Collection of Charlie Poling

Museum Plans to Paint CofGa Passenger Cars in Original Scheme

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In 1945, the Central of Georgia Railway took delivery of six baggage-express cars (CG 453–458) and two baggage-mail cars (CG 473–474) from American Car & Foundry. These smoothside lightweight cars were painted in a new, attractive blue and gray paint scheme. Two years later, in 1947, ten more cars were delivered in that same scheme (open coaches Nos. 660–663, partitioned coaches Nos. 540–543, buffet-lounge No. 690, and coach-baggage No. 390). Some of these cars were for use in the Nancy Hanks II, although others were used on other trains as needed.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM), located in Chattanooga, Tenn., has several former CofGa passenger cars, including some originally delivered in the blue and gray scheme. The museum has recently announced that it will begin painting some equipment in the paint schemes of the predecessor railroads. One of the first cars slated for repainting under this new policy is former CofGa coach-baggage car No. 390.

Used on the CofGa’s Nancy Hanks II, No. 390 is currently undergoing major repairs at TVRM and is to be ready for the “Santa Claus Special” this Christmas season. However, current plans are to use it in primer colors for this season’s operations, receiving a “finish” coat of paint in the spring.

 

Collection of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society

 

In recent years, CofGa No. 390 has been painted Pullman green and lettered for Southern Railway. However, there is significant in interest in returning it to its original blue and gray paint scheme. To do this will require approximately $5,000 additional funds, due to the more complex paint scheme. TVRM has created a special account for this purpose titled “Central of Georgia Repaints” and is currently accepting donations which will be used for this purpose only.

Depending on the funds raised, three other former CofGa cars owned by TVRM will also be considered for repainting into their former schemes. These cars are CG 528 (modernized heavyweight coach once painted aluminum with shadow line strips for operation in the Man O’ War and Illinois Central orange and chocolate for operation in the Seminole), and CG 543 and 661 (coaches built in 1947 by ACF along with 390 for the Nancy Hanks II). All four of these cars are in operation and in good condition.

 

Collection of W. E. Mims

To have these other cars painted in CofGa blue and gray will require enough contributions to cover the additional costs of the more complex scheme. TVRM is seeking donations from anyone interested in seeing these cars returned to their original schemes.

If you’d like to help, here’s how:

  • If sending a check, make it payable to TVRM or Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Please include “Central of Georgia Repaints” on the memo line on the check.
  • If payment is coming from a donor advised fund or a brokerage account (QCD, for instance), be sure to enter “Central of Georgia Repaints” in the restrictions box.
  • If your employer offers matching funds for donations, please be sure to apply for those and include “Central of Georgia Repaints” in the restrictions box

All donations should be sent to:

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

4119 Cromwell Road

Chattanooga, TN 37421-2119

TVRM is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 educational organization. All donations are tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor for details.

 

Collection of Charlie Poling

 

 

 

2020 Calendar Now Available

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The Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society is pleased to announce the publication of our new 2020 Central of Georgia calendar. The 13-month calendar features color photographs of passenger and freight trains (including steam and diesel) at Macon, Atlanta, Columbus, Augusta, and several other cities on the CofGa. Important dates in the history of the Central of Georgia and subsidiary lines are also included.

Most of the images used in the 2020 calendar are from the Society’s collection. The calendar is available from our online store here and at all of the train shows we attend.

 

 

“The Right Way” Vol. 23, No. 2, Mailed to Members

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The April–June 2019 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Monday, October 1, 2019.

Articles include:

  • More on Cummins Yard
  • The Central’s Fleet of Mighty Diesels (January 1956)
  • Standard Five-Pile Ballast Deck Trestle
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

“The Right Way” Vol. 23, No. 1, Mailed to Members

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The January–March 2019 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Monday, June 17, 2019.

Articles include:

  • Form 211 – Explosives
  • Cummins Yard
  • “Help Fix the Flat!” Fundraising Update
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

“The Right Way” Vol. 22, No. 4, Mailed to Members

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The October–December 2018 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Saturday, January 5, 2019.

Articles include:

  • A Central of Georgia Christmas…in 1918!
  • Wadley Southern Railway (Part 3)
  • Orlando Traffic Agency
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

Fall Meeting CANCELLED

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Due to effects from Hurricane Michael in the Albany area last week, the fall meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society scheduled for October 27, 2018, in Albany has been CANCELLED!! This decision was reached in consultation with Albany area members.

If you registered via PayPal, your registration fees will be refunded shortly. If you registered by check, we’ll send a refund check shortly.

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The fall membership meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2018, in Albany, Ga. Our meeting will include a tour of various railroad sites during the day on Saturday, and our annual business meeting, including elections for Board of Directors, and a presentation on the railroads of Albany, on Saturday night. (Note that this meeting is two weeks later than our usual fall meeting date, and will only involve activities on Saturday!)

At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018, we’ll depart the Hampton Inn in Albany, Ga., (see address below) by vans for a tour of various CofGa (and other) railroad sites in Albany and the surrounding areas. Tentative plans are to visit existing CofGa stations and depots in Albany, Leesburg (recently restored), and Smithville (located inside the wye where the Montgomery District connected to the Albany District). We’ll also view several other important railroad locations in the Albany area. We should return to the hotel around 4:00 p.m.

At 7:00 p.m. that evening, we will have our annual business meeting at the meeting room at the Hampton Inn (see address below). Following elections for Board of Directors, we’ll have a presentation by CGRHS member Frank Crowe on the railroads in Albany.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn and Suites Albany at Albany Mall, 2628 Dawson Road, Albany, Georgia 31707 (229-405-2000). The group rate is $104 to $114, depending on the type of room and number of guests in that room. Please be sure to mention that you are with the “Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society” when calling to make reservations. The cut-off date for that rate is October 5, 2018. (Rooms are available Friday night and Saturday night.)

Registration for the weekend’s events is $30 per person (or $50 per couple). To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names for name tags) to Society Secretary/Treasurer Graham Dean (see address in the current issue of The Right Way). Payment can be made by check or money order payable to CGRHS.

Registration can also be made here using PayPal. Early registration is highly recommended!

If you have questions, please contact Society president Allen Tuten (allen@cofga.org).

“The Right Way” Vol. 22, No. 3, Mailed to Members

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The July–September 2018 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Articles include:

  • Wadley Southern Railway (Part 2)
  • Scenes at Dawson, Ga. (1945)
  • “Keeping Rock Under Control…”
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

“The Right Way” Vol. 22, No. 2, Mailed to Members

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The April–June 2018 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Monday, July 23, 2018.

Articles include:

  • Wadley Southern Railway (Part 1)
  • “The Quality of Leadership…”
  • More on The New Automatic Signals
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

“The Right Way” Vol. 22, No. 1, Mailed to Members

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The January–March 2018 issue of The Right Way, the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society’s official publication, was mailed to members on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.

Articles include:

  • Flat Car Restoration Update
  • Crossing Holland Creek
  • The New Automatic Signals
  • C. G. News

Membership expiration is based on the last issue that a member is to receive. A one year membership in the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society always includes four issues of The Right Way (regardless of the publication date). This ensures that each member receives the full benefit of their membership.

Spring Meeting Scheduled for April 20–21, 2018, in Dublin, Ga.

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The spring meeting of the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society, Inc., has been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 20–21, 2018, in Dublin, Ga. Our meeting will include an archive work session during the day on Friday, a presentation on Friday night, and a bus tour on Saturday that will include the Sandersville Railroad shops and facilities at Sandersville, and other CofGa-related sites in the Dublin area.

On Friday morning, we’ll have an archive work session in the meeting room at the Hampton Inn in Dublin, Ga., starting at 9:00 a.m. Current plans are to continue the process of cleaning, sorting, and organizing the Society’s equipment drawings. (Members are encouraged to stop by anytime during the day.)

We’ll have a presentation in the meeting room Friday night, with tentative plans to begin at 7:00 p.m.

On Saturday morning, we’ll depart the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for a tour of the shops and facilities of the Sandersville Railroad in Sandersville, Ga., their interchange with the CofGa at Tennille, Ga., and several other CofGa-related sites in the Dublin area. The bus should return to the motel around 4:00 p.m.

There are no activities scheduled for Saturday night.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hampton Inn, 103 Travel Center Blvd., Dublin, GA 31021. Reservations may be made by calling the motel at 478-246-6055 and mentioning “Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society” meeting. You can also reserve online at www.hamptoninn.com and use the group code “CGR” or by using this link. (Set arrival departure dates as needed.) The group rate is $119.00 per night and includes breakfast and free high-speed internet. The group rate is valid through April 16, 2018. Rooms are available for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Registration for the weekend’s events is $35 per person or $60 per couple. To register, send your name, address, and number of registrations (include individual names for name tags), along with a check or money order (payable to CGRHS) to secretary/treasurer Graham Dean (address is in the meeting announcement mailed to members on March 21). Registration can also be made here using PayPal. Early registration is highly recommended!

If you have questions, please contact Society president Allen Tuten (allen@cofga.org).

(We apologize for the late notice regarding the spring meeting. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our original plans to meet in a different city in May had to be changed. Other issues have delayed publication of the next issue of The Right Way. However, we hope to mail that issue in early April.)