Hartwell Railroad

The Hartwell Railroad operates freight service from Hartwell, Georgia, to a connection with the Great Walton Railroad at Bowersville, Georgia -- a distance of 9.6 miles. Traffic includes lumber, fertilizer, grain, scrap, oil, sand, and stone. Originally a 3-foot gauge line, it 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. Local interests operated the line from 1924 to 1990, when Benny Ray Anderson took control. In addition to its original line, the Hartwell now operates the 48-mile former Norfolk Southern line between Toccoa and Elberton.