The Georgia Southern and Florida Railway , also known as the Suwanee River Route from its crossing of the Suwanee River, was founded in 1885 as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad and began operations between Macon, GA and Valdosta, GA in 1889, extending to Palatka, FL in 1890. The railroad went bankrupt by 1891, was reorganized as the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway in 1895, and was controlled by the Southern Railway.
In 1902, the GS&F purchased the Atlantic, Valdosta and Western Railway that ran from Valdosta, GA to Jacksonville, FL. The GS&F also owned the Macon and Birmingham Railway and the Hawkinsville and Florida Southern Railway, both of which were operated as separate companies;Map of Georgia Southern and Florida Railway and connections (Official Guide of the Railways, April 1918, via RailGA) both ended up going bankrupt and being mostly abandoned. The GS&F was eventually acquired by the Norfolk Southern Railway and still operates as a subsidiary. As of November 2012, at least one operating Norfolk Southern locomotive retains GSF reporting marks.
The line was abandoned south of Lake City, Florida in the late 1980s. The Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail runs along some of the abandoned right of way. The remaining line is still in service and operated by Norfolk Southern Railway. It is designated as Norfolk Southern's Macon District from Macon to Valdosta, and the Navair District from Valdosta to end of the line in Navair (just south of Lake City).Norfolk Southern Georgia Division Timetable
Historic stations StateMilepostCity/LocationStationConnections and notesGA0.0 GMaconTerminal Stationopened in 1916junction with:0.9 GMacon Junctionjunction with Central of Georgia Railway1.3 GMacon Yard4.4 GTamworth7.9 GSofkeejunction with Macon and Birmingham Railway (GSF)Georgia Southern and Florida10.6 GAvondaleAvondale13.0 GElbertaElberta16.0 GWarner RobinsWarner Robinsoriginally named Wellston21.3 GBonaireBonaire24.9 GKathleenKathleen29.0 GTivola30.9 GClinchfieldClinchfield34.9 GGrovaniaGrovania38.4 GElkoElko43.9 GUnadillaUnadilla48.8 GPinehurstPinehurst51.7 GFindlayFindlay56.2 GViennaVienna59.5 GRichwoodRichwood64.5 GCordeleCordelejunction with:69.2 GWenonaWenona74.4 GArabiArabi77.5 GSibley79.2 GDakotaDakota81.5 GWorthWorthjunction with Hawkinsville & Florida Southern Railway (GSF)84.8 GAshburnAshburn87.4 GSycamoreSycamore91.6 GInaha95.3 GSunsweetSunsweet98.1 GChulaChula105.2 GTiftonTiftonjunction with:111.9 GEldoradoEldorado118.1 GLenoxLenox123.0 GLaconteLaconte125.5 GSparksSparks127.7 GAdelAdel131.0 GHeartpine134.2 GCecilCecil138.1 GHahiraHahira144.3 GMineolaMineola151.2 GValdostaValdostajunction with:157.6 BDasherDasher163.4 BLake ParkLake Park167.2 BMelroseFL170.7 BJenningsJennings176.1 BAvocaAvoca182.2 BJasperJasperjunction with Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad Florida Division (ACL)192.8 BGenoa196.3 BFacil199.7 BWhite SpringsWhite Springs203.2 BSuwanee Valley206.0 BWinfield211.6 BLake CityLake Cityjunction with:212.7 BWatertownWatertown Junctionjunction with Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Western Division (SAL)219.0 BJefferson222.3 BLuluLulu227.9 BGuilford229.1 BCliftonville232.9 BLake ButlerLake Butlerjunction with Jacksonville and Southwestern Railroad (ACL)239.2 BNew River243.9 BSampson CitySampson Cityjunction with:249.6 BHamptonHamptonjunction with Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad Southern Division (SAL)253.4 BTheressa257.8 BBrooklyn258.5 BKeystone HeightsKeystone Heights259.9 BLake GenevaLake Geneva264.5 BPutnam HallPutnam Hall267.1 BGrandinGrandin269.1 BFlorahomeFlorahome273.0 BBaywood275.4 BCarraway278.0 BWoodburn280.0 BSpringside285.6 BPalatkaPalatkarelocated to union depot in 1908junction with:
See also Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail
References
External links
"Georgia Southern & Florida Railroad," Railga.com Abandoned Florida segment, described by Abandoned Rails