Atlanta Belt line

[Convicted One]

Anyone have info or good links to info on the old Altanta "beltline" railroad operations?

 Search attempts deliver to me tons of information on the blooming 'rails to trails' mega project, but I'd like to review information pertinent to when the line was still  in full operation as a rail road.

 I guess it was cobbled together in the late 19th and early 20th century by multiple independent railroads, and served several local industries as well as provide a convenient means of interchange between lines while avoiding Atlanta's congested core.

Thanks in advance.

[samfp1943]

Convicted One

Anyone have info or good links to info on the old Altanta "beltline" railroad operations?

 Search attempts deliver to me tons of information on the blooming 'rails to trails' mega project, but I'd like to review information pertinent to when the line was still  in full operation as a rail road.

 I guess it was cobbled together in the late 19th and early 20th century by multiple independent railroads, and served several local industries as well as provide a convenient means of interchange between lines while avoiding Atlanta's congested core.

Thanks in advance.

 

C.O.  [Convicted One]:  When I lived in the Atlanta area, The Ga. Dept of Transportation. had a very good map they offered {Free back then] of the railroads in the State.  Did some looking around and found the following web site. It seems to have some fairly, understandable maps of the rails around Atlanta. If you follow the link and scroll down toGa. DOT Maps: @http://www.railfanguides.us/ga/atl/

The map showing Atlanta Area Train Traffic is pretty clear as to details of routings. My guess is while there are segments of railroad ROW's that are outside of the Atlanta core area, to put together a 'loop railroad bypass' would be a pretty tough 'sell'. Real Estate in suburban Atlanta can get very pricey.  

The current 'Beltway around Atlanta I-285, is a true belt road. Amounts to about <64 miles.  And there is/was a movement to build a second 'Outer Beltway' around the outer suburban perimeters . I do not think it has moved much(?) Can't really say since i moved away, and am 'out of the loop', these days.

As to the Beltway Project you are referring to; it was a ' Paper for a College Project done in 1999...See link @ http://www.cbs46.com/story/26537913/what-is-the-atlanta-beltline-project

 

[Convicted One]

Thanks!! 

 

I used to live near Tanyard Creek, and although I was familiar with the part of the line that looped behind Piedmont hospital, I never realized it was part of a structured "belt" operation, nor did i realize it was one and the same with the line that passed near my favorite bar on Cheshire Bridge road. Many a night I could have followed the belt home instead of risking driving. lol.  

[blue streak 1]

The Atlanta Belt line suffers from a large amount of misinderstanding of actual conditions.  It could take a 20 page distertation with all the twists and turns. 

Thumbnail original understanding by some is SOU RR's Inman yard  - Hulsey yard.  Separate SAL Howells yard ( not to be confused with Howell CP ) - Hulsey yard.  A&WP  Hulsey Yard to CofG track .  L&N Tilford yard on track (slide) under Inman yard  under  Cof Ga track to the above A&WP track.  

ACLfrom Tilford on same L&N track then fast Fulton county airport under A&WP track south of Atlanta airport running close to A&WP but not connecting.  Does connect now .

All this and DOT, POLs, Citizens think it would be easy to connect up.  Ain't so check your SPV atlas.   

[Convicted One]

blue streak 1

Thumbnail original understanding by some is SOU RR's Inman yard - Hulsey yard. Separate SAL Howells yard ( not to be confused with Howell CP ) - Hulsey yard. A&WP Hulsey Yard to CofG track . L&N Tilford yard on track (slide) under Inman yard under Cof Ga track to the above A&WP track. ACLfrom Tilford on same L&N track then fast Fulton county airport under A&WP track south of Atlanta airport running close to A&WP but not connecting

 

Greatly appreciated.  Do you know of any sources listing the customers served from a historic perspective? Looking at current ariels I find it mindboggling that all the heavy industry that was once "north of GA Tech and west of the connector" is now gone and replaced with commercial/residential

[rdamon]

Atlantic Steel was one of the last redeveloped areas .. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Steel

TOPO Map

http://historicaerials.com?layer=T1957&zoom=15&lat=33.792130471338574&lon=-84.40040588378906 via @historicaerials

 

[carknocker1]

I worked at Hulsey Yard . the south side switch was removed in 2012 . We used the track to store wheels . the north side track has been removed . A lot of the old warehouses are still in place and the A&WP station is now a restaurant

[Convicted One]

rdamon

Atlantic Steel was one of the last redeveloped areas ..

 

Atlantic Steel was a name I couldn't seem to pull out of my memory, thanks!!

 The Historical Topo/Ariel site you provided a link to was very interesting, Amazing to see how that entire area has changed in the last half century,.

[Convicted One]

carknocker1

the A&WP station is now a restaurant

 

Thanks to your posting the above, I did a search and found this: http://www.railga.com/atlbelt.html

 

Answers many questions!