Atlanta, Georgia

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Atlanta, Georgia: Appalachian Railroad Gateway

Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, owes its very existence to railroads, emerging as a pivotal transportation hub in the antebellum South and evolving into a gateway for Appalachian commerce.

‘Terminus,’ Founded as a Railroad Junction

Founded in 1837 as “Terminus,” the city began at the endpoint of the state-chartered Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A), strategically selected on a high ridge in the Piedmont Plateau to connect Georgia’s interior with the Tennessee River and Midwest markets. This location facilitated the transport of Appalachian resources like coal from eastern Tennessee and northern Georgia mines, timber from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and cotton from surrounding plantations. By linking isolated mountain communities to urban centers, Atlanta became an economic conduit, channeling raw materials southward and manufactured goods northward. The railroads spurred rapid growth: from a mere settlement in 1840 to a city of 9,500 by 1860. Renamed Marthasville in 1843 after Governor Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter, it became Atlanta in 1845, inspired by the “Atlantic” in Western & Atlantic, symbolizing its coastal ambitions.

Early History

Atlanta’s transportation history predates railroads, with Native American trails and the Chattahoochee River enabling early trade. However, the 1830s saw Georgia’s legislature prioritize rail to compete with neighboring states’ canals and lines. The W&A’s selection of Terminus as its southern end marked Atlanta’s birth, transforming a forested frontier into a junction where multiple lines converged.

Civil War and Reconstruction

During the Civil War, Atlanta’s railroads made it a Confederate supply depot, hauling munitions and troops from Appalachian sources. Union General William T. Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign targeted these lines, culminating in the city’s capture and burning, which destroyed much of the rail infrastructure. Postwar Reconstruction revived the rails by 1867, fueling a boom that attracted industries like cotton mills and ironworks, reliant on Appalachian coal. By the 1880s, Atlanta was the Southeast’s premier rail center, with yards, depots, and repair shops employing thousands. This connectivity positioned it as Appalachia’s gateway, enabling the export of mountain timber to build the New South and coal to power factories. The 20th century brought consolidations, like the Southern Railway’s formation in 1894, and passenger peaks with trains like the Crescent, but automobiles and airlines eroded dominance by mid-century.

Atlanta’s First Railroads

  • Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A): Arrived in 1842 with initial tracks; fully operational to Chattanooga by 1851. Chartered in 1836 by Georgia, this 138-mile state-owned line was Atlanta’s founding artery, hauling Appalachian coal and timber. Leased to private operators post-1870, it featured innovations like the Zero Mile Post marker and survived Civil War sabotage. The W&A connected to the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad at Dalton, providing rail traffic from eastern Tennessee.
  • Georgia Railroad: Arrived in 1845 from Augusta. Established in 1833, this 171-mile line connected Atlanta to the Atlantic coast, transporting cotton and passengers. It included banking operations and was vital for Appalachian trade via connections to mountain branch lines.
  • Macon & Western Railroad: Arrived in 1846 from Macon. Spanning 101 miles, it linked Atlanta to central Georgia’s agricultural heartland, facilitating the influx of slaves and goods before the war. Merged into the Central of Georgia in 1871.
  • Atlanta & LaGrange Railroad (later Atlanta & West Point): Arrived in 1854 to LaGrange, with Atlanta as northern terminus from inception in 1847. This 87-mile route extended to Montgomery, Alabama by 1857 via connections, aiding westward expansion and Appalachian resource distribution.
  • Central of Georgia Railway: Expanded to Atlanta by the 1880s via mergers, with early operations starting in 1840 from Savannah. It built extensive yards and became a major coal hauler from Appalachian fields after acquiring the Macon & Western.

Other notable arrivals included the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia (1850s via connections) and the Southern Railway (1894 consolidation), which dominated by 1900. For many decades, much of the operations and offices of the Southern Railway were centered in Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Railroads Today

Today, Atlanta’s railroads reflect a shift from passenger dominance to freight logistics, while preserving its Appalachian gateway role. As of 2025, two Class I railroads—Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX Transportation—handle most operations. NS, headquartered in Atlanta since 2021, operates massive facilities like Inman Yard, a 200-acre classification hub processing 1,000 cars daily, including Appalachian coal and intermodal shipments to ports. CSX maintains Tilford Yard, focusing on automotive and chemical freight from mountain regions. Short lines like the Fulton County Railway (operated by OmniTRAX) serve industrial parks with 25 miles of track, hauling aggregates and plastics.

Passenger Service Today, and Plans for the Future

Passenger service is limited but expanding. Amtrak’s Crescent runs daily through Peachtree Station, connecting Atlanta to New York and New Orleans, with ridership recovering post-pandemic. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) operates 48 miles of heavy rail across four lines, serving 200,000 daily riders in 2025, with single-tracking for maintenance and expansions planned. Georgia DOT oversees state rail, including potential high-speed links to Chattanooga for Appalachian access. Future initiatives include the Atlanta-Savannah passenger corridor, funded under federal programs, aiming to revive intercity travel by 2030. Rail contributes $10 billion annually to Georgia’s economy, with Atlanta’s ports and airports integrating multimodal hubs. Challenges like urban congestion prompt safety trainings, such as NS’s 2025 first-responder programs.

Atlanta Stats

  • Coordinates: 33.7501° N, 84.3885° W
  • Elevation: Averages 1,050 feet above sea level
  • Named For: Western & Atlantic Railroad
  • Originally Known As: Terminus and Marthasville
  • Nickname: The ATL, The A, Hotlanta, The Peach City, City in the Forest, Hollywood of the South
  • Founded: 1837
  • Population: 520,000 (2024)
  • County: Fulton, DeKalb
  • Highlights: Capital of Georgia, Atlanta Airport (busiest in the world), Civil Rights Movement Museums, Carter Center, Georgia Aquarium, College Football Museum, Georgia Tech, Emory University and Hospital, CDC, Coke, Home Depot, Professional Sports Teams.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the railroads or model railroading.

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Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org