Chattahoochee Valley Railway

Chattahoochee Valley Railway
Reporting mark CHV
Locale Alabama and Georgia
Dates of operation 1900–1992
Successor None (Abandoned)
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Length 9.5 miles (15.3 km)
Headquarters West Point, Georgia

The Chattahoochee Valley Railway (reporting mark CHV) was a shortline railroad linking a number of textile mills between West Point, Georgia and McGinty, Alabama for a total distance of 9.5 miles (15.3 km). As a subsidiary of West Point Pepperell, the entire railroad was abandoned in 1992.[1]

History

Originally the line was constructed by the Chattahoochee Valley Railroad on July 2, 1895 from Langdale to Lanett, and was extended to Riverview by 1897. In 1900, the railroad was reorganized to become the Chattahoochee Valley Railway. Further expansion included new tracks south to Jester in 1899 and north to Standing Rock, Alabama by 1908. By extending tracks further to Bleecker in 1916 the railroad totaled 45 miles (72 km) and connected to the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad, the West Point Route, and the Central of Georgia.[1][2]

In 1932 part of the railroad was abandoned from Standing Rock to West Point and passenger service ended that same year. In the 1960s, a dam was constructed north of West Point, and the CHV built a short spur line to reach the construction site for delivery of materials. When construction of the dam was completed in 1973 the spur was abandoned. Around the same time, the railroad abandoned the line from Riverview to Bleecker.[2]

The railroad shut down completely on September 23, 1992, with tracks removed the following year. By the time of the abandonment the railroad numbered less than 10 miles (16 km).[3]

CHV 2-8-0 steam locomotive #21, built in 1924 by Baldwin locomotive works is on display at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth Georgia.

References

  1. 1 2 Lewis, Edward A. (1986). American Shortline Railway Guide (3 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 49. ISBN 0-89024-073-6.
  2. 1 2 Gallo, Tom (1999). Chattahoochee Valley Railway. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-0299-5.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide (5 ed.). Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 355. ISBN 0-89024-290-9.
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