Wiregrass Central Railroad

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Wiregrass Central Railroad (AAR reporting marks WGCR) is considered a "local railroad" by the AAR. It operates about 26.2 miles (42 km) of track in Alabama. The Wiregrass Central Railroad currently operates between Enterprise, Alabama to an interchange with CSX at Waterford, Alabama.

The original line owned by the WGCR formerly extended to Clintonville to serve a small woodyard, however the tracks were removed shortly after the railroad's incorporation. The Wiregrass Central Railroad was formed on December 11, 1987 from a spur of the CSXT.

[edit] History

Construction of the railroad began in 1897, in Waterford from the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway mail line. The line was built by the Alabama Midland Railroad and completed in 1898. Southwest Alabama Company operated the line until it consolidated with the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway September 2, 1901. This company merged with the Atlantic Coast Line July 1, 1902, and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. In December 1982, the Louisville & Nashville Railroad merged with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad to form the Seaboard System, and finally, in 1986, the Chessie System and the Seaboard System merged to become CSX Transportation.[1]

Originally the line extended to Elba, Alabama, however this segment was abandoned in 1984, and CSX sold the Wiregrass Central Railroad the remaining Clintonville - Waterford portion.

Fort Rucker is located adjacent to the line, and at one time hosted a sizable yard, as well as a turnaround track.

v • d • e Class III railroads of the United States Current (operating) AA, ABCR, ABS, ACWR, ADBF, AF, AGCR, AGR, AKDN, AKMD, AL, ALAB, ALM, ALY, AM, AN, ANR, AO, AOK, APNC, ARS, ATLT, ATN, ATW, AUAR, AVR, AWRR, AZER, BAYL, BB, BCR, BCLR, BDRV, BGCM, BHCR, BJRY, BKRR, BLEX, BLOL, BRAN, BS, BSV, BT, BXN, CAGY, CBEC, CBGR, CCIM, CEDR, CERA, CFER, CFNR, CGR, CHS, CHAT, CIC, CIND, CIRR, CIRY, CLC, CLNA, COEH, CORP, CRL, CSOR, CTRR, CUOH, CVSR, CVYR, CWRY, CZRY, DAIR, DCON, DLWR, DMM, DMVW, DN, DQE, DR, DRHY, DRIR, DSRR, DVS, EACH, EARY, EDW, EIRR, ELKR, ELS, ETRY, EVWR, FCRD, FGLK, FGRS, FMRC, FP, FRR, FSR, FWRY, FWWR, GBRC, GC, GITM, GNWR, GRLW, GSVR, GSWR, GWWE, HE, HMCR, HRRC, HRT, IANR, IATR, IMRR, IN, INRD, IORY, IR, ISRR, ISW, JEFW, JVRR, KBSR, KCT, KJRY, KRR, LAL, LIRC, LIRR, LCR, LDRR, LNW, LRPA, LRWN, LS, LSI, LWRR, LXVR, MB, MCR, MCRR, MCSA, MDS, MDW, ME, MET, MMID, MNA, MNN, MNNR, MPA, MPLI, MSRW, MSTR, MSWY, MTR, NBER, NCRC, NCVA, NECR, NENE, NHN, NPBL, NPR, NRI, NSSR, NYA, NYCH, NYSW, OHIC, OHPA, OHRY, OMID, OTR, OTVR, OUCH, PAM, PBL, PCN, PGR, PHL, PI, PNW, PNWR, POHC, POTB, PPU, PSAP, QRR, RBMN, RJCW, RPRC, RRCI, RRVW, RSOR, RSR, RSS, SAPT, SB, SCFE, SCXY, SDIY, SERA, SGLR, SJVR, SL, SLA, SMV, SQVR, TCBR, TCW, TLEW, TMBL, TR, TRC, TRMW, TRRA, TTR, TZPR, UTAH, VCRR, VR, VSRR, VVRR, WGCR, WKRL, WLO, WN, WNYP WPRR, WSR, WTRY, WW, YKR, YRC Historic (fallen flag) CKRY, DAKR, DTRR, ESHR, NFD, PSR, TIRL, TXTC, WICT