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wgcr_logoWiregrass Central Railroad

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The Wiregrass Region, or Wiregrass Country, is an area of the Southern United States encompassing parts of southern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. The region is named for the native Aristida stricta, commonly known as wiregrass due to its texture. The region stretches approximately from just below Macon, Georgia and follows the Fall Line west to Montgomery, Alabama. From there it turns south and runs to approximately Washington County, Florida in the northern panhandle. From there it runs east, roughly making its southern boundary along Interstate 10 to Lake City, Florida. From there it turns north, roughly following the Suwannee River back into Georgia and along the western fringes of the Okefenokee Swamp. From here it runs due north back to Macon.

Wikipedia

wgcr_state

The Wiregrass Central Railroad is a shortline hauler operating 21 miles of east-west branchline trackage from a CSX Transportation interchange near Newton westward to Enterprise, Alabama. The line traverses the southern edge of the United States Army's Fort Rucker facility -- the primary flight training installation for Army aviators. The company began operations in 1987 on a former Atlantic Coast Line to Elba, later Seaboard System branchline. The line was later purchased and shortened to Enterprise by shortline operators Gulf & Ohio Railways, then by RailAmerica, and then again in 2012 by national holding company Genesee & Wyoming. Traffic on the line is primarily agricultural, including poultry feed ingredients, peanut products, and seed. Railcar storage and transload facilities are also available. Interchange with the CSX at Waterford takes place on the northern leg of a removed ACL wye. Locomotives are ordinarily kept at Enterprise.

wgcr_map1

WGCR line map / web

acl_timetable

ACL timetable

Motive Power

Wiregrass Central #1505

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:SW1500
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:May 1973 (EMD #72649-9)
  • series:807 produced 1966-74
  • engine:EMD 645 (12 cyl, 1500 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Pittsburgh & Lake Erie #1542
    to Chicago Missouri & Western #1505
    to Gateway Western #1505
    to Chattahoochee Industrial #1505
    to Wiregrass Central #1505
  • builder
    wgcr1505i wgcr1505k1 wgcr1505k2 wgcr1505l1 wgcr1505l2 wgcr1505j

    Enterprise, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    tag_jump

    See also our Chattahoochee Industrial scrapbook elsewhere in Shortlines

    Wiregrass Central #1542

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:SW1504
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:Jul 1973 (EMD #712709)
  • series:60 produced 1973
  • engine:EMD 645 (12 cyl, 1500 hp)
  • notes:
  • rare unit among only 60 produced for service in Mexico; similar to SW1500
  • blt National Rwys of Mexico #8842
    to Helm Leasing #1525
    to Little Rock & Western #1542
    to Wiregrass Central #1542
  • builder
    sw1504_page

    from The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide
    / collection

    wgcr1542j1 wgcr1542j2 wgcr1542j3 wgcr1542j4 wgcr1542j5 wgcr1542j6

    Enterprise, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    tag_jump

    See also our Conecuh Valley shortline scrapbook for another rare EMD SW1504

    Wiregrass Central #2023

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP38
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Oct 1967 (EMD #33344)
  • series:466 produced 1966-71
  • engine:EMD 645E (16 cyl, 2000 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Baltimore & Ohio #3826
    to CSX Transportation #2026
    to Yadkin Valley #3616
    to Conecuh Valley #3616
    to Wiregrass Central #2023
  • builder
    wgcr2023h1 wgcr2023h2 wgcr2023h3 wgcr2023h4 wgcr2023h5 wgcr2023h6 wgcr2023h7 wgcr2023h8

    Andalusia, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    Previous Motive Power

    Wiregrass Central #2876

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP9
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Apr 1959, EMD #25133
  • series:4112 produced 1951-63
  • engine:EMD 567C (16 cyl, 1750hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Southern Pacific #2876
  • builder

    Wiregrass Central #3023

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP40
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Jan 1966, EMD #31457
  • series:1221 produced 1965-71
  • engine:EMD 645E3 (16 cyl, 3000 hp)
  • notes:
  • blt Illinois Central #3023
    to Illinois Central Gulf #3023
    to Ohio Central #3253
  • builder

    Wiregrass Central #3832

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP9
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Mar 1959, EMD #25118
  • series:4112 produced 1951-63
  • engine:EMD 567C (16 cyl, 1750hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Southern Pacific #3832
  • builder

    Wiregrass Central #3872

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP9
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Feb 1959, EMD #25016
  • series:4112 produced 1951-63
  • engine:EMD 567C (16 cyl, 1750hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Southern Pacific #3872
  • builder

    Wiregrass Central #6226

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:GP9
  • type:B-B road switcher
  • built:Jul 1957, EMD #23383
  • series:4112 produced 1951-63
  • engine:EMD 567C (16 cyl, 1750hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6226
  • builder
    wgcr_sign1

    RWH

    Previous Dead Line

    Dixie River #413

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:NW2
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:Apr 1948, EMD #5513
  • series:1145 produced 1939-49
  • engine:EMD 12-567 (12 cyl, 1000hp)
  • notes:
  • blt St Louis San Francisco #253
    to Burlington Northern #413
    later Mississippi Delta Equip Co #413
  • builder

    Dixie River #415

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:NW2
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:May 1948, EMD #6248
  • series:1145 produced 1939-49
  • engine:EMD 12-567 (12 cyl, 1000hp)
  • notes:
  • blt St Louis San Francisco #255
    to Burlington Northern #415
    later Mississippi Delta Equip Co #415
  • builder

    Illinois Central #1223

  • builder:Electro Motive Division
  • model:SW7
  • type:B-B yard switcher
  • built:1952
  • series:489 produced 1949-51
  • engine:EMD 567A (12 cyl, 1200hp)
  • notes:
  • ex Illinois Central #1223
  • builder

    Rolling Stock

    Locationstag_locations

    tag_pinEnterprise, Al

    tag_pin

    Click to see the Wiregrass Central office area plotted on a Google Maps page

    tag_closeup Sessions Peanut Company

    tag_quote

    Sessions Company was founded in 1917. Mr. H.M. Sessions, who moved to Enterprise, Alabama from nearby Ozark, Alabama in the early 1900's, was in the business of "farm furnishing." When the Boll Weevil insect continually devastated the cotton crop, farmers and agribusinessmen began to look for alternative crops. Through the combination of efforts of several people, the peanut was planted in Coffee County, Alabama. In 1917 Mr. Sessions installed a peanut sheller in the rear of the mule buying facilitiy located on College Street in Enterprise. Mr. Sessions and his two sons, Lewe Sessions and John Sessions, later began the business of buying and processing other peanut products, notably peanut butter and refined peanut oil. In 1932 the Sessions brothers formed Sessions Company, Inc., whose primary business was the manufacture and sale of peanut butter. In 1948 Sessions Company began the business of crushing peanut oil. Today, Sessions is a major employer in Enteprise and the Wiregrass area of Alabama. Sessions ships shelled peanuts, crude peanut oil, and other peanut products throughout the United States and to other countries.

    Sessions Company

    tag_pin

    Click to see the Sessions peanut facility plotted on a Google Maps page

    enterprise12 enterprise16

    Enterprise, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    Sessions Company makes use of covered hoppers and agricultural grade tank cars in the switching and shipment of its products via the Wiregrass Central. Products transported include crude peanut oil, peanut meal, peanut seed, and peanut hulls.

    tag_quote

    The Atlantic Line Railroad built the Enterprise train depot in 1903. Its steam locomotives become the city's gateway to adventure. Its tracks moved progress and industrial opportunity. Much of the depot's history remains untouched. None of the interior has changed. The passenger waiting room still holds an authentic bench and an original ticket booth. A sign still marks the train schedule from 1948. The station master's log book sat open just like it did a century ago. The property was restored externally to its original appearance. Building additions were added to the Enterprise train depot in 1916 and 1997.

    Alabama State Guide

    tag_pin

    Click to see Enterprise depot area plotted on a Google Maps page

    tag_pin

    Click to see the Pilgrim's Pride facility plotted on a Google Maps page

    tag_quote

    For over six decades, Pilgrim’s Pride has produced healthy, high-quality food products that go into some of the world’s finest recipes. Working with approximately over 4,000 family farms throughout the U.S. and Mexico, we are dedicated to providing these wholesome, high-quality products at a great value. As the second-largest chicken producer in the world Pilgrim’s has the capacity to process more than 34 million birds per week for a total of more than over 10 billion pounds of live chicken annually.

    Pilgrim's Pride

    tag_pinWaterford, Al

    The Wiregrass Central interchanges with CSX Transportation at the timetable location of Waterford, just north of the village of Newton, Alabama, along the west fork of the Choctawhatchee River. The Atlantic Coast Line maintained a wye at this location, but the southwest leg of that wye has been abandoned, leaving the northern leg and a long siding adjacent to the mainline for carload interchange.

    tag_pin

    Click to see the Waterford interchange area plotted on a Google Maps page

    tag_closeup CSX Transportation

    The Wiregrass Central interchanges with CSX Transportation along its Montgomery to Dothan mainline, in rural Dale County.

    csx2a csx2b csx2c csx2d

    Waterford, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    csx4a csx4b

    Waterford, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    csx7a csx7b

    Waterford, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    csx9a csx9b csx9c csx9d

    Waterford, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH

    tag_lagnLagniappe

    journal_rwh
    November 2018

    wgcr_lagn3 A Thanksgiving holiday road trip to see my Louisiana family gave me a fresh opportunity along the way to revisit some Alabama and Mississippi shortlines I had not seen in person in nearly two decades. High on my list was the Wiregrass. In some sense, not much has changed in Enterprise: locomotives still tied down near the square block office, and the smell of peanut products still hangs in the air. But the Genesee & Wyoming acquisition in 2012 has brought pumpkin colors to this little line. Gone are the dark maroon first-gen high nose Geeps. Now a former Chattahoochee Industrial SW and a rare built-for-Mexico 1504 model make regular work with the peanut oils and the chicken feed in town. The latter was a real treat: my first spotting of that model anywhere. I had forgotten that G&W had some Mexican holdings and acquired some NdeM units. Enterprise would make a terrific little shelf model railroad for switching problems. Shunting covered hoppers and tankers until you got the right ones in the right spots. The lovely ACL depot in town has hardly changed at all; still in good shape, still a little museum, and still closed on the day of my visit! Lastly, I had fun tracing on foot the former ACL wye north of Newton. As luck would have it, just as I finished my last photo of the interchange track and cars, a southbound CSX manifest rolled through from Montgomery. Perfect timing. And the guy in the van who rolled up to watch the mainliner, about 100 yards from my location, turned out to be a fellow railfan who knows and loves HawkinsRails.net. Not a bad way to finish up my visit to an old friend: the Wiregrass Central.

    Links / Sources

    This page was updated on 2018-11-25