer from the Central of Georgia Railroad. After Southern control, local interests operated the line as the Hartwell Railway from 1924 to 1990, with interchange made with the Southern at Bowersville. Benny Ray Anderson, owner of nearby Great Walton Railroad, purchased the company 1990 and renamed it Hartwell Railroad. Although it is the original Hartwell route, this line is currently out of service except for railcar storage.

2 - Toccoa to Elberton, 48 miles -- Originally a 3-foot gauge line, this route was the Elberton Air Line Railway, later a part of the Southern Railway. Hartwell took over operation of this segment from Norfolk Southern in 1995. Interchange is with NS at Toccoa on the north end, CSX Transportation at Elberton on the south end. The original Hartwell route, above, connects at Bowersville.

3 - Athens to Center, 9 miles -- Operated since 2001 as the Athens Line, LLC, this segment is the southernmost portion of the former Southern Railway line between Lula and Athens. Today interchange is in Athens with CSX Transportation. The lease also included former Central of Georgia trackage south of Athens to Madison, but this line is currently out of service.

All three segments are operated by the Great Walton Railroad, based in Social Circle, Georgia.