route
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Alabama & Florida RailroadGulf & Ohio Railways |
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
t its peak length, the Alabama & Florida Railway Company operated a 78 mile stretch of shortline trackage in south central Alabama. From a connection at Georgiana, Alabama, with CSX Transportation's Mobile-Montgomery mainline, the AFLR line stretched southeastward through Andalusia, Opp, and on to Geneva.
This route was laid down by the original Alabama & Florida Railroad in 1901, only to be leased soon thereafter by the Louisville & Nashville. It remained an L&N secondary for decades, into successor Seaboard System, itself a precursor to CSX. Spun off by Seaboard in 1986, the route was acquired by Peter Clausen of Gulf & Ohio Railways and operated under its original Alabama & Florida name. Commodities included pulpwood, chemicals, peanuts, plastics, and agricultural products. Trains were handled by a small stable of first-generation EMD locomotives. A second segment was initially included in the AFLR operation, from Florala, Alabama, south to Crestview, Florida, and another CSX interchange. Known as the Yellow River Division, this second route was soon abandoned, even as the first segment was eventually cut back to Samson, Alabama. AFLR also controlled a short segment of former Central of Georgia trackage north of Andalusia, operated as the Andalusia & Conecuh Railroad. Clausen's operation lasted until 1992, when the line was sold to Pioneer Railcorp and renamed Alabama & Florida Railway. Then in 2001, Pioneer sold the remaining 33-mile segment of the trackage, from Georgiana to Andalusia, to form Three Notch Railroad — owned by the Genesee & Wyoming shortline conglomerate.
1986 Official Guide ad / collection
1990 / RWH
1910 Official Guide map / collection
1910 Official Guide ad / collection
AFLR route map / adapted RWH
from The Short Line 79
/ Jul 1986 / collection
Alabama & Florida Railroad
Louisville & Nashville
Seaboard Coast Line
Alabama & Florida Railway
Three Notch Railroad
1950 Alabama railroad map / adapted RWH
from American Shortline Railway Guide by Edward Lewis / collection
Red Level, Al / Jun 1991 / Hank Stephens
See also our successor Three Notch Railway scrapbook in Shortlines
Motive Power
All time Alabama & Florida locomotive roster
| Number | Builder | Model | Built | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1214 | EMD | SW7 | Oct 1950 | 11652 | ex Illinois Central #9314 |
| 1611 | SCL | GP16 | Jun 1951 | 13886 | ex Atlantic Coast Line |
| 1612 | SCL | GP16 | Mar 1951 | 14960 | ex Atlantic Coast Line |
| 1751 | SCL | GP16 | Sep 1951 | 14960 | ex Atlantic Coast Line |
| 1802 | SCL | GP16 | Apr 1950 | 11501 | ex Seaboard Air Line |
| 1834 | SCL | GP16 | Jun 1951 | 13886 | ex Atlantic Coast Line |
| 2391 | EMD | GP9 | Feb 1953 | 17779 | ex Louisville & Nashville #511 |
| 6011 | EMD | GP9 | Mar 1956 | 21489 | ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6011 |
| 6076 | EMD | GP9 | Mar 1956 | 21713 | ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6076 |
| 6084 | EMD | GP9 | Mar 1956 | 21721 | ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6084 |
| 6094 | EMD | GP9 | Mar 1956 | 22095 | ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6094 |
| 6096 | EMD | GP9 | Mar 1956 | 22097 | ex Chesapeake & Ohio #6096 |
units listed in orange above are featured in our scrapbook below.
Alabama & Florida #1214
Alabama & Florida #1214
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #1214
to Delta Oil Mill
to Mississippi Delta #1214
to Alabama & Florida #1214
Geneva, Al / Nov 1989 / Bernie Feltman 
Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #2391
Alabama & Florida #2391
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #2391
to Seaboard Coast Line #2391
to Alabama & Florida #2391
to Gulf & Ohio #2391
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6076
Alabama & Florida #6076
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6076
to Alabama & Florida #6076
Jul 1990 / RWH
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Chesapeake & Ohio #6076
Opp, Al / Mar 1987 / Bernie Feltman
Opp, Al / Jan 1988 / Bernie Feltman
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6084
Alabama & Florida #6084
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6084
to Alabama & Florida #6084
Jul 1990 / RWH
Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6094
Alabama & Florida #6094
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #6094
to Alabama & Florida #6094
Jul 1990 / RWH
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Rolling Stock
Alabama & Florida #4007
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Alabama & Florida #4089
Jackson, Ms / unknown / RWH
Opp
Louisville & Nashville depot
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Click to see the Opp depot area plotted on a Google Maps page
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
he City of Opp is named after Henry Opp, a lawyer of German descent who worked for the L & N Railroad. Opp lived and practiced law in Andalusia, Alabama in the late 1800's and early 1900's and also served as Mayor of Andalusia from 1899 to 1906. In 1901, the Central of Georgia Railroad tried to prevent the L & N Railroad from surveying a right-of-way into Covington County; however, Mr. Opp successfully defended the L & N's case in court, thereby enabling the railroad to complete the survey and ultimately establish the railroad line which now passes through the city of Opp.
The railroad forked, with one arm traveling south and the other continuing east. Because this provided a good "turning around" place for trains, and because it was already inhabited to a small degree, a little town was laid out on the site with the encouragement of the railroad. In appreciation to Mr. Henry Opp for being directly responsible for the railroad's existence through the area, the L & N encouraged the people to name the town after Mr. Opp.
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Nov 2018 / RWH
Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Clippings
from The Short Line 80
/ Sep 1986 / collection
from The Short Line 78
/ May 1986 / collection
from The Short Line 83
/ Feb 1987 / collection
from The Short Line 93
/ May 1990 / collection
Article
RailAmerica to Acquire Gulf and Ohio's Three Alabama Short Lines
4/11/2011 - Progressive Railroading
RailAmerica Inc. acquired Atlas Railroad Construction Co. last year, but it’s been more than five years since the company acquired any short lines. That stretch is over.
Today, RailAmerica announced it signed an agreement to acquire the assets of three Alabama short lines from Gulf and Ohio Railways Inc. for $12.7 million. The transaction — which includes the Three Notch Railroad (THNR), Wiregrass Central Railroad (WGCR) and Conecuh Valley Railroad (COEH) — is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
THNR operates 35 miles of track between Georgiana and Andalusia; WGCR operates a 20-mile line between Waterford and Enterprise; and COEH operates a 15-mile line between Troy and Goshen. All three short lines interchange with CSX Transportation and primarily serve agricultural and manufactured product shippers. Last year, the railroads hauled a total of 6,000 carloads.
“Collectively, the railroads have a solid customer base as well as a number of opportunities for further growth,” said RailAmerica President and Chief Executive Officer John Giles in a prepared statement. “Additionally, the railroads are clustered in close proximity to our existing Alabama operations, which we expect to create significant operating efficiencies.”
RailAmerica — which currently owns 40 U.S. and Canadian regionals and short lines — expects the Alabama short lines to generate about $3.7 million in revenue, $1.2 million in operating income, and $700,000 in depreciation and amortization during the next 12 months.
Scrapbook
all pages from Alabama & Florida Railroad scrapbook / JCH
Lagniappe
The High Hood Hauler
Jul 1990 / image and artwork RWH
Mr. Clausen's Tool Shed
Jul 1990 / image and artwork RWH
Another Corporate Giant
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
The Holy of Holies
Jul 1990 / RWH
Mural Maker
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Semaphore Down
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
L&N Tea Kettle
Opp, Al / Nov 2018 / RWH
Snapshots
Going back to the days of my childhood interest in trains, I've always had a love affair with locomotive cabs. I suppose every boy of earlier eras dreamed of being a locomotive engineer, perched high atop the rails with a commonding view of the line. I have a hunch one never really grows out of those kinds of dreams, and what I remember most about visiting the Alabama & Florida in 1990 was the oppurtunity to climb all over and in several Geeps parked from their duties. Like many southern shortlines, the AF "yard" was a casual place. With no one around, and cab doors perched wide open, and in the days long before post-911 security issues, diesel cabs were too much a temptation for this kid. At the time, the AF rostered a handsome set of first generation Geeps and switchers. We saw no action that day; but I didn't mind. Sitting in the right hand seat was action enough.
Opp, Al / Jul 1990 / RWH
Links / Sources
- Wikipedia article for Alabama & Florida
- Edward A. Lewis, American Shortline Railway Guide - Fifth Edition (Kalmbach, 1996) 17
- Charles W. McDonald, Diesel Locomotive Rosters - Third Edition (Kalmbach, 1992) 12