General Discussion (Classic Trains)

Greetings to all.  I may or may not have the right place for thsi question, but I am going to ask it here.  If the question needs to be moved, then so be it.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place that I could research the history of the Bow Line?  I know that current trackage is CSX, and at one time was SBD and before that ACL, but I can't find any information on when the tracks were initially laid down, if the line's always been single tracked, ect... 

I currently live in Troy, AL, and I'm working on setting up my layout to model the area.  I plan on modelling the "modern" era, but I woud still at least like to know the history of the line as well as what I'm able to see everyday running up and down the rails.

Any and all help on this would be greatly appreciated and if I've asked in the wrong area of the overall forum, I do apologize.

BamaCSX83:

Greetings to all.  I may or may not have the right place for thsi question, but I am going to ask it here.  If the question needs to be moved, then so be it.  I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place that I could research the history of the Bow Line?  I know that current trackage is CSX, and at one time was SBD and before that ACL, but I can't find any information on when the tracks were initially laid down, if the line's always been single tracked, ect... 

Bama, I can't give you any information as to construction dates, but I can give you a little history.

First, going back, from today, we insert SCL between SBD and ACL. I don't remember when SBD came into existence, but I do remember 7/1/67 as the day when the ACL ceased to exist.

In 1893, what is now the Bow Line existed as the Alabama Midland, and the Savannah, Florida and Western.

The Alabama Midland, which ran from Bainbridge to Montgomery, came into being in April of 1889.

The Savannah, Florida and Western (Georgia Division) which ran from Savannah to Bainbridge and from Waycross to Jacksonville, came into being in November of 1879. A predecessor, whose extent I do not know, was the Atlantic and Gulf, which came into being in 1878.

These dates came from Railroad Names, by William Edson.

You may be able to put these names into your search engine and come up with more information.

I hope this has helped you.

Johnny

Johnny that helps out a pretty good bit. At least it helps out with the early history of the line. And yeah, you're right, I forgot to include the SCL ownership when SAL and ACL merged back in '67. Thanks for the help on the early history, and I'll say that I'd like to keep this one going so that anyone else that has any other information on the line could quite possibly help me out. Anyone have any ideas as far as motive power used on the line over history? i've seen some pictures from the 70s and 80s of early GP's and some older Baldwin (EMD re-engined) switchers moving around down through the Troy area, but nothing else. I guess the easiest thing to say is any information you have on any parts of the Bow Line, I'd be welcome to see it.