Waycross, Georgia

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Waycross, Georgia: Railroad Gateway to Appalachian Freight Trains

Rising from a quiet crossroads in Georgia’s piney woods, Waycross became a railroad titan, its tracks filled with timber, coal, and goods linking Florida and southern ports to the Appalachian heartland. Its rails shaped a vibrant hub that bridged coastal commerce with mountain resources.

Early History

Located in Ware County at coordinates 31.213°N 82.354°W and an elevation of 138 feet (42 m), Waycross was founded as Tebeauville in 1871 and renamed in 1874 for its intersecting rail lines. Emerging from a sparsely settled Okefenokee Swamp region in the 1820s, it grew into a transportation nexus, with population soaring from 1,000 in 1880 to over 15,000 by 1920. Industries like lumber, turpentine, and agriculture flourished, driven by rail connectivity that fueled economic booms.

Early Railroads and the Atlantic Coast Line

Railroads defined Waycross’s identity. The Savannah, Florida & Western Railway (SF&W, part of Henry Plant’s system) arrived in 1881, connecting to Jacksonville and Brunswick. The Georgia Southern & Florida Railway (GS&F, later Southern Railway) reached Waycross in 1895, linking Macon and Palatka. The Waycross Air Line Railroad, operational by 1890, hauled timber to Sessoms before merging into the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) in 1902. The ACL made Waycross its division headquarters in 1902, establishing Rice Yard and maintenance shops for locomotive servicing and car classification. The ACL merged with Seaboard Air Line to form Seaboard Coast Line in 1967, which became CSX Transportation in 1986.

Appalachian Railroad Gateway

Waycross served as a railroad gateway to Appalachia via three routes: the L&N’s Knoxville line, the Clinchfield Railroad at Spartanburg, South Carolina, and the ACL’s connection to Birmingham, Alabama. These routes channeled Appalachian coal south to Florida ports and moved naval stores and citrus north, making Waycross a critical junction for regional trade.

Waycross Today

Today, CSX operates Rice Yard, one of the Southeast’s largest, handling 1,000 cars daily (intermodal, chemicals, aggregates). Norfolk Southern has limited trackage rights. Amtrak’s Silver Star passes without stopping. With a 2025 population of about 5,400, Waycross sustains rail jobs and Okefenokee Swamp tourism. The restored 1901 depot, now a museum, preserves its rail heritage.

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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3Cs Websites

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