Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Railroad – History Timeline

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History Timeline of the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) Railroad

1830s–1890s: Forged from early railroads

  • 1830: The Petersburg Railroad, the earliest predecessor, is chartered.
  • 1836: The Richmond & Petersburg Railroad is founded.
  • 1840: The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad (originally Wilmington and Raleigh) connects Weldon and Wilmington, NC.
  • 1871: Following the Civil War, investor William T. Walters begins controlling and operating various independent railroad companies as a coordinated network under the “Atlantic Coast Line” brand.
  • 1893: The holding company Atlantic Coast Line Company is officially formed.
  • 1898: The Virginia-based Petersburg and Richmond & Petersburg railroads merge, extending the ACL system from Virginia into the Carolinas.

1900–1920s: Incorporation and expansion into Florida

  • 1900: The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad is formally incorporated, uniting the various system lines.
  • 1902: Purchases the Plant System, which operated an extensive network in Georgia and Florida, cementing the ACL’s presence in the lucrative Florida market.
  • 1903: Purchases a controlling interest (51%) in the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N), significantly expanding its reach.
  • 1920s: Florida land boom drives immense traffic and profits.
  • 1925: With the L&N, jointly leases and operates the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railroad.
  • 1925: Double-tracks its main line from Richmond, VA, to Jacksonville, FL, to handle growing traffic, with automatic block signals installed concurrently.
  • 1927: Acquires the bankrupt Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railroad, renaming it the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad.
  • 1928: Completes the “Perry Cutoff” in Florida, creating a more direct route to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

1930s–1960s: Resilience and modernization

  • 1930s: Withstands the Great Depression, avoiding bankruptcy due to strong management and its diversified portfolio, including the profitable L&N.
  • 1939: Launches the Champion, a streamlined passenger train, featuring the distinctive purple and silver livery, to compete with the Seaboard Air Line’s Silver Meteor.
  • 1940s: World War II boosts freight and passenger traffic, strengthening finances.
  • 1942: Champion McDowell “Champ” Davis becomes president, initiating a major capital improvement program.
  • 1946: The Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast is merged into the ACL as its Western Division.
  • 1950s: Fully dieselizes its fleet and invests heavily in track and yard improvements. Expands intermodal “piggyback” freight service to compete with highways.
  • 1956: Moves its headquarters from Wilmington, NC, to a new, modern facility in Jacksonville, FL.
  • 1957: Adopts a less expensive black, yellow, and silver paint scheme for diesels, phasing out the iconic but high-maintenance purple livery.
  • 1958: Begins merger discussions with its rival, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL).
  • 1967: On July 1, the ACL merges with the SAL to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL).

1970s–1980s: SCL, Family Lines, and the road to CSX

  • 1971: Passenger service is transferred to Amtrak.
  • 1972: The SCL and its affiliates are marketed as the “Family Lines Rail System,” using a shared brand for integrated freight service.
  • 1980: Seaboard Coast Line Industries merges with the Chessie System to form the holding company CSX Corporation.
  • 1983: The Family Lines system is merged into the new Seaboard System Railroad.
  • 1986: On July 1, the Seaboard System and Chessie System are fully merged into CSX Transportation, ending the official corporate existence of the Atlantic Coast Line’s railroad network.

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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